The Government’s opened its books and it’s showing a return to surplus is well on track. 

The Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update shows a stronger and slightly faster surplus than predicted... with the books expected to get out of the red by 2028/29. 

Treasury also predicts unemployment has already peaked - and will track down. 

But, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Predictions of house price growth have been slashed, and there are some choice words about how costly our super is. 

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large, Liam Dann 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

The Government&rsquo;s opened its books and it&rsquo;s showing a return to surplus is well on track.&nbsp;
The Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update shows a stronger and slightly faster surplus than predicted... with the books expected to get out of the red by 2028/29.&nbsp;
Treasury also predicts unemployment has already peaked - and will track down.&nbsp;
But, it&rsquo;s not all sunshine and rainbows. Predictions of house price growth have been slashed, and there are some choice words about how costly our super is.&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald business editor at large, Liam Dann 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

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.

Is our economy getting better, or is it just 'less bad' than we thought?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7f257c2d-9712-4c32-9658-b4d4002db30b/transcript

It was a weekend of big political theatre, as both National and Labour officially launched their election campaigns. 

Christopher Luxon and his National crew pushed the message of “no new taxes” ... meanwhile, Labour and Chris Hipkins unveiled a new policy to wipe 10% of student loan debt. 

But in the lead up to Election 2026, it’s not just the big parties fighting for our attention. 

So what actually makes a political campaign work? What makes a slogan, a speech, an image or a campaign ad stick in voters’ minds – and what can make a campaign fall flat? 

Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland Marketing professor Bodo Lang is with us to break down the campaign launches, the strategies behind them, and what the parties are getting right – and getting wrong.

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

It was a weekend of big political theatre, as both National and Labour officially launched their election campaigns.&nbsp;
Christopher Luxon and his National crew pushed the message of &ldquo;no new taxes&rdquo; ... meanwhile, Labour and Chris Hipkins unveiled a new policy to wipe 10% of student loan debt.&nbsp;
But in the lead up to Election 2026, it&rsquo;s not just the big parties fighting for our attention.&nbsp;
So what actually makes a political campaign work? What makes a slogan, a speech, an image or a campaign ad stick in voters&rsquo; minds &ndash; and what can make a campaign fall flat?&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland Marketing professor Bodo Lang is with us to break down the campaign launches, the strategies behind them, and what the parties are getting right &ndash; and getting wrong.
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

Why your TikTok feed matters as much as town halls in Election 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d574560f-fd7e-42a1-a505-b4d3000b5341/transcript

With the election just weeks away, a new poll gives us a glimpse into how voters feel about one of the major topics this campaign season – tax. 

No new taxes for working people. No new taxes full stop. Taxes for capital gains. Tax the rich. Tax inheritance. Tax landowners. 

The campaign season’s only just officially begun but it feels like we’ve already been hearing debates about the subject of taxes and levies for a while now. 

The latest Ipsos Issues Monitor survey dove deeper into the tax debate, showing about two-thirds of Kiwis would support a wealth tax. 

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political reporter, Ethan Griffiths is with us to break down 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

With the election just weeks away, a new poll gives us a glimpse into how voters feel about one of the&nbsp;major&nbsp;topics this campaign season &ndash; tax.&nbsp;
No new taxes for working people. No new taxes full stop. Taxes for capital gains. Tax the rich. Tax inheritance. Tax landowners.&nbsp;
The campaign season&rsquo;s only just officially begun but it feels like we&rsquo;ve already been hearing debates about the subject of taxes and levies for a while now.&nbsp;
The latest Ipsos Issues Monitor survey dove deeper into the tax debate, showing about two-thirds of Kiwis would support a wealth tax.&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page,&nbsp;Newstalk ZB political reporter, Ethan Griffiths is with us to break down 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

What each party wants to do with your taxes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/41f51bfd-9acf-4fe7-a08b-b4d00033405a/transcript

Parliament is officially over and now the gloves are coming off.  

New Zealanders go to the polls on November 7, and between now and then we’re going to see the parties make their pitches, ramp up their attacks, and fight for every last vote. 

The next 44 days will be filled with policy announcements, political debates, carefully choreographed photo ops, an endless stream of memes, and inevitably -- drama. 

So, as the buzz of the Beehive fades into silence and the campaign proper takes centre stage, what issues are likely to dominate and who has the most to gain, and perhaps -- the most to lose?  

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan 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

Parliament is officially over and now the gloves are coming off. &nbsp;
New Zealanders go to the polls on November 7, and between now and then we&rsquo;re going to see the parties make their pitches, ramp up their attacks, and fight for every last vote.&nbsp;
The next 44&nbsp;days will be filled with policy announcements, political debates, carefully choreographed photo ops, an endless&nbsp;stream&nbsp;of memes, and inevitably --&nbsp;drama.&nbsp;
So, as the buzz of the Beehive fades into silence and the campaign proper takes centre stage, what issues are likely to dominate and who has the most to gain, and perhaps -- the most to lose? &nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan 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

Why this election could come down to the smaller parties

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ed20449b-b136-4734-a20d-b4cf00364138/transcript

Is our economy getting better, or is it just 'less bad' than we thought?

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