It’s a battle of the islands to become New Zealand’s economic engine room.

All eight South Island Chambers of Commerce have launched a joint election manifesto highlighting their $100 billion contribution to the economy.

They’re calling for more investment and productivity with the goal of lifting South Island GDP per capita to $130,000 by 2035.

Representing around 7000 businesses, it’s the first time they’ve all come together to push for political parties to pay closer attention to the south.

Today on The Front Page, Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson is with us to explain why the South Island wants to move ahead of the national average, not just keep up, and what it will take to get there.

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&rsquo;s a battle of the islands to become New Zealand&rsquo;s economic engine room.
All eight South Island Chambers of Commerce have launched a joint election manifesto highlighting their $100 billion contribution to the economy.
They&rsquo;re calling for more investment and productivity with the goal of lifting South Island GDP per capita to $130,000 by 2035.
Representing around 7000 businesses, it&rsquo;s the first time they&rsquo;ve all come together to push for political parties to pay closer attention to the south.
Today on The Front Page, Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson is with us to explain why the South Island wants to move ahead of the national average, not just keep up, and what it will take to get there.
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 South Island’s economic power play ahead of Election 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e49680e9-cb4c-4d77-bba4-b4980026fd32/transcript

Go onto any parents group in the country and you’ll find comments about arbitrary school uniform rules.  

Socks falling down, no scarves in class, skirts instead of shorts, and no t-shirts underneath despite not seeing them – and that’s just what our team has seen.  

And that’s all before we talk about the costs that come with a compulsory uniform. The Act Party is campaigning to make school uniforms more affordable, saying some families are spending well over $1000 a year. 

The University of Otago’s Dr Johanna Reidy has been involved in research to find out if uniforms had an impact on education and health.  

She joins us today on The Front Page.

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 onto any parents group in the country and&nbsp;you&rsquo;ll&nbsp;find comments about arbitrary school uniform rules.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Socks&nbsp;falling down, no&nbsp;scarves in class,&nbsp;skirts instead of shorts, and no&nbsp;t-shirts&nbsp;underneath&nbsp;despite not seeing them &ndash; and&nbsp;that&rsquo;s&nbsp;just what our team has seen.&nbsp;&nbsp;
And&nbsp;that&rsquo;s&nbsp;all before we talk about&nbsp;the costs that come with a compulsory uniform.&nbsp;The Act Party is campaigning&nbsp;to make&nbsp;school uniforms more&nbsp;affordable, saying some families are spending&nbsp;well over $1000 a year.&nbsp;
The University of Otago&rsquo;s Dr Johanna Reidy has been involved in research to find out if uniforms had an impact on education and health.&nbsp;&nbsp;
She joins us today on The Front Page.
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

Do school uniform rules do more harm than good?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/090793a0-df6b-4c4d-b555-b497003996d7/transcript

New Zealand’s superannuation problem is something that constantly rears its head. 

Whether it’s abolishing MPs’ gold-plated super scheme, if we should introduce means testing, or heighten the retirement age – one thing’s always clear... our status quo is untenable. 

The annual cost of NZ Super has already risen from less than $20 billion in 2023 to $24.7b this financial year, and is forecast to pass $30b in 2030. 

Meanwhile, the annual superbill for older migrants has hit a billion dollars – five years after Parliament tightened eligibility. 

So, what are the real pressure points in the system and how politically realistic are any of the fixes? 

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths is with us to unpack the numbers, the politics, and what changes might actually be on the table.

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 superannuation problem is something that constantly rears its head.&nbsp;
Whether&nbsp;it&rsquo;s&nbsp;abolishing&nbsp;MPs&rsquo;&nbsp;gold-plated super scheme,&nbsp;if we should introduce means testing, or heighten the retirement age &ndash; one&nbsp;thing&rsquo;s&nbsp;always clear... our status quo is untenable.&nbsp;
The annual cost of NZ Super has already risen from less than $20 billion in 2023&nbsp;to $24.7b this financial&nbsp;year,&nbsp;and&nbsp;is forecast to pass $30b&nbsp;in 2030.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the annual superbill for older migrants has hit a billion dollars &ndash; five years after Parliament tightened eligibility.&nbsp;
So, what are the real pressure points in the system and how politically realistic are any of the fixes?&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths is with us to unpack the numbers, the politics, and what changes might actually be on the table.
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 $30b time bomb facing the next Govt

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/826e6622-ce20-4a0b-9a8e-b49600418fef/transcript

91 petrol is set to stay below $3 a litre for the fourth week in a row, and that means the $50 weekly fuel payment for working families should be coming to an end. 

The Government has always said any support would be timely, temporary and targeted — but with so much volatility in the Middle East, should it be extended? 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has said she’ll take advice to Cabinet next week about extending the payment. 

But, there’s also the argument that this is all part of a bigger picture: New Zealand lagging behind other countries on EVs, solar and batteries. 

Today on The Front Page, journalist and publisher of The Kākā, Bernard Hickey joins us to unpack whether the fuel support should continue, and what New Zealand risks if it keeps moving too slowly on electrification. 

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

91 petrol is set to&nbsp;stay&nbsp;below $3 a&nbsp;litre&nbsp;for the fourth week in a row, and that means the $50 weekly fuel payment for working&nbsp;families should&nbsp;be&nbsp;coming&nbsp;to an end.&nbsp;
The Government has always said any support would be&nbsp;timely,&nbsp;temporary&nbsp;and targeted &mdash; but with so much volatility in the Middle East, should it be extended?&nbsp;
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has said&nbsp;she&rsquo;ll&nbsp;take advice to Cabinet next week about extending the payment.&nbsp;
But,&nbsp;there&rsquo;s&nbsp;also the argument that this is all part of a bigger picture:&nbsp;New Zealand&nbsp;lagging behind&nbsp;other countries on EVs, solar and batteries.&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, journalist and publisher of The Kākā, Bernard Hickey joins us to unpack whether the fuel support should continue, and what New Zealand risks if it keeps moving too slowly on electrification.&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

Should the Government extend fuel support as prices dip below $3?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0b602bb2-6e2f-4b0b-8407-b49500277f05/transcript

The South Island’s economic power play ahead of Election 2026

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