The Front Page

September 19: There's only been one major story of the campaign today, and its for an event that hasn't happened yet. NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett joins Georgina to discuss what to expect from the first televised debate tonight, and how important it could be for the respective campaigns.  Host: Georgina CampbellProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An 18-year-old Canterbury woman has died after the car she was riding in crashed while fleeing police.  The accident came after police had arrived at the scene of an illegal street racing meetup in Fernside early on Sunday morning.  While it has been some time since boy racers have made national headlines, there has been a resurgence in the street racing community in Christchurch after dying down over Covid.   This latest tragedy further highlights the difficulty politicians and police have faced over the decades in trying to crack down on this problem.   Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald reporter Nathan Morton is here to give us the latest on Christchurch’s boy racer problem, and if there are any hopes of putting a stop to it once and for all.   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: Damien VentutoProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 18th: It was a quiet weekend for most of the political parties, except for Act, who had their campaign launch hijacked by Freedoms NZ. NZ Herald's Adam Pearse joins Georgina to recap those events. And to today's news, resurfaced comments about fluoride from a National candidate put the pressure on Luxon today, while Labour focused on solar panels. Host: Georgina CampbellProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in 2020 during our last election campaign, Covid-19 was the top focus for politicians as Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins argued that their party was in the best position to get us through the pandemic. Three years on and the coronavirus is no longer on the agenda, with the Labour Government removing all restrictions and precautions last month and firmly placing the response in the past.  But as candidates out on the election campaign trail argue over how to best improve our healthcare system, have we learned anything from a pandemic that so radically changed our lives over three years? On today's episode of The Front Page, senior lecturer and immunologist at the University of Auckland Dr Anna Brooks shares her concerns that those in power are no longer taking Covid-19 seriously. Damien is also joined by senior lecturer in Human Resource Management at the University of Otago Paula O'Kane, who looks at the long-term impact of the pandemic on the world of work.   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: Damien VentutoProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 15th: Two debates - the ASB Great Debate and a rural issues debate - drew huge interest last night. Queenstown-based Herald reporter Derek Cheng and debate moderator Heather du Plessis-Allan join the podcast today to give their thoughts on how they turned out.  Plus, a slew of new policy promises from National, Labour and Act, one politician promises to resign if a policy doesn't pan out, and a shocking death threat on the campaign. Host: Hamish FletcherProducer: Ethan SillsEditor: Shaun D WilsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Famed filmmakers Sir Peter Jackson and Dame Fran Walsh have been quietly expanding their land empire, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on properties across Wellington and Queenstown.  Their recent purchase of land in Wellington’s Shelly Bay has seen a long-mooted new housing development scrapped, with the couple planning to return much of the land to nature.  As much of the country grapples with a housing crisis, some critics have questioned why Jackson and Walsh have built up $350 million in property.  So why are he and Walsh buying up all this land? And should we be concerned about wealthy people flexing their financial muscle to grab as much land as they can?   NZ Herald investigative reporter Matt Nippert joins Damien to discuss the details around more and more of Aotearoa becoming Jackson’s personal Middle Earth.  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: Damien VentutoProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 14th: Three economists have come out against National's foreign buyer tax plan, saying it is 'beyond comprehension' with the possibility of creating a $2 billion hole in their tax plans. So why won't the party release their workings for it, and will it damage them in the polls? NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan joins Georgina to provide his analysis. Plus, National targets farmers, Chris Hipkins heads to the West Coast, and a climate change debate gets tense. Host: Georgina CampbellProducer: Ethan SillsEditor: Shaun D WilsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After relentless downpours across the North Island for most of the year, the weather in Aotearoa is about to take a rapid turn.   Meteorologists are predicting that we will soon see El Niño conditions take hold, bringing warm, dry weather.  But those rejoicing about the prospect of a hot summer might want to put the cork in the champagne and reflect on what this actually means.  So what’s headed our way, and what all-time records are likely to be broken this summer? Could dry conditions lead to environmental complications we just aren’t prepared for?  NIWA meteorologist Ben Noll joins Damien to explain the rapid weather change headed our way.  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: Damien VentutoProducers: Paddy Fox and Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 13th: We're over a week into the election campaign, and the steady stream of policy announcements from the major parties is becoming more of a trickle, as parties hone in on their key pledges they hope will woo voters in their direction. However, Labour and Act found new policies to announce today, while National is still being grilled on their tax plans. And as eyes turn towards the debates, are the Chrises ready to face off? Hosted by Hamish FletcherProduced by Ethan SillsEdited by Paddy Fox For more Election 2023 coverage, head to nzherald.co.nz.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morocco has suffered its worst earthquake in six decades.   Ancient buildings have been destroyed and key transport routes through the Atlas Mountains have been completely cut off since the initial violent shakes at the end of last week.  Close to 3,000 have already been confirmed as having lost their lives, with the death toll rising every day as more people are pulled from the rubble.   Previous earthquakes in Morocco killed 15,000 people in 1960, and over 500 in 2004. This time around many are still missing. Others have been left homeless in the wake of the wave of destruction.  When the quake hit, NZ Herald journalist Sarah Pollok happened to be in regional capital Marakech on a travel assignment. She was planning an evening celebration when tragedy struck in the tourist hotspot.  Sarah joins Damien from Morocco to share what she’s seen in the days since a nation was shaken to its core.        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: Damien VentutoProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.