The Government wants to force councils to keep rate hikes at a maximum 4% from 2029. 

Councils would be expected to prepare for the change from next July. 

Local Government Minister Simon Watts has said it'll ease cost-of-living pressures and get councils back to basics. 

But, what will a lower income coming in mean for our core services? And how do we get councils to spend more wisely? 

Local Government New Zealand reckons councils can't be expected to deliver more infrastructure and support growth with fewer levers. 

Today on The Front Page, the Taxpayer's Union's Jordan Williams is with us to walk through the numbers and what our rates bills might look like in future. 

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 Government wants to force councils to keep rate hikes at a maximum 4% from 2029.&nbsp;
Councils would be expected to prepare for the change from next July.&nbsp;
Local Government Minister Simon Watts has said it'll ease cost-of-living pressures and get councils back to basics.&nbsp;
But, what will a lower income coming in mean for our core services? And how do we get councils to spend more wisely?&nbsp;
Local Government New Zealand reckons councils can't be expected to deliver more infrastructure and support growth with fewer levers.&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, the Taxpayer's Union's Jordan Williams is with us to walk through the numbers and what our rates bills might look like in future.&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
&nbsp;

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.

Can councils deliver more with less under a 4% rates limit?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/287a6204-cf23-498a-88ef-b4b200435827/transcript

The Government's pushing ahead with banning social media for under-16s. 

It mirrors rules that took effect in Australia last year - requiring the likes of Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to bring in stronger age verification. 

If they don't, the social media giants could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue. 

But coalition partners Act and NZ First both agree to disagree with it - and Christopher Luxon has admitted the bill won't get a look-in before the election.  

So, what's the point? Will these measures even work? And what are the risks of getting it wrong? 

Today on The Front Page, Tech Users Association of New Zealand CEO Craig Young is with us to break down the bill, how age checks would actually work, and what we can learn from overseas experience.

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 Government's pushing ahead with banning social media for under-16s.&nbsp;
It mirrors rules that took effect in Australia last year - requiring the likes of Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube&nbsp;to bring in stronger age verification.&nbsp;
If they don't, the social media giants could face fines of up to 10% of their&nbsp;global revenue.&nbsp;
But coalition partners Act and NZ First both agree to disagree with it&nbsp;- and Christopher Luxon has admitted the bill won't get a look-in before the election.&nbsp;&nbsp;
So, what's the point? Will these measures even work? And what are the risks of getting it wrong?&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, Tech Users Association of New Zealand CEO Craig Young is with us to break down the bill, how age checks would actually work, and what we can learn from overseas experience.
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

Is banning social media the best way to protect children online?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a4c3d930-ca26-4fa5-949d-b4b100322868/transcript

National is committing to no new taxes if re-elected – but the jury is still out over whether that means no tinkering to existing taxes.

This means the party is scrapping both a bed tax and bank tax – something that's disappointed Mayors in tourism hotspots around the country.

Meanwhile, Labour's banking on its capital gains tax to get us back to surplus by 2029/30.

They released their fiscal strategy at the weekend, targeting spending and revenue at around 33% of GDP - and net debt at 20% "over time".

So, what do these competing approaches mean for the economy, and for taxpayers.

Today on The Front Page, independent economist Cameron Bagrie is with us to explain who stands to win or lose, and what voters should be looking for in the numbers before election day.

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

National is committing to no new taxes if re-elected &ndash; but the jury is still out over whether that means no tinkering to existing taxes.
This means the party is scrapping both a bed tax and bank tax &ndash; something that's disappointed Mayors in tourism hotspots around the country.
Meanwhile, Labour's banking on its capital gains tax to get us back to surplus by 2029/30.
They released their fiscal strategy at the weekend, targeting spending and revenue at around 33% of GDP - and net debt at 20% "over time".
So, what do these competing approaches mean for the economy, and for taxpayers.
Today on The Front Page, independent economist Cameron Bagrie is with us to explain who stands to win or lose, and what voters should be looking for in the numbers before election day.
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

Are New Zealanders willing to pay more tax if they see better results?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bee56686-8a34-4251-997a-b4b00044ebeb/transcript

Severe respiratory illness rates are now the highest they've been in the last decade, mostly because of the flu. 

It comes as ambulance services struggle to meet demand, and Health NZ urges people to save emergency departments for emergencies. 

RNZ reported this week that hospitals have even created dedicated flu wards and some elective surgery is being cancelled as influenza A hits the health system. 

So, why has this flu season been so late, so sharp, and so severe – and what does it mean for our hospitals, our most vulnerable, and the rest of winter? 

Today on The Front Page, University of Otago epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker is with us to break down what’s driving this surge and what all of us can do to stay well and keep pressure off the health system.

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

Severe respiratory illness rates are now the highest they've been in the last decade, mostly because of the flu.&nbsp;
It&nbsp;comes as&nbsp;ambulance services&nbsp;struggle to meet demand, and Health NZ&nbsp;urges&nbsp;people&nbsp;to save emergency departments for emergencies.&nbsp;
RNZ reported this week that hospitals have even created dedicated flu wards and some elective surgery is being cancelled as influenza A hits the health system.&nbsp;
So, why has this flu season been so late, so sharp, and so severe &ndash; and what does it mean for our hospitals, our most vulnerable, and the rest of winter?&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, University of Otago epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker is with us to break down what&rsquo;s driving this surge and what all of us can do to stay well and keep pressure off the health system.
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

Would you want a flu warning system for your region?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d4035fef-90ee-4efb-9a8d-b4ad00451e3b/transcript

Can councils deliver more with less under a 4% rates limit?

In 1 playlist(s)

The Front Page

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips