The Front Page

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the changing nature of trade, and how it impacts New Zealand. Hosted by Frances Cook.The world trade environment has profoundly changed over the past few years, as world superpowers the United States and United Kingdom both retreat into protectionism. It's not just about money, but relationships, as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern showed when she started a trade agreement to fight climate change. Ardern announced the launch of negotiations for the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) at the United Nations in New York last week.The agreement includes goals like removing tariffs on environmental products, but so far only five countries have signed up. Meanwhile the World Trade Organisation has cut its forecast for trade growth by more than half, and issued a warning that living standards and jobs could take a hit. Back in New Zealand, the September ANZ Business Outlook Survey shows business confidence falling once again. So as the US and UK take a step back from the world stage, does it mean lean times for the rest of us, or will something or someone else fill the vacuum? Herald business editor at large Liam Dann came on the Front Page podcast to discuss these issues, and where it leaves New Zealand.If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The protests in Hong Kong have now been going for more than 100 days, and it seems neither side is willing to give up. It started with plans to allow extraditions to mainland China, but has now grown into a wider movement questioning the entire relationship between Hong Kong and the mainland.Herald reporter Keith Ng has been on the ground in Hong Kong, and joined me on the Front Page to talk about the levels of anger in Hong Kong, what's at stake, and why NZ needs to be careful not to become a pawn. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the Covering Climate Now campaign, and the groundswell of urgency. Hosted by Frances Cook.Climate change is an issue that's being treated with increasing urgency, as voters take up the cause, and politicians take notice. Data from the Pew Research Centre shows that internationally, 67 per cent of us see climate change as a major threat to our country.That number is from the median of respondents in 23 countries in 2018. It's a jump up from 56 per cent in 2013.But the issue has been bubbling away for decades. The first report on climate change by a New Zealand government was commissioned in 1988, a year when David Lange was Labour Prime Minister, the first Die Hard movie was in cinemas and All Black Ryan Crotty was born.So why are people suddenly wanting change now? And, is all of this awareness and urgency just too little, too late?For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to Herald science reporter Jamie Morton.We discussed the best and worst case scenarios, why it's taken so long to act, and what the average person can do to make an impact. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the troubling details of foreign political donations. Hosted by Frances Cook.Serious questions are being raised about political donations and whether they're leaving us open to foreign interference. A Herald investigation has found former trade minister Todd McClay helped arrange a $150,000 donation from Chinese racing industry billionaire Lin Lang, begging the question of what was expected in return. The donation was made through a New Zealand-registered company after chairman and owner Lin Lang met then trade-minister Todd McClay in Beijing and Rotorua. The revelations a Minister was involved in facilitating National's largest donation of the most recent electoral cycle - with the cash coming from a foreign-owned business - comes as Parliament mulls how to counter foreign interference in New Zealand's political system. The justice select committee is currently deliberating on reforming the country's electoral finance laws, having heard from NZSIS director Rebecca Kitteridge in a rare briefing, saying foreign donations are a vector of concern.For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to the journalist who uncovered the story, investigative journalist Matt Nippert. We discussed why the donation raised eyebrows, what the SIS are concerned about, and if change to our donations system is likely. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's where to draw the line when holding politicians to account. Hosted by Frances Cook.Australian radio host Alan Jones practically caused a trans-Tasman diplomatic incident after saying on air that our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern needed a sock shoved "down her throat", and that Aussie PM Scott Morrison should give her "a few backhanders".It's led to widespread backlash, and big name advertisers leaving his show in droves. But Jacinda Ardern isn't just anyone, she's the Prime Minister, and leads a country, so where does strong criticism cross the line?For this week's Front Page podcast I talked to NZ Herald editor Murray Kirkness, and political reporter Jason Walls. We discussed what sparked the comments from Jones, the political reaction, and where reporters draw the line when covering such stories. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the worrying financials of Fonterra, and what it means for our farmers. Hosted by Frances Cook.Fonterra's numbers aren't looking good, with the dairy giant saying it expects a full-year loss of $675 million. It's the second annual loss in a row, and comes when Federated Farmers surveys already show farmers are the most pessimistic they've been in a decade. The co-op says it won't pay a dividend for the year to July 31 so that it can pay off debt.The one silver lining is that it seems farmer will still get paid for their milk. Fonterra says its $6.30-$6.40 per kg milk price for the 2018/19 season will remain in place, as will the current forecast for 2019/20 of $6.25 to $7.25 kg.But that doesn't mean it's plain sailing, as the lack of dividend will bite, and Fonterra still needs to prove it's correcting course. For the latest Front Page podcast I talked to Herald business journalist Jamie Gray about where these problems came from, if farmers should worry, and how much blame former CEO Theo Spierings should get. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the increasing numbers of highly wealthy people, and the problem of how to tax them. Hosted by Frances Cook.The number of super-rich in New Zealand has increased by 75 per cent in the past five years. That means 350 people here are worth more than $50 million. But with these very rich people comes problems with how we make sure everyone pays their fair share of tax. Some of those individuals are currently in disputes with the IRD over more than $85 million in potential tax.It can be a nightmare to solve, with complex trusts, international income streams, and highly powered lawyers and accountants ready to protect it. For the latest Front Page podcast, I talked to investigative reporter Matt Nippert and business editor at large Liam Dann. We discussed why there has been a boom in wealth, if the IRD is outgunned, and how the big multinational companies add an extra layer of tax complication. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookRead more on the Herald investigation into the super-rich and tax, here https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12252697See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's how a lack of money is causing serious health problems. Hosted by Frances Cook.Major problems are bubbling up in our health system, and the root cause always seems to come back to a lack of resources and money. We've seen it within the last week, where a series of Herald investigations uncovered serious issues with maternal healthcare, and vaccination rates of our children. A watchdog found women with a life-threatening condition weren't treated properly because of a lack of hospital staff.The investigations point to capacity problems extending beyond maternity services at Counties Manukau DHB, where problems like a lack of staff contributed to the recent death or stillbirth of three babies.Apex Union has also warned life-saving diagnoses of conditions like cancer could be delayed for South Aucklanders because of a workforce crisis.Meanwhile vaccination rates are dropping across the country as fewer families immunise their babies. But while the debate has been centred around the impact of the anti-vaxx movement, the numbers paint a different picture. Data shows the plummeting vaccination rates are being driven largely by the failure to immunise babies born into poor or Māori families - not by parents deliberately opting out.Herald investigative journalists Nick Jones and Kirsty Johnston came on the Front Page podcast to talk about what's happening, and if there's any political appetite to fix it. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookYou can read more about their investigations here: Sepsis warning for pregnant women: Hospital staffing 'inadequate', watchdog finds https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12251014Counties Manukau DHB rejects 'alarmist' claims about possible X-ray and CT scan delays https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12252300PM Jacinda Ardern on strained Middlemore maternity services: 'consistent underfunding' https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12251667Anti-vaxx debate: Vaccination rates plummet for NZ babies https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12250703See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the disturbing stories coming out about Oranga Tamariki. Hosted by Frances Cook.Four inquiries are under way into Oranga Tamariki, the organisation that is supposed to keep vulnerable children safe from harm. There was video of a highly distressing baby uplift, and since then, plenty of other worrying stories have come out of the woodwork. Over the weekend, Māori from across the country packed out an Auckland hui for the launch of one of the inquiries into Oranga Tamariki.Organisers said being Māori-led would make it easier for some participants who had been dealing with Oranga Tamariki their entire lives to open up.Meanwhile a Herald investigation uncovered another failing, after a judge strongly criticised Oranga Tamariki for planning to send the child of a drug-trafficking mother back to the country of his birth, despite evidence criminal gangs might sell him to cover his parent's debts.To get to the bottom of what's going wrong, and what's being suggested to fix it, on the latest Front Page podcast I talk to Newstalk ZB's Jake McKee and Herald investigative journalist David Fisher. For more on David Fisher's investigation, click here https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12248199 If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each week The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB. Today it's the government changes aimed at getting you into a greener car. Hosted by Frances Cook.This podcast was first available a week earlier, to Herald Premium subscribers. The Government is making green cars cheaper, and the big polluters more expensive. It's only for newly imported vehicles, and aims to make it an easier choice for people to pick lower emission cars. But New Zealand is a geographically big country, with a small number of people trying to get from A to B.For years, we've relied on cars to get us there. Besides, if cars are switched over to electric, is that enough to solve climate change? There will still be congestion, petrol taxes needed to pay for our roads, and what about other forms of transport like flying? It's a complicated issue, but our journalists have dived into it. There are already changes under way in other transport areas apart from cars, and it looks like the Labour-led Government also has a few more cards to play. I talked to Herald political journalist Jason Walls and energy writer Grant Bradley for the latest Front Page. If you have questions about Herald investigations, or want to stay up to date on social media, you can find host Frances Cook on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.