A new social media policy is being described as having a chilling effect on politics, and by extension the health of democracy.

Meta, the global behemoth that owns Facebook and Instagram, is putting a stranglehold on recommendations in user feeds that contain political content.

The move, signalled in February, applies to Instagram and Threads, and will eventually extend to Facebook.

Today on The Front Page, Senior writer Derek Cheng joins us to look at what’s happening, why it’s happening, and how it changes the game for politicians.

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

A new social media policy is being described as having a chilling effect on politics, and by extension the health of democracy.
Meta, the global behemoth that owns Facebook and Instagram, is putting a stranglehold on recommendations in user feeds that contain political content.
The move, signalled in February, applies to Instagram and Threads, and will eventually extend to Facebook.
Today on The Front Page, Senior writer Derek Cheng joins us to look at what’s happening, why it’s happening, and how it changes the game for politicians.
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

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.

Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. 

Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future.
Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture.&nbsp;
Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

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

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald’s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what’s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Go beyond the headlines with The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald&rsquo;s daily news analysis podcast. Each weekday Chelsea Daniels unpacks the stories shaping Aotearoa, from what&rsquo;s happening in our own backyard to global events shaping our future. Every episode we speak to leaders, experts, reporters, and those living the story, so you get the full picture. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

How Meta's latest policy on political content could change the game for democracy

Iran has vowed to close the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely -- if the US follows through on President Donald Trump’s threats.

It’s after Trump gave Iran an ultimatum to open the passage before American forces "obliterate" their power plants.

But, if that happens, there’d be a large-scale blackout, resulting in widespread civilian harm - so, the question then becomes – would that be a violation of international law?

Today on The Front Page, Waikato University international law professor, Al Gillespie, is with us to take us through what could happen next.

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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

 

Iran has vowed to close the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely -- if the US follows through on President Donald Trump&rsquo;s threats.
It&rsquo;s after Trump gave Iran an ultimatum to open the passage before American forces "obliterate" their power plants.
But, if that happens, there&rsquo;d be a large-scale blackout, resulting in widespread civilian harm - so, the question then becomes &ndash; would that be a violation of international law?
Today on The Front Page, Waikato University international law professor, Al Gillespie, is with us to take us through what could happen next.
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 Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee
&nbsp;

Could NZ be dragged into a war over the Strait of Hormuz?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0a00c475-8534-4d22-b3da-b4160031d950/transcript

Yesterday, Stats NZ released New Zealand’s GDP performance for the last quarter of 2025, and the government tells us things are looking good with gross domestic product rising 0.2 percent.  

But the Reserve Bank had forecast growth of 0.5% - so while the latest results show we’re heading in the right direction, are we travelling fast enough? 

Today on the Front Page, NZ Herald Business Editor at Large, Liam Dann, joins us to explain what the latest results mean and how the conflict in the Middle East might impact the next chapter of our economic story. 

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: Jane Yee
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin

Yesterday,&nbsp;Stats NZ&nbsp;released New Zealand&rsquo;s GDP&nbsp;performance for the last quarter of 2025, and&nbsp;the government&nbsp;tells&nbsp;us things are looking good&nbsp;with gross domestic product rising&nbsp;0.2 percent.&nbsp;&nbsp;
But the Reserve Bank had forecast growth of&nbsp;0.5%&nbsp;-&nbsp;so&nbsp;while the latest results show&nbsp;we&rsquo;re&nbsp;heading in the right direction,&nbsp;are we&nbsp;travelling fast enough?&nbsp;
Today on the Front Page, NZ Herald Business Editor at Large, Liam Dann, joins us to explain what the latest results mean and how the conflict in the Middle East might impact the next chapter of our economic story.&nbsp;
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: Jane Yee Editor/Producer: Richard Martin

GDP is up in New Zealand, so why does the economy still feel flat?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/59f68f30-6064-488c-aa88-b413002f092a/transcript

A new study is shedding light on the changing landscape of New Zealand’s ‘party drug’ scene.

The annual New Zealand Drug Trends Survey, completed by more than 8000 people nationwide, shows that ketamine is rapidly growing in popularity.

Price data puts it among the more affordable options at around $200 a gram. Overseas, the UK has dubbed young people ‘Generation K’, while ketamine-related deaths rose 20-fold since 2014.

Despite years of warnings from health experts about the risks, ketamine’s now gaining popularity here – so what do we do now?

Today on The Front Page, Professor Chris Wilkins is with us to unpack what’s behind this trend and what it means for New Zealand.

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
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

A new study is shedding light on the changing landscape of New Zealand&rsquo;s &lsquo;party drug&rsquo; scene.
The annual New Zealand Drug Trends Survey, completed by more than 8000 people nationwide, shows that ketamine is rapidly growing in popularity.
Price data puts it among the more affordable options at around $200 a gram. Overseas, the UK has dubbed young people &lsquo;Generation K&rsquo;, while ketamine-related deaths rose 20-fold since 2014.
Despite years of warnings from health experts about the risks, ketamine&rsquo;s now gaining popularity here &ndash; so what do we do now?
Today on The Front Page, Professor Chris Wilkins is with us to unpack what&rsquo;s behind this trend and what it means for New Zealand.
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 Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee

How ketamine has become the new party drug of choice for students

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7a8dc6eb-37bc-4589-a9b8-b4120033ec55/transcript

How Meta's latest policy on political content could change the game for democracy

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