For years, New Zealand has spent big on infrastructure without always getting the results to match. 

Now, the Government's vowing to change that.

It’s supporting all 16 recommendations in the Infrastructure Commission's National Plan – a blueprint for how the country plans, funds, and delivers the things we all rely on. 

The 30-year plan includes a review of the Land Transport Fund and requires Crown entities to publish long-term investment plans.

Labour and the Greens are also backing it -- but the question remains whether this is the beginning of real reform, or just another ambitious plan on paper.

Today on The Front Page, Infrastructure NZ Chief Executive Nick Leggett joins us to discuss what it all means.

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

For years, New Zealand has spent big on infrastructure without always getting the results to match.&nbsp;
Now, the Government's vowing to change that.
It&rsquo;s supporting all 16 recommendations in the Infrastructure Commission's National Plan &ndash; a blueprint for how the country plans, funds, and delivers the things we all rely on.&nbsp;
The 30-year plan includes a review of the Land Transport Fund and requires Crown entities to publish long-term investment plans.
Labour and the Greens are also backing it -- but the question remains whether this is the beginning of real reform, or just another ambitious plan on paper.
Today on The Front Page, Infrastructure NZ Chief Executive Nick Leggett joins us to discuss what it all means.
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.

The plan that could reshape how New Zealand builds

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/20703d32-d5e2-44de-83ae-b46c0044ef67/transcript

Finance Minister Nicola Willis fronted a press conference on Sunday, complete with a black dossier labelled Labour's Hidden Bill, accusing the opposition of leaving an $18 billion funding gap in its plans. 

Since then, independent economists have also questioned Labour’s figures around their recently announced fare cap policy, saying the numbers don’t quite stack up.

Labour says the attack is a distraction while National says voters deserve answers. 

But beyond the numbers themselves, does this tell us something about how both major parties plan to fight the election campaign?

Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior correspondent Katie Bradford joins us to unpack the battle over Labour's alleged hidden costs and what it reveals about the state of Election 2026. 

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.

Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

Finance Minister Nicola Willis fronted a press conference&nbsp;on&nbsp;Sunday,&nbsp;complete&nbsp;with a black dossier labelled&nbsp;Labour's Hidden Bill, accusing the opposition of leaving an $18 billion funding gap in its plans.&nbsp;
Since then, independent economists have also questioned Labour&rsquo;s figures around their recently announced fare cap policy, saying the numbers don&rsquo;t quite stack up.
Labour says the attack is a distraction while National says voters deserve answers.&nbsp;
But beyond the numbers themselves, does this tell us something about how both major parties plan to fight the election campaign?
Today on The Front Page,&nbsp;NZ Herald senior correspondent Katie Bradford&nbsp;joins us to unpack the battle over Labour's alleged hidden costs and what it reveals about the state of Election 2026.&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.
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee

Can Labour afford its election promises?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a398a984-21d0-48eb-9458-b46b002acf69/transcript

Donald Trump says the United States and Iran have reached a peace agreement, with a formal signing ceremony expected later this week.

The announcement follows weeks of negotiations and comes in the wake of an Israeli strike on Beirut that reportedly disrupted the process at the last minute. 
If the agreement holds, it could reshape relations across the Middle East and have implications for everything from regional security to global oil markets. 

Today on The Front Page, Robert Patman - professor of international politics at Otago University - joins us to discuss what the deal means and how durable it’s likely to be in reality.

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.

Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

Donald Trump says the United States and Iran have reached a peace agreement, with a formal signing ceremony expected later this week.
The announcement follows weeks of negotiations and comes in the wake of an Israeli strike on Beirut that reportedly disrupted the process at the last minute.&nbsp; If the agreement holds, it could reshape relations across the Middle East and have implications for everything from regional security to global oil markets.&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, Robert Patman - professor of international politics at Otago University - joins us to discuss what the deal means and how durable it&rsquo;s likely to be in reality.
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.
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee

Can Trump’s Iran peace deal actually hold?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d60a084d-9a35-4ee5-abad-b46a003344c4/transcript

A leading paediatrician is warning more New Zealand babies will end up in hospital this winter while a treatment that could prevent many RSV cases remains unavailable.

The breakthrough antibody injection is already being used in countries like Australia, the UK and the US, but here it's still awaiting approval and funding decisions.

The delay has reignited questions about how we prioritise child health and whether New Zealand is moving quickly enough when it comes to proven medicines.

Today on The Front Page, senior investigative reporter Michael Morrah joins us to discuss his reporting on this issue, before we speak to recently retired South Auckland paediatrician Dr Adrian Trenholme about what he's witnessed on the frontline over nearly five decades.

Michael Morrah's story:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/top-paediatrician-warns-more-babies-will-suffer-as-rsv-drug-still-unapproved/SMDDIY4VDJCOVN6RZDFNF2VBGU/

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.

Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

A leading paediatrician is warning more New Zealand babies will end up in hospital this winter while a treatment that could prevent many RSV cases remains unavailable.
The breakthrough antibody injection is already being used in countries like Australia, the UK and the US, but here it's still awaiting approval and funding decisions.
The delay has reignited questions about how we prioritise child health and whether New Zealand is moving quickly enough when it comes to proven medicines.
Today on The Front Page, senior investigative reporter Michael Morrah joins us to discuss his reporting on this issue, before we speak to recently retired South Auckland paediatrician Dr Adrian Trenholme about what he's witnessed on the frontline over nearly five decades.
Michael Morrah's story: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/top-paediatrician-warns-more-babies-will-suffer-as-rsv-drug-still-unapproved/SMDDIY4VDJCOVN6RZDFNF2VBGU/
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.
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Jane Yee

The RSV delay exposing NZ’s child health gap

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ae2be141-d5fd-4a36-8be3-b4670025335e/transcript

The plan that could reshape how New Zealand builds

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