Communities around the country are waiting with bated breath for news about major infrastructure projects – ones that are set to cost a lot of money.

The government’s expected to announce the future of Interislander’s Cook Strait ferries this week – after the $3 billion mega ferry contract was canned last year due to ‘significant cost blowouts’.

Meanwhile, a report has revealed a ‘lack of confidence’ in a French contractor’s forecasts for the $5.5 billion City Rail Link in Auckland – the company has execs flying out this month to address concerns.

There’s apparently a 50% likelihood the November 2025 completion date will be met.

Later on The Front Page, Transporting New Zealand’s Policy and Advocacy Lead Billy Clemens is with us to discuss why the industry is on tenterhooks over the upcoming decision around the Cook Strait ferries.

But first, Public Transport Users Association chairperson Niall Robertson is with us to discuss the City Rail Link.

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

Communities around the country are waiting with bated breath for news about major infrastructure projects &ndash; ones that are set to cost a lot of money.
The government&rsquo;s expected to announce the future of Interislander&rsquo;s Cook Strait ferries this week &ndash; after the $3 billion mega ferry contract was canned last year due to &lsquo;significant cost blowouts&rsquo;.
Meanwhile, a report has revealed a &lsquo;lack of confidence&rsquo; in a French contractor&rsquo;s forecasts for the $5.5 billion City Rail Link in Auckland &ndash; the company has execs flying out this month to address concerns.
There&rsquo;s apparently a 50% likelihood the November 2025 completion date will be met.
Later on The Front Page, Transporting New Zealand&rsquo;s Policy and Advocacy Lead Billy Clemens is with us to discuss why the industry is on tenterhooks over the upcoming decision around the Cook Strait ferries.
But first, Public Transport Users Association chairperson Niall Robertson is with us to discuss the City Rail Link.
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>
</ol>

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.

Infrastructure woes: New concerns for City Rail Link as decision expected for Cook Strait ferries 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e09e08fd-6b80-4f23-9743-b242004eebb3/transcript

The year in politics has been a bumpy road for many.

The coalition Government dived in quickly to reverse previous Labour policy, and pushed numerous bills through Parliament to reach quarterly deadlines and targets – with a mixed response from voters around some policies.

Labour meanwhile has spent much of the last year recovering from their election wipeout in 2023, leaving Te Pati Maori to lead the pushback against the Treaty Principles Bill.

At a local level, huge rates increases were a burden for many councils, while Wellington Council had the unfortunate honour of having a Crown Observer appointed.

Today on The Front Page, we’re revisiting some of our interviews with top politicians from central and local government as we look back on 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
Sound Engineer/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

The year in politics has been a bumpy road for many.
The coalition Government dived in quickly to reverse previous Labour policy, and pushed numerous bills through Parliament to reach quarterly deadlines and targets &ndash; with a mixed response from voters around some policies.
Labour meanwhile has spent much of the last year recovering from their election wipeout in 2023, leaving Te Pati Maori to lead the pushback against the Treaty Principles Bill.
At a local level, huge rates increases were a burden for many councils, while Wellington Council had the unfortunate honour of having a Crown Observer appointed.
Today on The Front Page, we&rsquo;re revisiting some of our interviews with top politicians from central and local government as we look back on 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 Sound Engineer/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Ethan Sills

Policy priorities, a council in ‘shambles’, and a historic hīkoi: The year in NZ politics

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/dd42b635-3aad-435d-b8ae-b24b0046fa7a/transcript

It’s been a huge year for sport here in New Zealand.

In one weekend in October, Team New Zealand took to the water in Barcelona and took home the America’s Cup for the third time in a row, while the White Ferns won the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup final.

There were major wins across the board for the Black Caps, the Silver Ferns, and our latest football team, Auckland FC.

But in this major year, there was perhaps no bigger cause for celebration than the Paris Olympics, when Kiwi athletes bagged more gold medals at Paris 2024 than at any other Olympic Games in history.

On this special sports-themed compilation episode of The Front Page, we're looking back at some of the best conversations we've had around the year in sport.

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

It&rsquo;s been a huge year for sport here in New Zealand.
In one weekend in October, Team New Zealand took to the water in Barcelona and took home the America&rsquo;s Cup for the third time in a row, while the White Ferns won the ICC T20 Women&rsquo;s World Cup final.
There were major wins across the board for the Black Caps, the Silver Ferns, and our latest football team, Auckland FC.
But in this major year, there was perhaps no bigger cause for celebration than the Paris Olympics, when Kiwi athletes bagged more gold medals at Paris 2024 than at any other Olympic Games in history.
On this special sports-themed compilation episode of The Front Page, we're looking back at some of the best conversations we've had around the year in sport.
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

The sporting highlights from the year: Which Kiwi athletes ended the year on top?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fb4710c4-65b0-4270-be2e-b24a003a46c3/transcript

The economy has been in an uncertain place for quite some time, and 2024 was no different.

Over the last year, we’ve seen some improvement. In October, the annual rate for inflation had fallen from 3.3 percent to 2.2 percent. The official cash rate ended the year on 4 point 25 percent.

Elsewhere, the news hasn’t been so positive. The country’s gross domestic product contracted 0.2 percent in the June quarter, only just missing out on a technical recession.

Job cuts across multiple sectors have seen Jobseeker benefit numbers surge to over 200,000.

And Government books released this week show that it’s unlikely we’ll return to a surplus until 2029 – about a year later than originally anticipated in this year’s Budget.

So what’s going on in our economy? And how soon until we start to see some change?

On this compilation episode of The Front Page, we revisit some of the discussions we've had to do with economy and the business sector throughout 2024, including post-Budget analysis, closures in the retail and hospitality sector, and the big scandal around Du Val Group. 

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

The economy has been in an uncertain place for quite some time, and 2024 was no different.
Over the last year, we&rsquo;ve seen some improvement. In October, the annual rate for inflation had fallen from 3.3 percent to 2.2 percent. The official cash rate ended the year on 4 point 25 percent.
Elsewhere, the news hasn&rsquo;t been so positive. The country&rsquo;s gross domestic product contracted 0.2 percent in the June quarter, only just missing out on a technical recession.
Job cuts across multiple sectors have seen Jobseeker benefit numbers surge to over 200,000.
And Government books released this week show that it&rsquo;s unlikely we&rsquo;ll return to a surplus until 2029 &ndash; about a year later than originally anticipated in this year&rsquo;s Budget.
So what&rsquo;s going on in our economy? And how soon until we start to see some change?
On this compilation episode of The Front Page, we revisit some of the discussions we've had to do with economy and the business sector throughout 2024, including post-Budget analysis, closures in the retail and hospitality sector, and the big scandal around Du Val Group.&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 Sound Engineer/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Ethan Sills

From inflation to closures to job cuts: The challenges facing New Zealand’s economy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8185f292-6c1c-487b-bc1b-b249004fa9c1/transcript

Infrastructure woes: New concerns for City Rail Link as decision expected for Cook Strait ferries

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