The Front Page

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.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this week unveiled her latest cabinet reshuffle.  The changes involving the top Ministers in Government were described as “minor”, but three high-ranking politicians are moving on, resulting in a new Speaker of the House and new Ministers for some of the Government's biggest portfolios.  What led to these changes, are these key portfolios now in the right hands, and what do these departures say about Labour's talent pool?   Today, NZ Herald political reporter John Weekes joins Damien for a discussion about the political winners and losers in these changes.  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 balance between work and home life has become more muddied. Technology now means we are required to always be on, stretching the workday even further.  But there’s a philosophy emerging around the world. One that suggests working four days a week could improve our productivity and wellbeing.    In 2018, Perpetual Guardian founder Andrew Barnes generated global headlines when he decided to run a real-time experiment on 200 staff members to see if the four-day week could be put into action. He hasn’t looked back since.   Today, Barnes joins Damien to discuss a massive global trial of the four-day week, which could provide the stepping stones for it to become a permanent reality for more people. 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.

Auckland's city centre is going through a rough period. Construction, crime and social issues have combined to create an undesirable experience that both businesses and shoppers prefer to avoid.  So how did the CBD get to this point? And is there any way we can salvage it and create something we to be proud of? Today, NZ Herald writer Adam Pearse joins Damien for a discussion about the mess in Auckland’s central city. 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.

Revelations this week have placed the spotlight on the Ministry of Health’s pandemic numbers.  It turns out that the percentage of people vaccinated in New Zealand is lower than previously thought – and that some of the most glaring errors impacted vulnerable members of the community.  So how did we get the numbers so wrong? And how damaging is this for the public's trust in the Ministry? Today, NZ Herald senior writer David Fisher joins Damien to discuss the allegations that the Ministry of Health has been cooking the books. 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.

As a tit-for-tat gang war unfolds on New Zealand's streets, the National Party has called for New Zealand to implement Australian policing strategies that have had a big impact on gang violence across the ditch.  This would mean drastic changes in the law as well as limiting what patched gang members can and can’t do in public.   But can Australian policies work within New Zealand's culture? And will it do anything to correct the problems we're currently seeing on the streets of Auckland? Today, Newstalk ZB senior reporter and news director Chelsea Daniels joins Damien for a discussion on how New Zealand can get the gang problem under control. 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.

In recent weeks, numerous construction companies and developers have folded amid the pressures plaguing the building industry.   Bay of Plenty’s Oceanside Homes, two South Auckland developers and Wellington’s Armstrong Downes Commercial have all gone down. Why are businesses in the booming construction industry struggling to make ends meet? And is the dominance of a few large companies bringing down smaller players? Today, NZ Herald property editor Anne Gibson joins Damien for a look inside the storm brewing in the construction industry. 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 FoxExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been welcomed with open arms during her trip to the United States, appearing on late night TV, speaking at Harvard University, and sitting down with politicians from both sides of the aisle, including President Joe Biden.   Her rapturous reception in the US comes as Ardern’s popularity in New Zealand wanes, with recent polls putting Labour and National neck and neck, in spite of the successes that have made our PM so popular overseas.  Is this trip going to help reverse those dipping poll numbers, or has it highlighted areas where Ardern’s international reputation falls short of her local achievements?      Today, NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett joins Damien from Washington DC for an inside look at Jacinda Ardern’s return to the US.   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 FoxExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commonwealth this weekend celebrates the 70th Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. It's a milestone that's never been reached by a British monarch before, but the joyous event is being overshadowed by a number of stories currently affecting the Royal family.  The Queen’s health is ailing, scandal continues to swirl around Prince Andrew, more commonwealth nations are becoming republics. and the ongoing saga of Harry and Meghan is still attracting headlines.   So what does all this mean for the future of an institution that has long been at the centre of British life?  Today, Newshub Europe correspondent Lisette Reymer joins Damien from London to discuss the Jubilee and what comes next for the House of Windsor.  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 FoxExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has previously compared New Zealand and China’s relationship to the respect a taniwha would show a dragon.  That respect has not prevented China continuing to try and firm up its presence in the Pacific – after success in signing a sweeping deal with the Solomon Islands, the rest of the region is now in their sights.  Is this a policy failure for the New Zealand and Australian governments – or is China simply offering a deal too good to resist?   Today, Newstalk ZB chief political reporter Jason Walls joins Damien from Washington DC to discuss what, if anything, New Zealand can do about the dragon at our doorstep.   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 FoxExecutive Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.