The Front Page

Two random knife attacks in a few days have rattled the nation. The motivations behind the incidents are still unclear, but they’ve drawn attention to the rising issue of violence on our streets. Are these one-off incidents or examples of a growing problem - and what are the police doing to keep New Zealanders safe?    Today, NZ Herald senior reporter Kurt Bayer joins Damien for a discussion about growing concern of street violence. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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: Damien VenutoProducer/Editor: Paddy Fox Executive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders were warned last week that we were at risk of nationwide energy blackout.  High demand combined with a winter snap meant that we weren’t generating enough power to keep up.  So why does this keep happening? And could things become worse as more electric cars are plugged into the grid?    Today, Electric Kiwi CEO Luke Blincoe joins Damien to discuss what it will take to make New Zealand’s energy supply more secure.  Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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: Damien VenutoProducer/Editor: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand should be in a golden era for public transport.   A growing awareness of climate change, combined with congestion frustrations, should make a pivot to trains and buses a no-brainer.  But our major networks in Auckland and Wellington are plagued by negative perceptions around frequency, delays and journey times - views that even the most loyal public transport would struggle to argue against some days.  There are promises of major developments coming down the pipeline - but how long will they take, and is the Government invested enough to make them happen? Today, NZ Herald senior journalist Georgina Campbell joins Damien for a discussion on the current state of New Zealand’s public transport. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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: Damien VenutoProducer/Editor: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matariki, Aotearoa’s new public holiday, commemorates the beginning of the new year in the Māori lunar calendar.   But this day is about more than celestial changes in the night sky. It carries great cultural significance and a message that should resonate across New Zealand.   Today, Flava Breakfast co-host and host of the Up to Speed podcast, Stacey Morrison, joins Damien for a discussion about this important day and why we should think carefully about how we choose to celebrate this important day. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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: Damien VenutoProducer/Editor: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another horrific crash this week has served as a reminder of the dire state of New Zealand’s road toll. Hundreds of people are dying on our roads every year, and the stats show that the millions being thrown at the problem isn't making a sizeable difference. So why does our road toll remain so high compared to other countries, and are there any simple fixes to what seems to be a systemic issue? Today, road safety expert Dr Fergus Tate joins Damien to discuss what we can and can’t do about the road toll.   Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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: Damien VenutoProducer/Editor: Paddy Fox and Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s nurses are not happy. They feel overworked, underpaid and frustrated by the lack of support from decision makers.  Now, with large offers coming out of Australia, many are considering moving abroad for the promise of more money and a better quality of life.  So is New Zealand doing enough to hold onto this essential workforce? Or are we sleepwalking our way into a national health crisis?   Today, NZ Herald health reporter Emma Russell joins Damien for a discussion about the growing strain on New Zealand’s nurses.    Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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: Damien VenutoProducer/Editor: Paddy Fox and Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June is known around the world as Pride Month. A moment of celebration for the LGBT+ community.   However, a growing backlash towards queer people in recent months has dampened the excitement.   Events in Tauranga and Greymouth have shocked the local community, while the US is being flooded with laws targeting gay and transgender people.    So what has sparked this backlash, and what needs to be done to protect the rainbow community from violence? Today, Max Tweedie, director of Auckland Pride,  joins Damien to discuss recent events and what needs to be done differently. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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: Damien VenutoProducer/Editor: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The proposal of Fair Pay Agreements in New Zealand has become a political lightning rod. Opponents are taking out expensive billboards and ads to oppose the Bill, while supporters are accusing some members of the business community of spreading lies and misinformation. So where does the truth lie: are Fair Pay Agreements really the great business bogeyman, or will they help the workers earning the least in society? Today, NZ Herald Wellington Business Editor Jenee Tibshraeny joins Damien to separate fact from fiction in this contentious issue.  Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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: Damien VenutoProducer/Editor: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This weekend, Eden Park will host the Blues and the Crusaders for an epic showdown to mark the end of the Super Rugby Pacific tournament.   It not only marks the end of a major sporting event. This clash of the long-time rivals will also be a major opportunity to welcome back live events.   Thousands are expected to flock to Eden Park for the event, and thousands more will hit the city’s pubs and bars.   So is this the first major test for our living with Covid strategy – or are we walking straight into a super-spreader event?      Today, NZ Herald senior writer and diehard Blues fan Simon Wilson joins Damien for a discussion about what this match means for a country emerging from the pandemic. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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: Damien VenutoProducer/Editor: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s longest waterway has become a meandering river of filth. The Waikato River is regularly unswimmable and high levels of pollutants have left community members deeply concerned about how much worse it could become. There is, however, a plan to clean this mess. The only catch is that it’s going to take more than seven decades. Today, RNZ data journalist Farah Hancock joins Damien to discuss her investigation into what’s gone wrong with this important waterway - and why it has such a long road to recovery.  Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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: Damien VenutoProducer/Editor: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.