Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins has told the party it must change if it wants to re-gain the trust it's lost.

The party held its annual conference in Christchurch at the weekend, the first time its members have met since the 2023 election defeat.

The party has inched closer to campaigning on a wealth tax or a capital gains tax, at the next election - after members passed a proposal to move the idea forward.

And it’s made three major promises – a full Dunedin Hospital rebuild, rail-enabled ferries, and not getting involved in AUKUS.

As the coalition government deals with contentious policies and flat poll results, can Hipkins pull off a win in 2026?

He joins us today on The Front Page to discuss the path ahead for Labour.  

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

Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins has told the party it must change if it wants to re-gain the trust it's lost.
The party held its annual conference in Christchurch at the weekend, the first time its members have met since the 2023 election defeat.
The party has inched closer to campaigning on a wealth tax or a capital gains tax, at the next election - after members passed a proposal to move the idea forward.
And it’s made three major promises – a full Dunedin Hospital rebuild, rail-enabled ferries, and not getting involved in AUKUS.
As the coalition government deals with contentious policies and flat poll results, can Hipkins pull off a win in 2026?
He joins us today on The Front Page to discuss the path ahead for Labour.  
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

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>
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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.

Chris Hipkins on Labour's future, taxes, and whether Luxon’s a good PM

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3f26fa1f-4e72-41fc-9b19-b23a00290ff7/transcript

When strippers arrive at work and don’t know how much money they’re taking home at the end of the shift.

Their employer might decide to take a higher percentage of their wages that week, or they could’ve been fined for something inconsequential – with no way of rebutting.

They can’t unionise, negotiate better contract terms, or complain to the likes of WorkSafe or the Commerce Commission.

Fired Up Stilettos is an organisation and social movement working to improve the lives of strippers and sex workers in Aotearoa.

Today on The Front Page, one of the group’s organisers Margot Embargot joins us to discuss the deception, discrimination, and stigma these workers face daily.

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

When strippers arrive at work and don’t know how much money they’re taking home at the end of the shift.
Their employer might decide to take a higher percentage of their wages that week, or they could’ve been fined for something inconsequential – with no way of rebutting.
They can’t unionise, negotiate better contract terms, or complain to the likes of WorkSafe or the Commerce Commission.
Fired Up Stilettos is an organisation and social movement working to improve the lives of strippers and sex workers in Aotearoa.
Today on The Front Page, one of the group’s organisers Margot Embargot joins us to discuss the deception, discrimination, and stigma these workers face daily.
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

Strippers and sex workers seek fairer treatment as Fair Trading Act review looms

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/718d26ce-5eab-4a74-a252-b23d003d2828/transcript

There are continued calls to tighten alcohol laws in New Zealand.

The growing trend of online deliveries has made advocates worried, with a study finding a large portion of alcohol deliveries bypassed ID checks.

Meanwhile, Auckland's new alcohol policy, starting December 9, will reduce sales hours and tighten regulations on new liquor licenses.

Across the ditch, New South Wales is looking to introduce new rules to regulate pre-mixed alcoholic beverages, especially those with candy-like flavours and colourful packaging.

So, should there be more restrictions around the sale and advertising of alcohol in New Zealand?

Today on The Front Page, we speak to Alcohol Healthwatch executive director, Andrew Galloway on where we should scale up restrictions first, and later to New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council executive director Virginia Nicholls for the industry’s reaction.

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

There are continued calls to tighten alcohol laws in New Zealand.
The growing trend of online deliveries has made advocates worried, with a study finding a large portion of alcohol deliveries bypassed ID checks.
Meanwhile, Auckland's new alcohol policy, starting December 9, will reduce sales hours and tighten regulations on new liquor licenses.
Across the ditch, New South Wales is looking to introduce new rules to regulate pre-mixed alcoholic beverages, especially those with candy-like flavours and colourful packaging.
So, should there be more restrictions around the sale and advertising of alcohol in New Zealand?
Today on The Front Page, we speak to Alcohol Healthwatch executive director, Andrew Galloway on where we should scale up restrictions first, and later to New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council executive director Virginia Nicholls for the industry’s reaction.
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

From online deliveries to RTDs: Do we need more laws around alcohol?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bfd8b4b4-7a22-438a-98ff-b23c00467c99/transcript

New Zealand’s summer is shaping up to be hotter and drier than average.

The country’s forecast has shrugged off the rainy start to summer with temperatures soaring into the 30s in some parts in the coming week.

But, moving through January and February, the weather patterns are predicted to become more La Nina-like, which would bring increased chances of more rain events.

So as the country gears up for a summer break, today on The Front Page, we’re looking at what is on the cards weather-wise for the weeks and months ahead with MetService meteorologist John Law.

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

New Zealand’s summer is shaping up to be hotter and drier than average.
The country’s forecast has shrugged off the rainy start to summer with temperatures soaring into the 30s in some parts in the coming week.
But, moving through January and February, the weather patterns are predicted to become more La Nina-like, which would bring increased chances of more rain events.
So as the country gears up for a summer break, today on The Front Page, we’re looking at what is on the cards weather-wise for the weeks and months ahead with MetService meteorologist John Law.
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

Summer weather: New Zealand warned to brace for hot, dry months ahead

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d0fb373d-cc5b-41f3-8eb2-b23b00505eb5/transcript

Chris Hipkins on Labour's future, taxes, and whether Luxon’s a good PM

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