The Front Page

The political year is coming to an end, and what a year it has been.   Rogue MPs, shock resignations, and legislative controversies have dominated headlines for both sides of the House this year.   And as things wind down, attention is firmly focused on the general election, and if Labour and the Greens can make it to a third term or if National and Act will be in control by this time next year. To discuss the year that’s been and what it means for the next 12 months, Damien is joined by NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett for her thoughts on 2022's political highs and lows. 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.

Sophisticated online scams are costing New Zealanders millions of dollars every year, and the problem is only becoming worse. Scammers operate in teams outside of Aotearoa, creating elaborate schemes that could catch even the most tech-savvy among us. So how do these scams work? Do victims have any chance of getting their money back once it leaves their accounts? And what are some of the key warning signs we should be looking out for? Today, NZ Herald investigative reporter Matt Nippert tells Damien what he learned in the course of tracking down and confronting an unrepentant scammer, and NZ Herald news director Lane Nichols shares his insight after covering a number of heartbreaking stories about Kiwis losing their life savings due to the cruelty of scammers. 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.

Today marks three years since the Whakaari/White Island disaster, which saw 22 people lose their lives after being caught up in an eruption on the island.   Now, the story of what happened on the island is being told by the survivors and first responders in a new documentary, The Volcano – Rescue from Whakaari, out on Netflix next week.  The movie is directed by Oscar nominee Rory Kennedy and co-written and produced by Dallas Brennan Rexer. Today, guest host Jenni Mortimer asks why they wanted to tell this story, and what they make of the ongoing controversy surrounding the tragedy.  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: Jenni MortimerProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new Netflix series is set to shake the Royal Family once again.   Harry and Meghan will follow the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and document their new lives in Los Angeles, and the fallout from their departure as working British royals.   The series has everyone talking, but will we get new information about the couple and their familial conflict, or is this a cash grab from Netflix, tapping into an ongoing controversy? And how will this affect the Royal Family, as they near an end of a tumultuous and tragic year for the institution?   Today, Damien is joined by NZ Herald lifestyle reporter Bethany Reitsma to discuss what to expect from this already controversial documentary series. 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 Government’s long mooted merger of TVNZ and RNZ into a new state broadcaster is coming closer to fruition.   The new entity is only three months away, with the two powers set to be merged into the catchily titled Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media by March 1st.  But questions still remain about how necessary the merger is, who will be chairing the board, and how much money is being spent – none of which has been helped by a trainwreck interview by Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson.   Today, Myles Thomas, chair at the Better Public Media Trust, joins Damien for a discussion about the merger creating headaches for the Government.  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.

Three Waters has again made headlines for all the wrong reasons. This time the Government has had to back down on an entrenchment clause that would have made it more difficult for future governments to alter the legislation. The move has been dubbed 'absolute chaos' by National Party leader Christopher Luxon, and further muddies the water around an already controversial proposal. So what would the entrenchment clause have done, how did it make it into the bill in the first place, and why was it originally considered necessary? Today, Damien is joined by NZ Herald deputy political editor and host of On The Tiles, Thomas Coughlan. 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 NZ Herald has kicked off the next stage in its project, The New New Zealand – Rebuilding Better. This time, as chosen by readers, the focus is on the social division our country is experiencing. Some of that disunity stems from the level of disinformation that was bubbling under the surface of polite society but boiled over in the wake of the Covid pandemic. So why are people still protesting outside courts and hospitals? How can you reach out to someone who has the mistaken belief that they live in a fascist police state? 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 DanielsProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aotearoa has its first convicted saboteur.  62-year-old Graham Philip was sentenced to just over three years in jail for an attack on the National Grid in November last year. Since laws were introduced during the Second World War, it is the first time anyone has been charged with sabotage in this country. So what is sabotage in law, what did Philip actually do, and are there any concerns about others following the same path?  Today, Shaun D Wilson is joined by Open Justice reporter Ethan Griffiths to explain what’s happened here and why we are only just now learning the details. 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/Producer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's December, which means the festive shopping season has just officially kicked off. Many people may want to treat themselves and their loved ones, but with a recession due next year, there is some hesitancy around potential overspending – and official warnings to spend less this year. So how much should we be spending this year, and how should you best manage your money this time of year? Today, guest host Chelsea Daniels chats with Sasha Lockley, the CEO and co-founder of social lender Money Sweetspot to talk about making the most of what you’ve got over the Christmas period. Plus, NZ Herald Business Editor at Large Liam Dann digs into where our economy is in the wake of Black Friday and the Official Cash Rate rise. 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 DanielsProducer: Shaun D Wilson and Paddy FoxExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six months ago, few people in New Zealand had a clue who Simon Henry was. He was just an anonymous millionaire running his successful business. But then, all of a sudden, his comments referring to My Food Bag founder Nadia Lim catapulted him into the public consciousness for all the wrong reasons.   NZ Herald investigative journalist Carolyne Meng-yee has been trying to secure an interview with Henry ever since those comments were made. She finally got to sit down with the man for an extensive chat on Lim, business and life in Christchurch. Today, Carolyne Meng-yee joins guest host Chelsea Daniels to share a glimpse of the world according to Simon Henry and why we should pay attention to his comments.   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 DanielsProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.