A new Youthline ASB report is shining a light on the mounting pressures facing young Kiwis. The 2026 State of the Generation report includes Gen Alpha for the first time and is based on a nationwide survey of more than 1000 people aged 12 to 24.

The report reveals a lot is worrying our younger generations, and the consequences of these pressures are dire. In the past three months, Youthline recorded an all-time high, connecting an average of four young people a day with emergency services. That’s compared with one a week five years ago.

Youthline CEO Shae Ronald joins the show with more on the things that are keeping our young people up at night.

A new Youthline ASB report is shining a light on the mounting pressures facing young Kiwis. The 2026 State of the Generation report includes Gen Alpha for the first time and is based on a nationwide survey of more than 1000 people aged 12 to 24.
The report reveals a lot is worrying our younger generations, and the consequences of these pressures are dire. In the past three months, Youthline recorded an all-time high, connecting an average of four young people a day with emergency services. That&rsquo;s compared with one a week five years ago.
Youthline CEO Shae Ronald joins the show with more on the things that are keeping our young people up at night.

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.

What's keeping NZ youth up at night?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/96121aec-1608-484a-9ef1-b4430047eb49/transcript

National is committing to no new taxes if re-elected – but the jury is still out over whether that means no tinkering to existing taxes.

This means the party is scrapping both a bed tax and bank tax – something that's disappointed Mayors in tourism hotspots around the country.

Meanwhile, Labour's banking on its capital gains tax to get us back to surplus by 2029/30.

They released their fiscal strategy at the weekend, targeting spending and revenue at around 33% of GDP - and net debt at 20% "over time".

So, what do these competing approaches mean for the economy, and for taxpayers.

Today on The Front Page, independent economist Cameron Bagrie is with us to explain who stands to win or lose, and what voters should be looking for in the numbers before election day.

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

National is committing to no new taxes if re-elected &ndash; but the jury is still out over whether that means no tinkering to existing taxes.
This means the party is scrapping both a bed tax and bank tax &ndash; something that's disappointed Mayors in tourism hotspots around the country.
Meanwhile, Labour's banking on its capital gains tax to get us back to surplus by 2029/30.
They released their fiscal strategy at the weekend, targeting spending and revenue at around 33% of GDP - and net debt at 20% "over time".
So, what do these competing approaches mean for the economy, and for taxpayers.
Today on The Front Page, independent economist Cameron Bagrie is with us to explain who stands to win or lose, and what voters should be looking for in the numbers before election day.
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 Zealanders willing to pay more tax if they see better results?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bee56686-8a34-4251-997a-b4b00044ebeb/transcript

Severe respiratory illness rates are now the highest they've been in the last decade, mostly because of the flu. 

It comes as ambulance services struggle to meet demand, and Health NZ urges people to save emergency departments for emergencies. 

RNZ reported this week that hospitals have even created dedicated flu wards and some elective surgery is being cancelled as influenza A hits the health system. 

So, why has this flu season been so late, so sharp, and so severe – and what does it mean for our hospitals, our most vulnerable, and the rest of winter? 

Today on The Front Page, University of Otago epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker is with us to break down what’s driving this surge and what all of us can do to stay well and keep pressure off the health system.

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

Severe respiratory illness rates are now the highest they've been in the last decade, mostly because of the flu.&nbsp;
It&nbsp;comes as&nbsp;ambulance services&nbsp;struggle to meet demand, and Health NZ&nbsp;urges&nbsp;people&nbsp;to save emergency departments for emergencies.&nbsp;
RNZ reported this week that hospitals have even created dedicated flu wards and some elective surgery is being cancelled as influenza A hits the health system.&nbsp;
So, why has this flu season been so late, so sharp, and so severe &ndash; and what does it mean for our hospitals, our most vulnerable, and the rest of winter?&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, University of Otago epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker is with us to break down what&rsquo;s driving this surge and what all of us can do to stay well and keep pressure off the health system.
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

Would you want a flu warning system for your region?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d4035fef-90ee-4efb-9a8d-b4ad00451e3b/transcript

The Mount Maunganui landslide has been described as "preventable". 

A damning review into the disaster has revealed a litany of failures by authorities who “missed several opportunities” to evacuate campers to safety. 

Six people died after the slip crashed into the campground on January 22. 

It's now been revealed that over decades, "one consultant after another" warned Tauranga City Council of the risks at the holiday spot at the bottom of the mountain. 

Today on The Front Page, University of Canterbury senior lecturer in disaster risk and resilience, Dr Tom Robinson is with us to take us through what happened, who is to blame, and what 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 Mount Maunganui landslide has been described as "preventable".&nbsp;
A damning review into the disaster has revealed a litany of failures by authorities who &ldquo;missed several opportunities&rdquo; to evacuate campers to safety.&nbsp;
Six people died after the slip crashed into the campground on January 22.&nbsp;
It's now been revealed that over decades, "one consultant after another" warned Tauranga City Council of the risks at the holiday spot at the bottom of the mountain.&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page,&nbsp;University of Canterbury senior lecturer in disaster risk and resilience, Dr Tom Robinson&nbsp;is with us to take us through what happened, who is to blame, and what 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

If the Mount Maunganui landslide risk was known, why was nothing done?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/40e8ee75-6013-4592-bf52-b4ac003be573/transcript

What's keeping NZ youth up at night?

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