The Labour Party has a new leader, and the country a new Prime Minister. 

Chris Hipkins, best known for serving as the Covid-19 Response Minister, is set to be sworn in as Aotearoa’s 41st Prime Minister, after receiving unanimous support from his colleagues to succeed Jacinda Ardern. 

Hipkins is known as the party’s ‘Mr Fixit’, due to a history of being parachuted in to fix his colleague's ministerial stuff-ups. 

But are those DIY skills enough for the 44-year-old father of two to turn around Labour’s fortunes and secure a third term in government? 

Today, Damien is joined by NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett to discuss what challenges await our new PM.  

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: Damien Venuto
Producer: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

The Labour Party has a new leader, and the country a new Prime Minister. 
Chris Hipkins, best known for serving as the Covid-19 Response Minister, is set to be sworn in as Aotearoa’s 41st Prime Minister, after receiving unanimous support from his colleagues to succeed Jacinda Ardern. 
Hipkins is known as the party’s ‘Mr Fixit’, due to a history of being parachuted in to fix his colleague's ministerial stuff-ups.    But are those DIY skills enough for the 44-year-old father of two to turn around Labour’s fortunes and secure a third term in government? 
Today, Damien is joined by NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett to discuss what challenges await our new PM.  
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: Damien Venuto Producer: Shaun D Wilson Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

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 to expect from new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins

Yesterday, Stats NZ released New Zealand’s GDP performance for the last quarter of 2025, and the government tells us things are looking good with gross domestic product rising 0.2 percent.  

But the Reserve Bank had forecast growth of 0.5% - so while the latest results show we’re heading in the right direction, are we travelling fast enough? 

Today on the Front Page, NZ Herald Business Editor at Large, Liam Dann, joins us to explain what the latest results mean and how the conflict in the Middle East might impact the next chapter of our economic story. 

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/Producer: Jane Yee
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin

Yesterday,&nbsp;Stats NZ&nbsp;released New Zealand&rsquo;s GDP&nbsp;performance for the last quarter of 2025, and&nbsp;the government&nbsp;tells&nbsp;us things are looking good&nbsp;with gross domestic product rising&nbsp;0.2 percent.&nbsp;&nbsp;
But the Reserve Bank had forecast growth of&nbsp;0.5%&nbsp;-&nbsp;so&nbsp;while the latest results show&nbsp;we&rsquo;re&nbsp;heading in the right direction,&nbsp;are we&nbsp;travelling fast enough?&nbsp;
Today on the Front Page, NZ Herald Business Editor at Large, Liam Dann, joins us to explain what the latest results mean and how the conflict in the Middle East might impact the next chapter of our economic story.&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/Producer: Jane Yee Editor/Producer: Richard Martin

GDP is up in New Zealand, so why does the economy still feel flat?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/59f68f30-6064-488c-aa88-b413002f092a/transcript

A new study is shedding light on the changing landscape of New Zealand’s ‘party drug’ scene.

The annual New Zealand Drug Trends Survey, completed by more than 8000 people nationwide, shows that ketamine is rapidly growing in popularity.

Price data puts it among the more affordable options at around $200 a gram. Overseas, the UK has dubbed young people ‘Generation K’, while ketamine-related deaths rose 20-fold since 2014.

Despite years of warnings from health experts about the risks, ketamine’s now gaining popularity here – so what do we do now?

Today on The Front Page, Professor Chris Wilkins is with us to unpack what’s behind this trend and what it means for New Zealand.

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

A new study is shedding light on the changing landscape of New Zealand&rsquo;s &lsquo;party drug&rsquo; scene.
The annual New Zealand Drug Trends Survey, completed by more than 8000 people nationwide, shows that ketamine is rapidly growing in popularity.
Price data puts it among the more affordable options at around $200 a gram. Overseas, the UK has dubbed young people &lsquo;Generation K&rsquo;, while ketamine-related deaths rose 20-fold since 2014.
Despite years of warnings from health experts about the risks, ketamine&rsquo;s now gaining popularity here &ndash; so what do we do now?
Today on The Front Page, Professor Chris Wilkins is with us to unpack what&rsquo;s behind this trend and what it means for New Zealand.
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

How ketamine has become the new party drug of choice for students

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7a8dc6eb-37bc-4589-a9b8-b4120033ec55/transcript

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has acknowledged he considered his future in politics, in the wake of his ex-wife's allegations.  

She made a series of claims in a now deleted private social media post on Sunday.  

None of which alleges unlawful conduct.  

Being a politician is one of the most public facing roles in our society, but where should the line be drawn between public and private? 

Today on The Front Page, political commentator Grant Duncan is with us.

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

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has acknowledged he considered his future in politics, in the wake of his ex-wife's allegations.&nbsp;&nbsp;
She made a series of claims in a now&nbsp;deleted&nbsp;private social media post on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;
None of which alleges unlawful conduct.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Being a politician is one of the most public facing roles in our society, but where should the line be drawn between public and private?&nbsp;
Today on The Front Page, political commentator Grant Duncan is with us.
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

Private lives, public fallout: Where should we draw the line for politicians?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/db4353db-39fb-4b9e-8704-b4110011e707/transcript

What to expect from new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins

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