Students across the country are starting to head back to school, and there are some big changes coming from our youngest pupils.

As well as 2025 marking the return of charter schools, primary school students will start to be taught structured literacy and maths this year, as part of a curriculum refresh instituted by Education Minister Erica Stanford.

It comes as test results continue to show declines in achievement across all age groups.

But are these changes enough to reverse falling standards – and are our teachers on board with them?

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB education reporter Shannon Johnstone is with us to what parents need to know about this years changes.

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/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

Students across the country are starting to head back to school, and there are some big changes coming from our youngest pupils.
As well as 2025 marking the return of charter schools, primary school students will start to be taught structured literacy and maths this year, as part of a curriculum refresh instituted by Education Minister Erica Stanford.
It comes as test results continue to show declines in achievement across all age groups.
But are these changes enough to reverse falling standards &ndash; and are our teachers on board with them?
Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB education reporter Shannon Johnstone is with us to what parents need to know about this years changes.
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/Producer: Richard Martin 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 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. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

Education shakeup: New curriculum, charter schools and lunches amongst changes taking effect

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0a08b773-8756-435a-9e24-b274003d4fe9/transcript

There are more than 9,000 gang members in New Zealand, and thousands more associates.

The coalition government from the get-go promised a crackdown on gangs – they've banned gang insignia in public, handed police greater powers, and created laws to disrupt get-togethers. But, is that all enough?

Jared Savage has been a journalist at the NZ Herald for about 20 years, with a focus on organised crime.

His latest book, Underworld, is the third in a series of he’s released since 2020 – and the latest instalment delves deeper into our country’s dark underbelly of gangs, guns, drugs, and money – lots and lots of money.

Today on The Front Page, Savage joins us to discuss the rising threat of organised crime in 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: Ethan Sills

There are more than 9,000 gang members in New Zealand, and thousands more associates.
The coalition government from the get-go promised a crackdown on gangs &ndash; they've banned gang insignia in public, handed police greater powers, and created laws to disrupt get-togethers. But, is that all enough?
Jared Savage has been a journalist at the NZ Herald for about 20 years, with a focus on organised crime.
His latest book, Underworld, is the third in a series of he&rsquo;s released since 2020 &ndash; and the latest instalment delves deeper into our country&rsquo;s dark underbelly of gangs, guns, drugs, and money &ndash; lots and lots of money.
Today on The Front Page, Savage joins us to discuss the rising threat of organised crime in 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: Ethan Sills

Reissue: The changing face of gangs and organised crime - are the Govt's policies working?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8f4e8ba7-3d03-4e16-a8c7-b3b401663ff8/transcript

A dark day in Australia, as two gunmen opened fire at a Bondi Beach Jewish event marking the first day of Hannukah.

Sixteen people are dead, including one of the assailants.

Police have confirmed there were two offenders and they aren’t looking for anyone else.

One of them, a 50-year-old man, is dead, and a second, a 24-year-old man, is in critical but stable condition. They were a father and son.

There were dozens of people in NSW hospitals overnight, from the ages of 10 to 87.

New South Wales premier Chris Minns has said “Antisemitism is toxic it is cancerous, and leads to devastating implications”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said “We as a nation are stronger than the cowards who did this”.

Today on The Front Page, University of Waikato international law professor, Al Gillespie is with us to discuss this tragic attack and what it might mean 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 dark day in Australia, as two gunmen opened fire at a Bondi Beach Jewish event marking the first day of Hannukah.
Sixteen people are dead, including one of the assailants.
Police have confirmed there were two offenders and they aren&rsquo;t looking for anyone else.
One of them, a 50-year-old man, is dead, and a second, a 24-year-old man, is in critical but stable condition. They were a father and son.
There were dozens of people in NSW hospitals overnight, from the ages of 10 to 87.
New South Wales premier Chris Minns has said &ldquo;Antisemitism is toxic it is cancerous, and leads to devastating implications&rdquo;.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said &ldquo;We as a nation are stronger than the cowards who did this&rdquo;.
Today on The Front Page, University of Waikato international law professor, Al Gillespie is with us to discuss this tragic attack and what it might mean 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

What the Bondi attack means for New Zealand

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a955e70f-0ac2-4c2e-b1cd-b3b3015ed539/transcript

From geopolitical friction and climate chaos to a cost-of-living crisis and a haka heard around the world, 2025 has been a huge year for news.

Trump’s return sparked trade wars, artificial intelligence is getting, well, more intelligent, and we’re rounding out the year with no end in sight for wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

At home, Treaty principles were again put under the microscope, a huge blow for the New Zealand Police, and an end to a devastating saga in Marokopa.

All of that mixed with a TikTok blackout, an American genes ad, TV shows that sparked worldwide conversation about the manosphere, and a little monster named Labubu.

Today on The Front Page, our producers Richard Martin and Jane Yee are here to wrap up the year that was.

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

From geopolitical friction and climate chaos to a cost-of-living crisis and a haka heard around the world, 2025 has been a huge year for news.
Trump&rsquo;s return sparked trade wars, artificial intelligence is getting, well, more intelligent, and we&rsquo;re rounding out the year with no end in sight for wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
At home, Treaty principles were again put under the microscope, a huge blow for the New Zealand Police, and an end to a devastating saga in Marokopa.
All of that mixed with a TikTok blackout, an American genes ad, TV shows that sparked worldwide conversation about the manosphere, and a little monster named Labubu.
Today on The Front Page, our producers Richard Martin and Jane Yee are here to wrap up the year that was.
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

Broken trust, political divides and the world getting weirder — 2025 debriefed

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1b261a52-ee47-48ad-8444-b3b0015bc065/transcript

Education shakeup: New curriculum, charter schools and lunches amongst changes taking effect

In 1 playlist(s)

The Front Page

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips