The Front Page

Kiwis around the country fastidiously separate their rubbish, putting recyclables in one bin and trash in the other.  The belief here is that we’re doing our part to stop our landfills from overflowing with rubbish that will take hundreds of years to degrade. But what if these efforts aren’t as useful as we’ve been led to believe they are? And is there a better way to ensure that Aotearoa isn’t overwhelmed by plastic? BusinessDesk journalist Cecile Meier explains why a landfill expert she spoke to believes that recycling is essentially a fraud, and Plastics NZ CEO Rachel Barker responds to criticisms of our recycling efforts. 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 VenutoProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We put our faith in the idea that a visit to the hospital places us in the safe hands of professionals capable of caring for us under their watch.   In recent years though, our health system has been stretched thin, with waiting rooms overcrowded, staff burnt out and funding holes everywhere you look.  The repercussions are being seen in the stories of both patients and staff, who have grown concerned about safety and the quality of care being offered in our hospitals.    Today on The Front Page, Damien is joined by NZ Herald senior writer Alex Spence, who has received numerous leaked reports in recent months that paint a worrying picture about the state of 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: Damien VenutoEditor: Paddy FoxExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a month long trial and three days of deliberation, the jury has returned a verdict in the Lauren Dickason trial.  Dickason has been found guilty of murder for the deaths of her three children, six year old Liane and two year old twins Maya and Karla, in 2021.   Dickason has always admitted to doing the crime, but pleaded not guilty due to the state of her mental health at the time.   The trial has been closely followed by thousands of Kiwis over the last few weeks.  The New Zealand Herald’s Anna Leask has been there covering the trial, and joins Damien to discuss what she witnessed over the last five weeks.  Note that this episode does contain graphic details that may not be suitable for some listeners. 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 VenutoEditor: Paddy FoxExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waiwera Thermal Resort was once filled with sound of splashing water and laughing families enjoying a much-needed day out.   Those happy sounds have been replaced by an eerie silence, with the entire complex sitting empty for the last six years.    Waiwera’s facilities have collapsed into disrepair in the long wait for a buyer who never came. And now, left with little other choice, it will all be demolished.    So how did this tourism favourite fall so quickly, and is there a warning here for other businesses?  Today on The Front Page, Damien is joined by NZ Herald property editor Anne Gibson to get the inside story on the Auckland icon that became a wasteland.  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 VenutoProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we get closer to the October election, we’re also nearing the end of New Zealand's 53rd Parliament. And while most MPs and hoping to return in October, a number will soon be saying farewell to the halls of power for the last time.   Amongst the retiring MPs are the National Party’s Jacqui Dean, who has held the Waitaki electorate since 2008, and the Green Party’s Jan Logie, who has been a list MP since 2011. Both have served in ministerial or under-secretary roles during their times at the Beehive, and both have experienced their time on the opposition benches.   As they leave their parliamentary careers behind, today on The Front Page Damien is joined by both MPs. 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 VenutoProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six months ago today, a national state of emergency was declared as Cyclone Gabrielle made landfall on Aotearoa. While all eyes were on Auckland, the East Coast ended up being the worst hit, with immense devastation across the region. The Front Page checked in with Hawkes Bay Today editor Chris Hyde a week after the disaster to hear firsthand about the strength of the cyclone’s impact. On today’s episode, Hyde joins us again for an update on how long the road to recovery is. 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. Guest host: Georgina CampbellProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being targeted by scam artists is becoming more common by the day.  Cyber fraud, often led by international cartels, has been able to grow to such an extent that everybody has a story of a message or odd phone call that was aiming to take advantage of them.  It isn’t helping that Police in New Zealand are under-resourced and not focused on this type of crime, with a report from the Independent Police Conduct Authority finding a “vacuum in national leadership on fraud.”  So how can we take digital fraud seriously, and is it something that our political parties are even thinking of?  Crime expert Dr Jarrod Gilbert, a sociologist at the University of Canterbury and Director of Independent Research Solutions, is calling for change in how we police cyber fraud. 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. Guest host: Chelsea DanielsProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s hard to go through life in the 21st century without hearing daily about exercise, dieting and healthy eating. But what if everything we know about obesity, weight and ‘fatness’ is wrong?  That’s what the NZ Herald is exploring in a new podcast series from journalist Sasha Borissenko. In Chewing the Facts, Borissenko sets out to debunk a lot of the myths in Aotearoa, with some surprising insights from experts and those with lived experiences.   Sasha Borissenko shares what she has learnt about the things that weigh us down. 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. Guest host: Georgina CampbellProducer: Paddy Fox and Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You always know we’re getting closer to an election when the words ‘fiscal hole’ start getting thrown around the place.   Our major parties have engaged in a back and forth in recent weeks, with National getting criticised for the costings of their transport policy, before the Government faced accusations of a $20 billion hole in Government revenue.  So, what exactly is a fiscal hole, are any of the political parties in the red when it comes to their finances – and would any new taxes help plug some potential shortfalls?  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenée Tibshraeny talks us through the hot election term. 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. Guest host: Chelsea DanielsProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the last two years, we’ve seen an endless stream of stories about youth misbehaving.   But this is a surprising spike after nearly 15 years of dropping rates of recorded youth crime and young people coming into contact with the justice system.  What’s behind this steady decline, why has it spiked recently, and what’s the right way to tackle it?  NZ Herald senior writer Derek Cheng shares what he’s learned about the state of youth crime in Aotearoa. 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. Guest host: Chelsea DanielsProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.