The Front Page

Kiwis often don’t like to talk about money, but as our debt burden balloons, it’s an uncomfortable conversation we need to have.   Both national and private debt have increased at a time when the nation is coming face to face with the spectre of extreme weather events caused by climate change – which will invariably necessitate further investment down the line.  On top of this, the average family’s largest asset, their house, has declined in value, heaping on further financial pressure.  So exactly how bad is the country’s balance sheet? And should we be willing to take on even more debt to prepare our infrastructure for climate change?  On The Front Page today, NZ Herald business editor at large, and host of the Money Talks podcast, Liam Dann helps Damien with answers for these tough money questions.  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.

Ask anyone what’s hurting their wallet the most at the moment, and the majority will probably say the cost of food.  Figures out this week show it remains the biggest contributor to inflation, and those climbing costs are leading to rising profits for our supermarket duopoloy. - with some figures suggesting profits of $1 million a day.  As Countdown focuses on a costly reversal rebrand back into Woolworths, the Government has moved forward with plans to crack down on supermarkets, but what can they really do to break up a privately run industry?  Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenée Tibshraeny joins Damien to discuss the future of our rising food prices. 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.

The country was shocked to wake to news that during the morning rush a man had entered an Auckland CBD construction site and opened fire.  After several hours of worry that spread around the globe, Police confirmed that at least three people have died and multiple others injured. One of the deceased has been identified as the man believed to be the gunman, Matu Tangi Matua Reid, who was on home detention in relation to domestic violence offenses but is understood to have been given an exemption to work on the construction site. Damien Venuto is joined on this special edition of The Front Page by Newstalk ZB’s Tomas Rice who was at the scene. 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 are less than three months away from the election, but both sides of the political spectrum remain incredibly close.  National and Act have a slight edge over Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori, but with the election currently looking like it could come down to only one or two seats, our politicians seem to be striking a firm push for the middle ground.   Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has said a Labour government he leads will never introduce a wealth tax, while National has wheeled out familiar policies around improving roads and tackling crime.   But where are the big picture, bold policies that could push one party ahead of the other – and why do our current crop of politicians seem so focused on electability over bold vision?  Today on The Front Page, Victoria University of Wellington politics professor Lara Greaves joins Damien to dig into what is shaping our political future. 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: Paddy FoxExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hamilton to Auckland rail connection is back in the news for all the wrong reasons.  The Te Huia service has been banned from entering the Auckland metro area after the driver ran red lights.  The service has been forced to terminate at Papakura while KiwiRail fits new safety technology on the train.  It comes just weeks after a new report was released encouraging more investment in regional rail in the North Island. But if this one service is still having basic woes two years into its operation, what hope is there for other networks?  To address these concerns, Damien is joined by consultant Roger Blakeley, who recently chaired the Future is Rail conference, to discuss the challenges facing rail. 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.

For the first time in decades, actors in Hollywood have gone on strike. Negotiations between the actor's union and the big studios broke down last week, and now everyone from top A-listers to background actors have joined already striking screenwriters on the picket lines. But this is not about multimillionaires wanting a bigger pay packet. Big questions hang over this conflict about the future of the entertainment industry, from how content is delivered to the masses, to whether or not the people we see on screen are real or artificially created. On The Front Page today, New York Times entertainment reporter Brooks Barnes once again joins us from the picket lines in Los Angeles as Hollywood questions its future. 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.

Kiwi CEOs are paid 30 to 50 times more than the average wage.   Questions have long been asked about whether those levels of remuneration are justified, particularly when the performance of an organisation doesn’t always live up to expectations. This, of course, applies to private companies, but the salaries of some public sector CEOs have also led to sharp criticism.   As the country heads into a recessionary period, is there any likelihood of top bosses taking pay cuts? And in the high-flying world of executive salaries, does it pay more to work in the private or public sector?  On The Front Page today, Damien talks to NZME managing editor of business Duncan Bridgeman run through the big numbers behind our top bosses.      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 Wilson and Paddy FoxExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The way we read, watch and listen to the news is constantly evolving and news companies need to respond – or risk becoming obsolete.  Add to this equation misinformation, declining trust, news fatigue, paywalls and clickbait and you have a complicated cocktail of challenges all begging for a solution.  So what does the future hold for media? And how do news organisations avoid repeating the strategic errors of the past?     On The Front Page, NZME chief content officer Murray Kirkness and NZ Herald head of premium Miriyana Alexander sit down with Damien for a frank chat about the state of media in 2023.  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.

Businesses have for years been talking about the importance of workplaces being reflective of Aotearoa’s demographics.  This is particularly important at a time when our population is both ageing and rapidly changing. Despite numerous studies showing the value of improving diversity, there are still some who question whether doing so still allows the money to come first.  So how are businesses tracking? And is it really worth it to improve the diversity of the team at your business? Now on The Front Page, KPMG executive chair Matt Prichard and ANZ chief executive Antonia Watson are here to explain whether Kiwi businesses are really being the champions of change they claim to be. 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: Paddy Fox and Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the start of this month, there was good news for parents as new financial benefits kicked in for them. At the same time, several wide-reaching existing policies to offset the cost of living ended, leading to yet another financial shock. With three months to go until the election, the focus for many is now turning to what the parties vying for our votes have to offer – and if there’ll be any financial relief before we cast our ballots. On The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joins us to discuss what we can expect from our politicians amid these tough economic times. 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.