New Zealand’s longest waterway has become a meandering river of filth.

The Waikato River is regularly unswimmable and high levels of pollutants have left community members deeply concerned about how much worse it could become.

There is, however, a plan to clean this mess. The only catch is that it’s going to take more than seven decades.

Today, RNZ data journalist Farah Hancock joins Damien to discuss her investigation into what’s gone wrong with this important waterway - and why it has such a long road to recovery. 

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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: Damien Venuto
Producer/Editor: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills 

New Zealand&rsquo;s longest waterway has become a meandering river of filth.
The Waikato River is regularly unswimmable and high levels of pollutants have left community members deeply concerned about how much worse it could become.
There is, however, a plan to clean this mess. The only catch is that it&rsquo;s going to take more than seven decades.
Today, RNZ data journalist Farah Hancock joins Damien to discuss her investigation into what&rsquo;s gone wrong with this important waterway - and why it has such a long road to recovery.&nbsp;
Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio 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: Damien Venuto Producer/Editor: Shaun D Wilson Executive Producer: Ethan Sills&nbsp;

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.

Why it could take 80 years to de-pollute the Waikato River

Mark Mitchell has heralded the government’s promise to be tough on crime.

He’s been incredibly clear from the get-go that his primary goal is to make New Zealand an uncomfortable place for gangs to operate.

He holds five portfolios: Police, Corrections, Emergency Management and Recovery, Ethnic Communities, and Sports and Recreation.

So, how does an MP with so many hats feel about how his government has tackled the big issues?

Today on The Front Page, Mitchell joins us to talk cops, corrections, and communities.

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

Mark Mitchell has heralded the government&rsquo;s promise to be tough on crime.
He&rsquo;s been incredibly clear from the get-go that his primary goal is to make New Zealand an uncomfortable place for gangs to operate.
He holds five portfolios: Police, Corrections, Emergency Management and Recovery, Ethnic Communities, and Sports and Recreation.
So, how does an MP with so many hats feel about how his government has tackled the big issues?
Today on The Front Page, Mitchell joins us to talk cops, corrections, and communities.
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

Reissue: Mark Mitchell on police trust, protests, and protecting minorities

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d41f4844-d10b-42ea-af3a-b3b50172b80e/transcript

Act Party leader David Seymour will become New Zealand’s deputy prime minister tomorrow, taking over from Winston Peters.

He will be the 19th person to be the country’s second in command.

First elected to Parliament in 2014 – the last decade and a bit has seen Seymour’s meteoric rise from being his party’s sole MP to now sitting alongside 10 colleagues after Act’s best ever result in the 2023 election.

That result has allowed him to push through big changes around issues like regulation and government spending – but championing legislation such as the Treaty Principles Bill has also made him a lightning rod for controversy and backlash.

Today on The Front Page, Seymour joins us to talk his new role, backlash, regulations – and his thoughts on the opposition.

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
Sound Engineer/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

Act Party leader David Seymour will become New Zealand&rsquo;s deputy prime minister tomorrow, taking over from Winston Peters.
He will be the 19th person to be the country&rsquo;s second in command.
First elected to Parliament in 2014 &ndash; the last decade and a bit has seen Seymour&rsquo;s meteoric rise from being his party&rsquo;s sole MP to now sitting alongside 10 colleagues after Act&rsquo;s best ever result in the 2023 election.
That result has allowed him to push through big changes around issues like regulation and government spending &ndash; but championing legislation such as the Treaty Principles Bill has also made him a lightning rod for controversy and backlash.
Today on The Front Page, Seymour joins us to talk his new role, backlash, regulations &ndash; and his thoughts on the opposition.
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 Sound Engineer/Producer: Richard Martin Producer: Ethan Sills

Reissue: David Seymour talks Opposition, regulation and backlash as he becomes Deputy Prime Minister

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bb94aedc-b5d6-4f37-ba11-b3b50172e84e/transcript

From entering Parliament in 2008 – to leading the country in 2023 – Chris Hipkins is no stranger to the spotlight.

During Covid’s beginnings, he was known as a safe set of hands, tackling Education, Health, and becoming the Minister in charge of the Covid Response for a time.

Now, he’s firmly setting his sights on election 2026 – but, is he confident he’ll still be in Labour’s driving seat when it rolls around?

Today on The Front Page, Hipkins joins us to discuss the cost of living, vibes in parliament, and whether he’ll ever be able to shake Covid.

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: Ethan Sills

From entering Parliament in 2008 &ndash; to leading the country in 2023 &ndash; Chris Hipkins is no stranger to the spotlight.
During Covid&rsquo;s beginnings, he was known as a safe set of hands, tackling Education, Health, and becoming the Minister in charge of the Covid Response for a time.
Now, he&rsquo;s firmly setting his sights on election 2026 &ndash; but, is he confident he&rsquo;ll still be in Labour&rsquo;s driving seat when it rolls around?
Today on The Front Page, Hipkins joins us to discuss the cost of living, vibes in parliament, and whether he&rsquo;ll ever be able to shake Covid.
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: Ethan Sills

Reissue: Chris Hipkins on Labour's policies, coalition attacks, MMP and Covid regrets

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b73f6531-cc3a-47f4-a4f0-b3b50172946a/transcript

Why it could take 80 years to de-pollute the Waikato River

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