Michael Wood is the latest minister to lose a portfolio under Chris Hipkins. 

He has been stood down from the Transport portfolio after revelations he owns shares in Auckland Airport – and has failed to sell them despite several reminders. 

It’s the latest problem to engulf the government at a ministerial level, heaping more pressure on Prime Minister Chris Hipkins to right his ship ahead of this year’s election.

NZ Herald deputy political editor and host of On the Tiles, Thomas Coughlan broke the story about Wood. He joins Damien to dissect the issues facing the Labour 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 Venuto
Producer: Paddy Fox and Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

Michael Wood is the latest minister to lose a portfolio under Chris Hipkins. 
He has been stood down from the Transport portfolio after revelations he owns shares in Auckland Airport – and has failed to sell them despite several reminders. 
It’s the latest problem to engulf the government at a ministerial level, heaping more pressure on Prime Minister Chris Hipkins to right his ship ahead of this year’s election.
NZ Herald deputy political editor and host of <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1049-on-the-tiles-86725722/">On the Tiles</a>, Thomas Coughlan broke the story about Wood. He joins Damien to dissect the issues facing the Labour 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 Venuto Producer: Paddy Fox and Shaun D Wilson Executive 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.

Inside the Michael Wood shares blunder - and Labour's other ministerial woes

The Finance Minister is adamant that New Zealand’s economic recovery has been delayed, but not derailed, by the war in Iran. 

Nicola Willis has shone a light on the country’s economic outlook in the lead up to next month’s budget. 

At the same time, Stats NZ data on the country’s productivity performance for the year to March 2025 shows our productivity continued to fall during what was a recessionary period for New Zealand. 

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann is with us to take us through what this all means for our country’s economy, and for you. 

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

The&nbsp;Finance Minister&nbsp;is adamant that New Zealand&rsquo;s economic recovery has been delayed, but not derailed, by the war in Iran.&nbsp;
Nicola Willis has shone a light on the country&rsquo;s economic&nbsp;outlook in the lead up to next month&rsquo;s budget.&nbsp;
At the same time,&nbsp;Stats NZ&nbsp;data on the country&rsquo;s productivity&nbsp;performance for the year&nbsp;to March 2025&nbsp;shows our productivity continued to fall during what was a recessionary period for New Zealand.&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann is with us to take us through what this all means for our country&rsquo;s economy, and for you.&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: Chelsea Daniels Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee

How Iran’s war and oil shock could hit inflation, interest rates and jobs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e21e334c-b425-415c-858e-b4360037f86c/transcript

Sales volumes have continued to decline across New Zealand’s housing market.

It marks a third consecutive monthly fall and extends the subdued start to 2026 – even as property values remain broadly stable.

But beneath the surface, the picture is uneven.

Auckland remains soft, first home buyers are propping up demand, and the rental market is showing signs of strain.

At the same time, global uncertainty and inflation risks are starting to cloud the outlook.

Today on The Front Page, Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson is with us to unpack what’s really happening in the housing market, and what could come 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

Sales volumes have continued to decline across New Zealand&rsquo;s housing market.
It marks a third consecutive monthly fall and extends the subdued start to 2026 &ndash; even as property values remain broadly stable.
But beneath the surface, the picture is uneven.
Auckland remains soft, first home buyers are propping up demand, and the rental market is showing signs of strain.
At the same time, global uncertainty and inflation risks are starting to cloud the outlook.
Today on The Front Page, Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson is with us to unpack what&rsquo;s really happening in the housing market, and what could come 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

NZ house sales keep falling as first-home buyers drive demand

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/15560dc5-4a4f-4a27-a722-b4350049a839/transcript

It’s safe to say our last episode on EVs amid the current fuel crisis sparked some lively debate.

Our last guest’s take on unreliable EVs and the possibility of brand collapses drew strong pushback.

So, today, we're flipping the script with a fresh take to tackle your top concerns head-on. EV registrations are still surging alongside hybrids and PHEVs. 
As of April 19, there were 5346 EVs registered this year, compared to 2493 at the same time last year. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, or PHEVs, are at an all-time high up 79% and Hybrids up 6.2%.

Today on The Front Page, AA chief mobility officer, Jonathan Sergel, is with us to break down the fact and fiction around EVs.

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

It&rsquo;s safe to say our last episode on EVs amid the current fuel crisis sparked some lively debate.
Our last guest&rsquo;s take on unreliable EVs and the possibility of brand collapses drew strong pushback.
So, today, we're flipping the script with a fresh take to tackle your top concerns head-on. EV registrations are still surging alongside hybrids and PHEVs. As of April 19, there were 5346 EVs registered this year, compared to 2493 at the same time last year. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, or PHEVs, are at an all-time high up 79% and Hybrids up 6.2%.
Today on The Front Page, AA chief mobility officer, Jonathan Sergel, is with us to break down the fact and fiction around EVs.
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

The new age of car buying: EVs, hybrids and the end of old myths

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ecd70900-53d8-4146-afc3-b434004affce/transcript

Inside the Michael Wood shares blunder - and Labour's other ministerial woes

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