While The Front Page is taking its summer break, we will be shining a spotlight on some of the biggest podcasts from the New Zealand Herald network over the last year.  

In 2011, then Herald on Sunday journalist David Fisher reported on what the paper dubbed ‘the Facebook Predator’, an adult woman who had been caught catfishing dozens of teenage boys in the South Island.  

She would be named as Natalia Burgess. 

Fisher covered the Burgess case for months, before she eventually went to prison for two years as a result of her behaviour. 

He thought that was the end of it – until two years ago, an email out of the blue revealed that Burgess returned to her catfishing once she was free from prison. 

In the latest series of the Herald’s true crime series, Chasing Ghosts, Fisher went back to re-examine the case, see what he missed back in 2011 – and tried to get Burgess to front up again to what she had done. 

You can listen to half of the first episode of Chasing Ghosts: The Puppeteer now, and find the full series on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. 

While The Front Page is taking its summer break, we will be shining a spotlight on some of the biggest podcasts from the New Zealand Herald network over the last year. &nbsp;
In 2011, then Herald on Sunday journalist David Fisher reported on what the paper dubbed &lsquo;the Facebook Predator&rsquo;, an adult woman who had been caught catfishing dozens of teenage boys in the South Island. &nbsp;
She would be named as Natalia Burgess.&nbsp;
Fisher covered the Burgess case for months, before she eventually went to prison for two years as a result of her behaviour.&nbsp;
He thought that was the end of it &ndash; until two years ago, an email out of the blue revealed that Burgess returned to her catfishing once she was free from prison.&nbsp;
In the latest series of the Herald&rsquo;s true crime series, Chasing Ghosts, Fisher went back to re-examine the case, see what he missed back in 2011 &ndash; and tried to get Burgess to front up again to what she had done.&nbsp;
You can listen to half of the first episode of Chasing Ghosts: The Puppeteer now, and find the full series on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;

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>
</ol>

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.

NZ Herald Presents: Chasing Ghosts - The Puppeteer 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bfdd73b9-0bfc-44c2-bb0d-b24b0179b82e/transcript

While The Front Page is on summer break, we’re taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top-rated episodes from the podcast in 2024.   

This year, Tipene Funerals, best known for the television show 'The Casketeers', came under fire because one of its funeral directors allegedly swindled her grieving clients and put their dead relatives in plastic rubbish bags instead of the coffins they had paid for.  

It was only revealed when bodies in a public mausoleum were disinterred after Cyclone Gabrielle. 

Since then, Police revealed the scale of their investigation into former undertaker Fiona Bakulich, telling the Herald there are 10 bodies involved.  

She’s since appeared in court, facing a charge of misconduct in respect of human remains and nine of obtaining by deception. 

In August, we spoke to Herald journalist Raphael Franks – who began the investigation into this case.  

We also touched base with Funeral Directors Association chief executive Gillian Boyes about stats showing that burial and cremation costs to councils rose 50 percent in a year. 

New episodes return January 13th. 

Host: Chelsea Daniels 
Audio Engineers: Paddy Fox, Richard Martin 
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

While The Front Page is on summer break, we&rsquo;re taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top-rated episodes from the podcast in 2024.&nbsp; &nbsp;
This year, Tipene Funerals, best known for the television show 'The Casketeers', came under fire because one of its funeral directors allegedly swindled her grieving clients and put their dead relatives in plastic rubbish bags instead of the coffins they had paid for. &nbsp;
It was only revealed when bodies in a public mausoleum were disinterred after Cyclone Gabrielle.&nbsp;
Since then, Police revealed the scale of their investigation into former undertaker Fiona Bakulich, telling the Herald there are 10 bodies involved. &nbsp;
She&rsquo;s since appeared in court, facing a charge of misconduct in respect of human remains and nine of obtaining by deception.&nbsp;
In August, we spoke to Herald journalist Raphael Franks &ndash; who began the investigation into this case. &nbsp;
We also touched base with Funeral Directors Association chief executive Gillian Boyes about stats showing that burial and cremation costs to councils rose 50 percent in a year.&nbsp;
New episodes return January 13th.&nbsp;
Host: Chelsea Daniels Audio Engineers: Paddy Fox, Richard Martin Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

Revisiting the Tipene Funerals burial scandal - and the soaring 'cost of dying'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/503f5999-36d7-4bc9-bf49-b24b017a14f8/transcript

While The Front Page is on summer break, we’re taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top-rated episodes from the podcast in 2024.   

Major earthquakes may not be a regular occurrence in New Zealand, but the threat of them is often in the back of our minds.  

With a major faultline running through the middle of the country, you only have to look to the events in Christchurch and Kaikoura to know the risk they pose.  

In May, new modelling was published that highlighted the impact a catastrophic quake could have on this country, including the threat of tsunamis, and how prepared we are for such an event.  

We spoke with Doctors Bilrtl Fry and Matt Gerstenberger from GNS Science to dig into the latest research on our seismic threats.   

New episodes return January 13th. 

Host: Chelsea Daniels 
Audio Engineers: Paddy Fox, Richard Martin 
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

While The Front Page is on summer break, we&rsquo;re taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top-rated episodes from the podcast in 2024.&nbsp; &nbsp;
Major earthquakes may not be a regular occurrence in New Zealand, but the threat of them is often in the back of our minds. &nbsp;
With a major faultline running through the middle of the country, you only have to look to the events in Christchurch and Kaikoura to know the risk they pose. &nbsp;
In May, new modelling was published that highlighted the impact a catastrophic quake could have on this country, including the threat of tsunamis, and how prepared we are for such an event. &nbsp;
We spoke with Doctors Bilrtl Fry and Matt Gerstenberger from GNS Science to dig into the latest research on our seismic threats.&nbsp; &nbsp;
New episodes return January 13th.&nbsp;
Host: Chelsea Daniels Audio Engineers: Paddy Fox, Richard Martin Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

What the latest research shares about earthquakes and tsunamis in NZ

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ce94fd92-0e57-4617-828b-b24b0179ec77/transcript

While The Front Page is on summer break, we’re taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top-rated episodes from the podcast in 2024.   

The disappearances of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope on New Year’s Day 1998 remain one of New Zealand’s infamous cases.  

Scott Watson has spent the last 25 years behind bars after being convicted of murdering them, despite no bodies ever being found.  

In June, Watson headed back to the courtroom four years after his case was referred to the Court of Appeal – it's his last shot at clearing his name.  

There’s still no word yet on the result of his latest appeal.  

We spoke with NZ Herald senior journalist Carolyne Meng Yee and editorial leader Oskar Alley – who took us back to 1999 when they both covered Watson’s infamous first trial, and ran through the evidence making up this appeal with senior reporter David Fisher.  

New episodes return January 13th. 

Host: Chelsea Daniels 
Audio Engineers: Paddy Fox, Richard Martin 
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills 

While The Front Page is on summer break, we&rsquo;re taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top-rated episodes from the podcast in 2024.&nbsp; &nbsp;
The disappearances of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope on New Year&rsquo;s Day 1998 remain one of New Zealand&rsquo;s infamous cases. &nbsp;
Scott Watson has spent the last 25 years behind bars after being convicted of murdering them, despite no bodies ever being found. &nbsp;
In June, Watson headed back to the courtroom four years after his case was referred to the Court of Appeal &ndash; it's his last shot at clearing his name. &nbsp;
There&rsquo;s still no word yet on the result of his latest appeal. &nbsp;
We spoke with NZ Herald senior journalist Carolyne Meng Yee and editorial leader Oskar Alley &ndash; who took us back to 1999 when they both covered Watson&rsquo;s infamous first trial, and ran through the evidence making up this appeal with senior reporter David Fisher. &nbsp;
New episodes return January 13th.&nbsp;
Host: Chelsea Daniels Audio Engineers: Paddy Fox, Richard Martin Executive Producer: Ethan Sills&nbsp;

Revisiting the Hope-Smart murders as Scott Watson awaits appeal decision

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/533893c4-aff8-4395-80f8-b24b01797095/transcript

NZ Herald Presents: Chasing Ghosts - The Puppeteer

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