The Front Page

In recent years, drug busts at New Zealand’s border keep getting bigger, with record breaking hauls getting stopped by officials. But drugs are still getting into the country -- and we all know that what people think they're buying on the street will not necessarily be what they get. And some people may be consuming synthetic opioids without ever realising they're putting their health at risk. Today on The Front Page, Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm joins us to discuss the new drug that has got her organisation worried. 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 DanielsSound Engineer: Paddy FoxProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The parties of the coalition Government were staunch critics of the state of our healthcare system while on the opposite side of the aisle. Now that they are in charge though, the heat is being put on them to sort out everything from months-long waiting times to see specialists, to gaps in the mental health system. And most recently, Budget 2024 did not deliver the much-promised funding of 13 new cancer drugs, that has shocked advocates. Today on The Front Page, Patient Voice Aotearoa chairperson Malcolm Mulholland joins us to discuss the issues facing patients across the country, and what the Government needs to do to improve our healthcare. 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 DanielsSound Engineer: Paddy FoxProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1998 deaths of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope remain one of New Zealand’s most talked about cases. Scott Watson has spent the last 25 years behind bars after being convicted of murdering them, despite no bodies ever being found. Now, Watson is heading back to the courtroom four years after his case was referred back to the Court of Appeal, in what is his last shot at clearing his name. Today on The Front Page, we’re going back to 1999 with NZ Herald senior journalist Carolyne Meng Yee and editorial leader Oskar Alley who covered Watson’s first trial, and then get a rundown on the appeal case with investigative reporter David Fisher.  For more on the Scott Watson case, listen to Chasing Ghosts: Murder in the Sounds wherever you get your podcast.  And for more on Scott Watson's trial, click here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/double-murderer-scott-watson-to-stay-behind-bars-as-parole-board-seek-clarity-over-differing-psychological-reports/QXMO2GJ32JFRRMHF36Y77B3PS4/  A previous version of this episode didn’t include the fact hairs were found on a blanket on the Blade and two of those hairs on the blanket were found to have DNA characteristics that matched Olivia. The split in a bag containing comparison hairs was also taken from a hairbrush in Olivia’s home. Neither Police nor ESR took the hairbrush from her home. 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 DanielsSound Engineer: Paddy FoxProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions between Māoridom and the coalition Government have been bubbling up since the latter was sworn in last year.  Outrage over the Treaty Principles Bill and cuts to services for Māori has seen multiple protests, mostly recently the ‘Carkoi’ rally across the motu on Budget Day.  That same protest saw this animosity take on a new angle, with Te Pati Māori issuing a declaration of political independence and calling for a separate Māori Parliament.   So how serious are these calls, and is there any path back from the precipice?   Today on The Front Page, we discuss the details behind the tension with Dr Carwyn Jones, co-editor of the Māori Law Review and honorary adjunct professor in Māori Studies at Victoria University of 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 DanielsSound Engineer: Paddy FoxProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even if you wouldn’t say it out loud, we've all fantasised about winning Lotto. Whether it’s a few thousand dollars or a couple of million, you can’t how amazing taking home a win would be. And the prize pool keeps getting bigger – in 2016, $40 million was still the limit, but now, someone could take home $43 million tonight, and it'd be the second largest draw for an individual ever.  So, what happens when a life-changing amount is won? And what are some of the best ways to splash your new cash?   Today on The Front Page, Lotto's Head of Corporate Communications Lucy Fullarton discusses the process of winning, and Forsyth Barr investment advisor Jeff Matthews, shares financial advice for handling millions. 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 DanielsSound Engineer: Paddy FoxProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the country’s economy continues to take a hit, one of the biggest sectors to struggle has been retail.   Figures over the last few quarters have consistently shown low spending on retail as Kiwis prioritise where they put their money. There’s the closure of physical TradeAid stores, the sale of Torpedo7, the closure of TheMarket.com, and now the end of Auckland icon Smith and Caughey’s and the Flybuys loyalty scheme. So amidst a struggling economy, is there a way for retail to survive, or is the long-awaited end of the brick-and-mortar store finally coming to fruition? Today on The Front Page, First Retail's Chris Wilkinson joins us to discuss the challenging times for the retail sector. 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 DanielsSound Engineer: Paddy FoxProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year’s King’s Birthday holiday is not as celebratory as the royal family would like. While King Charles is start to get back to work after his cancer diagnosis earlier this year, the Princess of Wales remains out of action, with reports that she might not return to work until 2025. In amongst the health crises that have hit the Royal Family, the ongoing tensions between The Firm and Prince Harry have made headlines again over recent weeks. So is the monarchy getting back on track after a rough start to the year, or are the same old problems set to be a nuisance for the rest of 2024? Today on The Front Page, we’re joined by UK correspondent Gavin Grey to get the latest from London on the royal family. 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 DanielsSound Engineer: Paddy FoxProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The coalition Government has unveiled its first Budget, and Finance Minister Nicola Willis managed to deliver on her tax cut pledge.   There was also money found for health and education, while the major tax cuts were funded out of significant cuts to the public sector. The Budget also confirmed that our tough financial times are set to continue until at least 2028, and Willis is putting a cap on spending for the next few Budgets. So is this the Budget the Government needed to sell their vision for Aotearoa, and how dire is our economic outlook? Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann is back with his analysis. 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 DanielsSound Engineer: Paddy FoxProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2024 has just been unveiled by Finance Minister Nicola Willis -- the first for the coalition of National, Act and NZ First. In this special bonus episode of The Front Page, Chelsea runs through the key stats you need to know about tax cuts, health, school and the economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, New Zealand’s persistently high road toll has been a worry for successive governments. 340 people died on our roads in 2023, down from the previous, but still far too high. 2024 is hardly looking any better – there was more than a day a death in January, the Easter road toll was at its highest in three years, while a recent head-on collision left five dead near Hamilton. It’s an issue that is now on the coalition government to address – so what options are available to them to rectify this issue? Today on The Front Page, we discuss what needs to be done differently with AA Road Safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen. 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 DanielsSound Engineer: Paddy FoxProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.