Last week, we reported on the issues at Wellington City Council after councillors voted against selling airport shares, forcing a rethink of the council’s long term plan.

The Coalition Government labelled the council a ‘shambles’, and threatened to send in a Crown Observer.

Well, they’ve now delivered on that threat, with Local Government Minister Simeon Brown confirming that appointment will be coming.

The move puts more pressure on Mayor Tory Whanau and her councillors to sort out their issues – but it has also sparked debate around if the bar is too low for the Government to intervene.

Today on The Front Page, Jim Palmer, a consultant who chaired the Review into the Future for Local Government, is with us to discuss the issues at our council tables.

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 Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

Last week, we reported on the issues at Wellington City Council after councillors voted against selling airport shares, forcing a rethink of the council’s long term plan.
The Coalition Government labelled the council a ‘shambles’, and threatened to send in a Crown Observer.
Well, they’ve now delivered on that threat, with Local Government Minister Simeon Brown confirming that appointment will be coming.
The move puts more pressure on Mayor Tory Whanau and her councillors to sort out their issues – but it has also sparked debate around if the bar is too low for the Government to intervene.
Today on The Front Page, Jim Palmer, a consultant who chaired the Review into the Future for Local Government, is with us to discuss the issues at our council tables.
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 Daniels Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox Producer: Ethan Sills

Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. Available every weekday at 5am, tune in as Chelsea Daniels chats with the journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day. 

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<li>Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. Available every weekday at 5am, tune in as Chelsea Daniels chats with the journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day. </li>
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Every day, The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald. Hosted by Damien Venuto

The Front Page

Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. Available every weekday at 5am, tune in as Chelsea Daniels chats with the journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day.

Is central government sending the right message to local councils?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/55749d0b-ef7f-4b46-8c4e-b212002f9770/transcript

In 2011, NZ Herald journalist David Fisher became aware that a woman had been caught catfishing dozens of teenage boys and young men across New Zealand.

Catfishing is a term used for people who use stolen photos to pretend to be someone else online, usually to form relationships with real people across social media.

Fisher would go on to expose the woman behind the false online accounts as Natalia Burgess. She referred to herself as ‘The Puppeteer’.

Fisher interviewed Burgess on several occasions before she went to jail for charges related to her online activity. He thought she would have learnt her lesson, but two years ago he received an email from a woman who had had her photos stolen by Burgess, and it was ruining her life.

Fisher explored Burgess’ actions in the true crime podcast, Chasing Ghosts: The Puppeteer, and he joins us today on The Front Page, to discuss what he learned.

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 Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

In 2011, NZ Herald journalist David Fisher became aware that a woman had been caught catfishing dozens of teenage boys and young men across New Zealand.
Catfishing is a term used for people who use stolen photos to pretend to be someone else online, usually to form relationships with real people across social media.
Fisher would go on to expose the woman behind the false online accounts as Natalia Burgess. She referred to herself as ‘The Puppeteer’.
Fisher interviewed Burgess on several occasions before she went to jail for charges related to her online activity. He thought she would have learnt her lesson, but two years ago he received an email from a woman who had had her photos stolen by Burgess, and it was ruining her life.
Fisher explored Burgess’ actions in the true crime podcast, Chasing Ghosts: The Puppeteer, and he joins us today on The Front Page, to discuss what he learned.
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 Daniels Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox Producer: Ethan Sills

The Puppeteer: How one NZ woman catfished dozens of victims over 20 years

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/08e24462-0432-47c3-9d7d-b21600a42ffb/transcript

It seems that when one political scandal ends, another one rises to take its place. 

This week, the Green Party ended the saga that has dominated 2024 for them, with MP Darleen Tana formally removed as an MP in the first usage of the Waka Jumping Bill.  

As Chloe Swarbrick and her party look to the future, it’s now National’s turn to deal with an unneeded diversion, after Minister Andrew Bayly was accused of abusing a member of the public at a business event. 

And at the same, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has engaged in a war of words with Te Pati Māori and the Labour Party.  

So, to make sense of the latest political ups and downs, today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent, Barry Soper.  

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 Daniels
Sound Engineer: Dan Goodwin
Producer: Ethan Sills

It seems that when one political scandal ends, another one rises to take its place. 
This week, the Green Party ended the saga that has dominated 2024 for them, with MP Darleen Tana formally removed as an MP in the first usage of the Waka Jumping Bill.  
As Chloe Swarbrick and her party look to the future, it’s now National’s turn to deal with an unneeded diversion, after Minister Andrew Bayly was accused of abusing a member of the public at a business event. 
And at the same, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has engaged in a war of words with Te Pati Māori and the Labour Party.  
So, to make sense of the latest political ups and downs, today on The Front Page, we’re joined by Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent, Barry Soper.  
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 Daniels Sound Engineer: Dan Goodwin Producer: Ethan Sills

From Tana to Bayly: Inside the latest political scandals and war of words

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/494ec0fc-8d2b-4b01-98ae-b21300ad527a/transcript

13 youths climbed atop a youth justice facility in South Auckland on Monday night – demanding fast food, cigarettes, and a getaway car.

The group made it on to the top of the Korowai Manaaki facility in Wiri just after 6.30 that night. By 9am the next day, just four remained. They came down just before noon.

It’s reminiscent of an incident at the same facility last year – when groups of young people climbed onto the roof. A month later, a trio of teens did it again – and in June, another group staged a rooftop standoff at a facility near Christchurch.

But, who exactly are these unruly youths – and are we doing the best to care for them?

Today on The Front Page, youth worker and found of Kick Back youth development  Aaron Hendry joins us to discuss these incidents.

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 Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

13 youths climbed atop a youth justice facility in South Auckland on Monday night – demanding fast food, cigarettes, and a getaway car.
The group made it on to the top of the Korowai Manaaki facility in Wiri just after 6.30 that night. By 9am the next day, just four remained. They came down just before noon.
It’s reminiscent of an incident at the same facility last year – when groups of young people climbed onto the roof. A month later, a trio of teens did it again – and in June, another group staged a rooftop standoff at a facility near Christchurch.
But, who exactly are these unruly youths – and are we doing the best to care for them?
Today on The Front Page, youth worker and found of Kick Back youth development  Aaron Hendry joins us to discuss these incidents.
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 Daniels Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox Producer: Ethan Sills

Rooftop protest sparks debate about youth justice and treatment of young offenders 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1b7a10a2-18c4-4449-91d0-b21100477186/transcript

Is central government sending the right message to local councils?

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