Yesterday, Stats NZ released New Zealand’s GDP performance for the last quarter of 2025, and the government tells us things are looking good with gross domestic product rising 0.2 percent.  

But the Reserve Bank had forecast growth of 0.5% - so while the latest results show we’re heading in the right direction, are we travelling fast enough? 

Today on the Front Page, NZ Herald Business Editor at Large, Liam Dann, joins us to explain what the latest results mean and how the conflict in the Middle East might impact the next chapter of our economic story. 

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/Producer: Jane Yee
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin

Yesterday,&nbsp;Stats NZ&nbsp;released New Zealand&rsquo;s GDP&nbsp;performance for the last quarter of 2025, and&nbsp;the government&nbsp;tells&nbsp;us things are looking good&nbsp;with gross domestic product rising&nbsp;0.2 percent.&nbsp;&nbsp;
But the Reserve Bank had forecast growth of&nbsp;0.5%&nbsp;-&nbsp;so&nbsp;while the latest results show&nbsp;we&rsquo;re&nbsp;heading in the right direction,&nbsp;are we&nbsp;travelling fast enough?&nbsp;
Today on the Front Page, NZ Herald Business Editor at Large, Liam Dann, joins us to explain what the latest results mean and how the conflict in the Middle East might impact the next chapter of our economic story.&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/Producer: Jane Yee Editor/Producer: Richard Martin

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.

GDP is up in New Zealand, so why does the economy still feel flat?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/59f68f30-6064-488c-aa88-b413002f092a/transcript

Violent crime is on the rise again. 

New figures show the number of victims has climbed to around 148,000 a year – up 9000 on the previous quarter. 

But dig into the numbers, and the picture gets a bit more complicated. 

So what is really happening with violent crime in New Zealand – and how much can we actually say about the Government’s record? 

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior journalist Derek Cheng is with us to crunch the numbers. 

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

Violent crime is on the rise again.&nbsp;
New figures show the number of victims has climbed to around 148,000 a year &ndash; up 9000 on the previous quarter.&nbsp;
But dig into the numbers, and the picture gets a bit&nbsp;more complicated.&nbsp;
So what is really happening with violent crime in New Zealand &ndash; and how much can we actually say about the Government&rsquo;s record?&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page,&nbsp;NZ Herald senior journalist Derek Cheng is with us to crunch the numbers.&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

Violent crime figures reveal worsening trend for repeat victims

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ea7188d8-59c9-4acb-b768-b4d60189a5ca/transcript

New Zealand’s housing market has taken another step backwards. 

Property values have now fallen for six months in a row, with the national median value dropping below the previous cycle low. 

And while buyers have more choice and bargaining power, there’s still little sign of a sharp rebound - with high mortgage rates, economic uncertainty and plenty of houses on the market keeping a lid on prices. 

So, what’s happening in the housing market, and how much longer could this subdued period last? 

Today on The Front Page, Cotality NZ chief property economist Kelvin Davidson is with us to break it all down.

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

New Zealand&rsquo;s housing market has taken another step backwards.&nbsp;
Property values have now fallen for six months in a row, with the national median value dropping below the previous cycle low.&nbsp;
And while buyers have more choice and bargaining power, there&rsquo;s still little sign of a sharp rebound - with high mortgage rates, economic uncertainty and plenty of houses on the market keeping a lid on prices.&nbsp;
So, what&rsquo;s happening in the housing market, and how much longer could this subdued period last?&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, Cotality NZ chief property economist Kelvin Davidson is with us to break it all down.
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 prices remain flat as buyers retain the upper hand

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7acd194e-73e7-45c9-9878-b4d6002a9f26/transcript

New Zealanders are working. The economy is growing. So why aren’t we getting much more out of it? 

For more than a decade, New Zealand’s productivity growth has been painfully weak – and that could be one of the biggest economic problems facing the next Government. 

But you wouldn’t necessarily know it from the election campaign. 

The parties are promising tax cuts, more housing, cheaper groceries, changes to immigration and more spending on public services. 

But how many of those policies will actually make New Zealand more productive? 

Today on The Front Page, University of Otago economics associate professor Dennis Wesselbaum reckons productivity is the economic elephant in the room this election. He joins us now.

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

New Zealanders are working. The economy is growing. So why aren&rsquo;t we getting much more out of it?&nbsp;
For more than a decade, New Zealand&rsquo;s productivity growth has been painfully weak &ndash; and that could be one of the biggest economic problems facing the next Government.&nbsp;
But you wouldn&rsquo;t necessarily know it from the election campaign.&nbsp;
The parties are promising tax cuts, more housing, cheaper groceries, changes to immigration and more spending on public services.&nbsp;
But how many of those policies will actually make New Zealand more productive?&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, University of Otago economics associate professor Dennis Wesselbaum reckons productivity is the economic elephant in the room this election. He joins us now.
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 NZ’s productivity problem the real economic elephant in the room?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3d7634d5-634c-427d-88c7-b4d5001ef272/transcript

GDP is up in New Zealand, so why does the economy still feel flat?

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