The Front Page

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine took a stunning turn over the weekend, when the leader of the Wagner mercenary force threatened a coup against President Vladmir Putin. Yevgeny Prigozhin’s long-brewing pushback against Russia’s military establishment was short-lived. Within 24 hours, Belarus had negotiated a deal that saw the man once dubbed Putin’s chef allowed to leave the country without any blood being shed. The saga has baffled international onlookers, with many believing that even though this coup failed to topple the Russian leader, it may mark the beginning of the end of Putin’s long reign.  Damien speaks to Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman to discuss the biggest challenge to Putin’s supremacy.  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.

Winter is well and truly upon us now, and with it has come a steady stream of news articles offering advice on how to keep your house warm during the cold months while saving on energy bills.  Cost cutting is an extra priority this year with the inflation crunch. In a two-week period, Trade Me saw three hundred and forty thousand searches for heaters.  However, a recent report from the UK has suggested fixing draughty homes could add 40 billion pounds to their economy by 2030.   The Government acknowledges the economic and social importance of this issue and is pushing hard to improve conditions in homes across the country. In addition to the healthy homes standard, Labour has also put even more money into the Warmer Kiwi Homes policy, which focuses on the installation of insulation and efficient heaters. Since its launch in 2018, this policy has seen more than 100,000 installations of insulation and efficient heaters. The Warmer Kiwi Homes policy, which offers Government grants to cover up to 80 per cent of costs involved in the installation of insulation or efficient heating, was extended in the 2023 Budget.But how are we tracking on this issue? And what else can we do to keep our homes warmer?  To discuss this, today’s guest on The Front Page is Philippa Howden-Chapman, an Otago University professor of public health specialising in housing, health and wellbeing. She is also a director for Kāinga Oranga’s Housing and Health Research Programme. 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.

Over the last week, the world has been captivated by the story of a group of five wealthy people trapped in submarine on a voyage to visit the wreck of the Titantic.  This story has now ended in catastrophe with the submarine imploding and killing everyone on board.  The US Coast Guard confirmed that it had detected a debris field at the bottom of the ocean and that no one had survived?  So, how did things go so wrong? And why was the whole world’s attention fixed on this story of five people when hundreds of migrant lives are lost in shipping disasters every year?       On The Front Page now, we have UK correspondent Gavin Grey to explain how tone disaster captured the world's attention. 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.

Our economy has slipped into a technical recession, and Kiwis around the country are feeling the pinch of high inflation and rising mortgage rates.  Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that everything feels more expensive at the moment. It’s become easier than ever to question whether we’re even getting a fair deal anymore.  After conducting a study of the supermarket industry, the Government has now announced that banks will also be reviewed.  This comes amid a wider international discussion about greedflation. That’s the practice of businesses lifting prices faster than they need to, simply because they know shoppers expect to pay more right now.  So how long will this recessionary and inflationary period last? And how are some companies getting away with using financial turmoil as an opportunity to increase their prices?   NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenée Tibshraeny is on The Front Page to talk about the state of the economy and PriceSpy’s Carl Lindholm talks greedflation.  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.

It’s only a few weeks until the opening ceremony officially announces the start of the Fifa World Cup in both Australia and Aotearoa.   While preparations are well underway, there have been a few hiccups along the way. There was a major dispute over television rights in Europe, ticket sales in New Zealand haven’t moved quite as fast as expected and there are concerns about how inconvenient our time zone is for the northern hemisphere.  So have these issues been addressed? Will our stadiums be filled with fans? And how much inspiration will this groundbreaking tournament give young girls around the country?  FIFA chief women’s football officer Sarai Bareman lets us know how preparations are going for the biggest sporting event to ever come to New Zealand. Then, NZ Herald sports journalist Bonnie Jansen will explain the ongoing challenges facing the game from grassroots all the way to the top. 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.

News that Auckland surgeons are now being required to consider a patient’s ethnicity when deciding who should get an operation first sparked sharp debate around the country.  Politicians and medical professionals quickly weighed in, with some saying that Health New Zealand’s new Equity Adjuster Score was indefensible. Supporters have, however, pointed out that ethnicity is just one of a number of factors being considered alongside clinical priority, time spent on the waitlist, geographic location and deprivation level. So is this system defensible or even ethical? And is this even the best way to address poor health outcomes faced by Māori and Pasifika communities? Joining Damien on The Front Page today to help answer those questions is Auckland University associate professor Monique Jonas, an expert in healthcare ethics and distributive justice in health. 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.

Kāinga Ora is getting bad press once again, following the publication of the harrowing story of a Hamilton woman who for years lived next door to disruptive and disrespectful tenants. This is just the latest in a string of stories, stretching back years, that tell of neighbours enduring abuse, aggression and anti-social behaviour. So how widespread is this issue across social housing in New Zealand, and what are Kāinga Ora management doing to keep people safe from unruly neighbours? Damien is joined by Nick Maling, the general manager of national services at Kāinga Ora, NZ Herald deputy chief of news Lane Nichols who has for years been covering the turmoil that some Kiwi families are facing. 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 the world’s eyes have been fixed on Ukraine, another conflict on a different continent has seen more than a million people displaced from their homes.  Fighting in Sudan has ripped families apart amid a mass migration among those looking to escape the bloodshed. New Zealander Phil Johnstone recently visited South Sudan as part of his work with World Vision. What he saw there has left an indelible mark. As World Refugee Day’s efforts to remind us of the stories of those who have been displaced begin, Phil shares his experience of Sudan’s crisis with Damien and explains what Kiwis can do to help those in need. 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.

Rising interest rates and dropping house prices have seen most of our attention focused on New Zealand mortgage holders.   But we are also a nation of renters, with many Kiwis not able to get onto the property ladder. Now, with the latest data confirming this week that Aotearoa was in a technical recession earlier this year, what effect has the current economic strain had on renters around the country? Are prices still steadily going up? And do these high prices even guarantee families a warm, dry home?  On The Front Page, Infometrics principal economist and chief executive Brad Olsen explains to Damien why life is only getting tougher for renters. 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 rower Robbie Manson has found a unique way of promoting himself in the lead up to next year’s summer Olympics. The world record holder has signed up for fan subscription service OnlyFans, a site most associated with pornography. This is not a sudden career change for Manson though – and in fact, it highlights the financial difficulty many athletes in New Zealand face, even if they’ve represented us on a world stage. Damien speaks to Robbie Manson about this career move, and is later joined by Olympic medalist turned athlete pay advocate Eric Murray about the realities of financial support for our top sportspeople.  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.