The Front Page

15 years ago, 29 men went to work and never returned home. The Pike River mine explosion shocked New Zealand and the world, prompting three inquiries, a new regulator and new laws. But new research shows New Zealand workers are still more likely to die than those in Australia or Britain. The Public Health Communication Centre Aotearoa report said this country kills twice as many workers as Australia and four times as many as Britain, on a per capita basis. The number of work-related deaths has not substantially reduced since 2010. Victoria University of Wellington workplace health and safety lecturer Dr Chris Peace joins The Front Page to talk about our poor safety standings and what needs to change. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the world ponders whether being a billionaire is ethical in these challenging times, another potential dilemma has arisen... trillionaires. Elon Musk is on track to become the world’s first trillion-dollar man after Tesla shareholders approved a pay package for the founder in the form of additional company shares over the next decade. CNN reported that the addition of 423.7 million shares over the next 10 years could equate to earning US$275 million ($484m) a day. It comes at a time when billionaire wealth has surged three times faster last year than the year before, while the number of people living in poverty has barely changed since 1990. Figures from Oxfam’s January global inequality report showed global billionaire wealth grew by $2t in 2024 alone. In Aotearoa New Zealand, billionaire wealth increased by $5b ($12m per day). In 2024, the number of billionaires rose to 2,769, up from 2,565 in 2023. Oxfam’s Nick Henry joins The Front Page to discuss wealth generated by accumulating the benefits of work that other people do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been revealed that Kiwis lost a record $3 billion to scams this year.   That’s a 30% increase from $2.3 billion last year.  Netsafe and the Global Anti-Scam Alliance ‘State of Scams in New Zealand’ report shows that scammers are getting more sophisticated – and victims are facing persistent barriers to reporting and recovering their losses.   So, how should we protect ourselves and who should be held accountable?  Today on The Front Page, Netsafe’s Sean Lyons is with us to break down the latest figures, and discuss how New Zealand can better prepare itself for the evolving world of scams. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For weeks now headlines have been peppered with Te Pāti Māori’s infighting. The crescendo came when the party’s National Council opted to expel MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris from Parliament. Both have called the move ‘unconstitutional’ - they’ll sit as independents in the Beehive for now. But, what’s lead to this very public spat and what’s next for the party ahead Election 2026? Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland professor Jason Mika is with us to discuss. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been revealed that Police ignored sex allegations against a former top cop, and instead prosecuted a woman for ‘revenge emails’. The woman had emailed police, politicians, and newsrooms accusing former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming of being a sexual predator. The police watchdog has released a scathing 135-page report into how the allegations were treated, and how the “ambitions of a senior police officer were put above the interests of a vulnerable woman”. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said she was “ignored and badly let down”. He has said it makes for “appalling reading” and the conduct of the former top brass is “inexcusable”. He was briefed about the situation just two days before he stepped into the top role.   During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered McSkimming had used his work devices to search for pornography, including bestiality and child sex exploitation material, for at least five years. The 52-year-old resigned in disgrace and was later charged with possession of objectionable material. He’s pleaded guilty last week and will be sentenced next month. This whole ordeal has been indisputably damaging to one of the most important institutions in our country. Later we’ll speak to HELP Auckland’s executive director Kathryn McPhillips about how to support anyone who has experienced sexual abuse. But first, someone who knows all too well what it’s like to step up to those in power is Louise Nicholas. She alleged police officers raped her as a teen in the 80s, this resulted in criminal trials, a Commission of Inquiry, and an officer being jailed for attempting to pervert the course of justice. She is a campaigner for victims of sexual assault, and joins us now on The Front Page. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been no official talks yet about compensation for the complainant against Jevon McSkimming. The former Deputy Police Commissioner is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to having child sexual exploitation and bestiality material on his work devices. A scathing watchdog report has found some of the nation's highest-ranking officers ignored a young woman's anonymous complaints against McSkimming. Instead, she was prosecuted for digital harassment. The handling of the case has been called ‘appalling’ by the now Police Commissioner Richard Chambers and Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Today on The Front Page, my colleague Herald senior reporter Jared Savage is with us to take us behind the scenes of how this case unfolded, and how the sordid details came to light. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember when we were meant to be smoke free by 2025? New Zealand’s goal to have fewer than 5% of people smoking by the end of the year looks unlikely to be met. The target was introduced in 2010 – and while smoking has dropped significantly since then (from 16.4% in 2011 to 6.9% in 2023-24) there are still hundreds of thousands of people smoking daily. In December 2022, New Zealand enacted world-leading tobacco control legislation – essentially creating a whole generation who’ll never be able to buy a pack of ciggies. But, with that plan up in smoke – what next? Today on The Front Page, Hāpai te Hauora chief operating officer Jason Alexander is with us to discuss how we might be able to reach our goal of being smoke free. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Mitchell has heralded the government’s promise to be tough on crime. He’s been incredibly clear from the get-go that his primary goal is to make New Zealand an uncomfortable place for gangs to operate. He holds five portfolios: Police, Corrections, Emergency Management and Recovery, Ethnic Communities, and Sports and Recreation. So, how does an MP with so many hats feel about how his government has tackled the big issues? Today on The Front Page, Mitchell joins us to talk cops, corrections, and communities. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 30th UN climate conference will begin this week. Nations will gather in Belem, Brazil for COP30 – and while the Trump administration isn’t intending to send anyone, the US could still become the thorn in any deals side.  So, as the world’s brightest climate minds converge on the city that sits on the outskirts of the Amazon rainforest – experts are asking whether anything substantial will come from these negotiations. Today on The Front Page, University of Otago associate professor Daniel Kingston is with us to discuss how important COP is, and why we should care. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bees are tiny but mighty players in New Zealand’s environment and economy. They pollinate our gardens, native plants, and crucial crops, supporting biodiversity and food production across the country. But, an invasive threat is looming – the queen yellow-legged hornet. Since June, Biosecurity New Zealand has confirmed several detections of these pests across Auckland. Today on The Front Page, Mahurangi Honey’s Peter Johnston is with us to chat local honey making, and why bees are so important. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.