

The Front Page
NZ Herald
Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.
Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture.
Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.
Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture.
Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 23, 2026 • 19min
Do move-on orders fix homelessness, or just push people out of sight?
Move-on orders are being pitched as a way to “reclaim” town and city centres. The Government is proposing a law which would allow Police to order someone rough sleeping or begging to leave a public space for up to 24 hours. They could be fined up to $2000 or three months in jail if they don't. Critics say that does nothing to create homes, risks criminalising poverty, and simply shifts people – and the problem – from one street or suburb to another. Today on The Front Page, Community Housing Aotearoa Chief Executive Paul Gilberd joins us to talk about the real impact on people experiencing homelessness. 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.

Feb 20, 2026 • 21min
Royal reckoning: Inside Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s public humiliation after arrest
UK police have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of committing misconduct in public office. It comes after allegations the former prince shared confidential information with former financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein when he was a UK trade envoy, a role he held from 2001 to 2011. Police searched his Sandringham home and former Royal Lodge residence. He has since been released, after about 12 hours of questioning. Today on The Front Page, Royal correspondent Gavin Grey joins us from Windsor to break down the latest on this disgraced royal. 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.

Feb 19, 2026 • 21min
Auckland's housing plan is changing again. What will happen over your fence now?
A step forward for housing capacity in our largest city – or a step back on housing affordability? Auckland’s explosive debate over density planning has come to a head, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop making a U-turn on capacity limits. It’s all got to do with the controversial “PC120” plan.... which has been scaled back slightly to allow for 1.6 million homes to be built, as opposed to 2 million. But, what does that actually mean? And why have the rules to pack more homes into Auckland sparked such a fierce debate? Today on The Front Page, journalist Simon Wilson is with us to unpack the updated plans, the protests, and what it means for your backyard. 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.

Feb 18, 2026 • 18min
How a Kiwi TV producer made a Hollywood escape amid fraud charges
What does New Zealand and David Hasselhoff have in common? The answer, is TV producer Alex Breingan. He has been hit with a raft of Serious Fraud Office charges... and is the same guy whose production company, Stripe Studios, owed the Baywatch star money. Turns out, he might owe a lot more people, a lot more. Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald Media Insider Shayne Currie is with us to take us through the rise, and falls, of this high-flying, Kiwi producer. 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.

Feb 17, 2026 • 23min
National infrastructure plan: Too much new, not enough maintenance
Fixing the leaks, not just buying bigger mops. That’s the theme of the National Infrastructure Plan released today. It looks at 17 sectors covering central government, local authorities, and commercially regulated utilities. The 30-year outline sets out how New Zealand can improve the way it plans, funds, maintains, and delivers infrastructure... and guess what, it turns out we don’t do it very well. Each year we invest just over $20 billion on infrastructure, yet on a dollar-for-dollar basis we achieve less than many of our international peers. Today on The Front Page, New Zealand Infrastructure Commission Chief Executive Geoff Cooper will take us through this mammoth report. 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.

Feb 16, 2026 • 21min
More concerts, Origin coming: What Eden Park’s big shift means for Auckland
Eden Park’s gearing up for more gigs, more goals, and more growth. The number of concerts allowed each year at Auckland’s Eden Park stadium will almost triple under new rules announced today by the Government. Under the new settings, the stadium will be allowed to host up to 12 large and 20 medium-sized concerts a year - without the need for resource consent. We’ll speak to Sir Graham Lowe about the first Eden Park hosting the New Zealand's first-ever State of Origin match next year. But first on The Front Page, former Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is with us to chat about the wider changes to the stadium, and whether its neighbours will mind. 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.

Feb 13, 2026 • 19min
High wind, high stakes: Black Foils back on home water after Perth crash
A fleet of 13 F50 foiling catamarans will tear around the Waitematā Harbour this weekend in SailGP’s return to New Zealand. Last year was the first time Auckland hosted SailGP - drawing more than 25,000 spectators. The City of Sails is the second stop of 13 across the globe for the 2026 season. Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald sports reporter Christopher Reive is with us to unpack Burling and Tuke’s home water reset, American Magic’s blockbuster Danish buyout, and the must-watch foiling feats this weekend. 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.

Feb 12, 2026 • 17min
Can NZ cash in on critical minerals and still stay wary of mining?
New Zealand’s been making some big trade moves on the world trade stage recently. One of them is a possible minerals deal with the United States. The US is pushing to loosen China’s grip on critical mineral processing by building alternate supply chains. But with talks well underway, what will the preliminary decline of a major seabed mining contract do to them? Today on The Front Page, Business Desk's Dileepa Fonseka is with us to discuss the deals, and whether New Zealand’s biting off more than it can chew. 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.

Feb 11, 2026 • 22min
How to stop rising power prices hitting your wallet this year
Consumer NZ expects power prices to increase by about 5% this year. It’s after households were already hit with a 12% increase to power bills last year. But what does that all mean? Will it make winter that much colder? Will we have to cut back on groceries? Will people be able to afford the increase? Today on The Front Page, Consumer NZ’s Powerswitch Manager Paul Fuge is with us to break down why power companies pass on steep network hikes, and what households can do. 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.

Feb 10, 2026 • 25min
‘Flush and forget’: Is Moa Point a warning for other wastewater plants?
Wellington’s Moa Point wastewater plant has flooded and shut down, dumping raw sewage into the south coast – this untreated discharge is set to continue for weeks. Heavy rain overwhelmed the facility, built in the 90s, triggering beach rāhuis, health warnings, and exposing how climate-driven storms are already stressing coastal infrastructure. Billions of dollars is likely required to get our wastewater infrastructure up to scratch nationwide... but after a long history of underfunding, are we too late? Today on The Front Page, University of Canterbury associate professor Ricardo Bello Mendoza is with us to unpack the engineering lessons from Moa Point, the climate risks, and what it means for our future. But first, NZ Herald senior reporter Melissa Nightingale will set the scene for us in Wellington. 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.


