Amid continuing unrest in New Caledonia, our Defence Force is preparing rescue flights for about 250 stranded Kiwis.

Protests in Noumea have been escalating after violence broke out over proposed changes to voter lists – with six dead and hundreds arrested.

French authorities have declared a state of emergency – as pro-independence supporters and security forces clash.

Today, Chelsea talks with Mike Lightfoot, a Kiwi tourist currently stuck in Noumea, who updates us on the situation as he awaits evacuation, and then geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller to explain how the unrest began – and what steps can be taken to promote calm.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The years-long saga of Julian Assange could finally be at an end – in a decision crucial not only to what happens next for the infamous whistleblower – but for press freedom as we know it.

14 years after his site, Wikileaks, published hundreds of thousands of classified US military and security documents online, and 12 years after the first warrant was issued for his arrest.... judges at London’s High Court could finally decide his fate -- and whether he will be extradited to the United States.

Following the long legal battle is Alan Rusbridger, former editor in chief for The Guardian newspaper in the UK, who worked alongside Assange to publish those documents in 2010.

Now editor of The Prospect magazine, Rusbridger joins The Front Page to discuss Assange’s case and what it means for journalism and press freedom.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major earthquakes may not be a regular occurrence in New Zealand, but the threat of them is often in the back of our minds.

With a major faultline running through the middle of the country, you only have to look to the events in Christchurch and Kaikoura to know the risk they pose.

Now, new modelling has highlighted the impact a catastrophic quake could have on this country, and if we’re prepared for what that means.

Today on The Front Page, Dr Bill Fry and Dr Matt Gerstenberger from GNS Science discuss the latest research on our seismic threat.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a new movement on social media in response to celebrities’ views – or lack thereof – on the war in Palestine.  

“Blockout 2024” started with an inconspicuous video of a TikTok influencer posed outside the glamorous Met Gala with the sound bite “let them eat cake”.

Now, an online movement to unfollow and block celebrities is gaining momentum – with the likes of Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner losing hundreds of thousands of followers.  

It's raised questions like: Will this effort have any effect? Why do we look at celebrities as our moral compass? And what about the celebrities who are escaping being ‘cancelled’ all together?

Today on The Front Page, University of Otago researcher, Dr Sabrina Moro is with us to dive into the latest social media firestorm.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National-led Government is continuing its crackdown on gangs.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell this week announced New Zealand will get its own National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units.

The announcement follows a rise in gang violence, including the fatal shooting of a man on Auckland’s Ponsonby Rd by a Killer Beez gang member.

It comes off the back of anti-gang legislation that continues to make its way through Parliament – which will see non-consorting laws and gang patch bans introduced.

Today on The Front Page, Mark Mitchell joins to explain this Government’s push to make gang life as uncomfortable as possible.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the world becomes increasingly online, the lines between work life and home life are becoming increasingly blurred.

When you can check your emails on the same device you use to stream TV or talk to friends, avoiding that late night question from your boss is becoming harder to do.

Now many are calling for the ‘Right to Disconnect’ to be enshrined in law to save us from becoming perpetually available 24/7.

Today on The Front Page, Dr Amanda Reilly, Senior Lecturer in Law at Victoria University of Wellington, joins to explain how this law could help you achieve a better work life balance.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conversation around New Zealand's power supply is heating up again, just before winter.

Last week Kiwis were told to conserve electricity amidst a cold snap, over concerns there was not enough power to supply the country.

This is not the first time such a warning has been issued, and has prompted debate about where we get our energy from, and how we should be powering our national grid.

Today on The Front Page, Major Electricity Users Group Chair John Harbord joins us to explain what the issues with our power grid are – and how we can potentially fix them.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council’s financial situation has been under the spotlight for months now.

With costs rising, the council has been trying to find some ways to save money without cutting back on services.

Those decisions have ranged from removing rubbish bins around the city, to a since U-turned proposal for a long-term lease for Port of Auckland.

And while the Government has offered hope on water prices, Mayor Wayne Brown and his councillors still have some tough choices to make.

Today on The Front Page, Herald senior writer Simon Wilson joins us to discuss the challenges coming for our Super City.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Head injuries and sports players have been a hot topic of debate in recent years.

While the risk of concussions and long-term injuries has been well known for decades, recent concerns have arisen about how those injuries can turn into long term issues like dementia, and that’s despite efforts to reform the game to limit those concerns.  

As global legal cases and suspected illnesses mount, multiple researchers here in New Zealand are part of a global effort to identify the causes and the risks.  

Today on The Front Page, we speak with two of them from the University of Auckland – Professor Maurice Curtis and Dr Helen Murray – about the latest research in this high concern area.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To tax sugar, or not to tax sugar – that's the debate that’s raged on for years.

More than 100 countries worldwide have taxed sugary drinks, but New Zealand hasn’t made the plunge yet.

As the number of countries making the move to tax sugar increases, so has the data into how well it's worked, or not.

So how do we delve through this information to make an informed decision on what would be best for New Zealand?

Today on The Front Page, Professor of Population Nutrition and Global Health at the University of Auckland, Boyd Swinburn, joins us to explore the ongoing debate.

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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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, former Green Party co-leader James Shaw delivered his valedictory speech, marking the end of his decade in politics. 

But, rather than a smooth transition to a new era, just a few hours later, Green MP Julie-Anne Genter sparked outcry across the aisle after she stood over and shouted at Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey during a Parlimentary debate. 

It’s the fourth scandal to hit the Greens in under a year, prompting questions about the party's future as the Shaw era ends and a new one begins under his replacement co-leader, Chloe Swarbrick. 

Today on The Front Page, Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joins us from Parliament to discuss what the future holds for the Green Party.

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: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.