Benefits, boosting apprenticeships, and the coalition headache already looming over Election 2026.

Both Labour and Act kickstarted their campaigns at the weekend.

David Seymour wants a much tougher welfare system. Chris Hipkins wants to bolster a Covid-era trade scheme.

Meanwhile, National’s questioning its coalition partners’ intentions, with Christopher Luxon not “100% sure” about whether they can take Winston Peters’ word he won’t work with Labour.

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan is with us to break down the weekend’s big political moves, and what they might mean for the campaign ahead.

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

Benefits, boosting apprenticeships, and the coalition headache already looming over Election 2026.
Both Labour and Act kickstarted their campaigns at the weekend.
David Seymour wants a much tougher welfare system. Chris Hipkins wants to bolster a Covid-era trade scheme.
Meanwhile, National&rsquo;s questioning its coalition partners&rsquo; intentions, with Christopher Luxon not &ldquo;100% sure&rdquo; about whether they can take Winston Peters&rsquo; word he won&rsquo;t work with Labour.
Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan is with us to break down the weekend&rsquo;s big political moves, and what they might mean for the campaign ahead.
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.

Luxon raises coalition doubts as Labour and Act unveil election priorities

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/12a6f27b-60fc-4283-b5c2-b47800426b7b/transcript

The New Zealand Police has been rocked by an investigation into the country’s top cop. 

An inquiry’s underway into complaints against Police Commissioner Richard Chambers. 

He is strongly denying the claims.

But, it comes at a time when trust and confidence in police is on shaky ground already.

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior investigative reporter Michael Morrah is with us to take us through how we got here, and what happens next. 

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 New Zealand Police has been rocked by an investigation into the country&rsquo;s top&nbsp;cop.&nbsp;
An inquiry&rsquo;s underway into complaints against Police Commissioner Richard Chambers.&nbsp;
He is strongly denying the claims.
But, it comes at a time when trust and confidence in police is on shaky ground already.
Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior investigative reporter Michael Morrah is with us to take us through how we got here, and what happens next.&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

Are New Zealand Police facing another crisis of confidence?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7d5bc20e-daf3-468a-9016-b4750031ff6d/transcript

Could now be the time to see a new party in Government? Better yet, is it time to see a new Kingmaker?

The Opportunity Party is nearing the 5% threshold to get into Parliament for the first time in its 10-year history.

At the centre of that pitch is a bold Tax Reset policy: a universal Citizens Income, a Land Value Tax, and a major rethink of retirement savings.

But the real question now is whether voters are genuinely ready to send Opportunity to Wellington, or whether this is another polling bump that will fade before election day.

Today on The Front Page, Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong is with us to talk about the party’s momentum, the policies driving it, and whether this is finally the year TOP crosses the line into Parliament.

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

Could now be the time to see a new party in Government? Better yet, is it time to see a new Kingmaker?
The Opportunity Party is nearing the 5% threshold to get into Parliament for the first time in its 10-year history.
At the centre of that pitch is a bold Tax Reset policy: a universal Citizens Income, a Land Value Tax, and a major rethink of retirement savings.
But the real question now is whether voters are genuinely ready to send Opportunity to Wellington, or whether this is another polling bump that will fade before election day.
Today on The Front Page, Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong is with us to talk about the party&rsquo;s momentum, the policies driving it, and whether this is finally the year TOP crosses the line into Parliament.
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

Could a new kingmaker be emerging as coalition support slips?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/705694ad-33da-4730-8a45-b4740035b705/transcript

Misleading information, unanswered questions, and more than $30 million down the drain and nothing to show for it.

You may have heard about immigration officials being in hot water lately over scrapping an IT upgrade and apparently obscuring information relating to the project’s cost blowouts.

Even the Prime Minister has admitted his confidence in the public service has taken a knock over the debacle.

So, what exactly happened? How could it happen? And how do we make sure public money isn’t squandered on stupid projects?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald deputy political editor Adam Pearse is with us to take us through what has happened, and where to from here.

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

Misleading information, unanswered questions, and more than $30 million down the drain and nothing to show for it.
You may have heard about immigration officials being in hot water lately over scrapping an IT upgrade and apparently obscuring information relating to the project&rsquo;s cost blowouts.
Even the Prime Minister has admitted his confidence in the public service has taken a knock over the debacle.
So, what exactly happened? How could it happen? And how do we make sure public money isn&rsquo;t squandered on stupid projects?
Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald deputy political editor Adam Pearse is with us to take us through what has happened, and where to from here.
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

Immigration IT scandal: What happens when Ministers stop trusting their officials?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1e170efa-5665-450a-9ee6-b473003c51bb/transcript

Luxon raises coalition doubts as Labour and Act unveil election priorities

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