Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The Greens are condemning National's plans to drug-test people on welfare and reduce payments.  National's promising to randomly drug test ten thousand beneficiaries next year.  From April 2028, it would also cut Jobseeker payments for people on the scheme for two of the previous three years, claiming it'll push people into work.  Greens' Social Development Spokesperson Ricardo Mené...

Eden Park's CEO is looking forward to welcoming the All Blacks back to the Fortress.  The stadium is hosting the first Bledisloe Cup clash this weekend, the All Blacks taking on the Wallabies for the first time since they returned from South Africa.  Nick Sautner told Andrew Dickens the All Blacks have a phenomenal record at the stadium, as they haven't lost to Australia there since 1986...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast 2026, the Green Party is not happy with National's benefit policy, Green Party Social Development Spokesperson Ricardo Menedez March explains why.  The trans-tasman rivalry’s back at Eden Park, CEO Nick Sautner tells Andrew what to look out for.  Labour say they have a plan to tackle unfair plane ticket costs, NZ Herald Aviation...

Labour's making big promises in aviation if re-elected.  The Party would require airlines to publish airfares including every fee upfront - making the full cost clear. It would mandate automatic refunds when big airlines like Air New Zealand and Jetstar cancel or significantly change flights - and for them to publish data on cancellations and delays. New Zealand Herald Aviation Journalist Joh...

I had to chuckle after yesterday's interview with Mr Abercrombie from the PPTA who grudgingly accepted that improvements to the education sector by the government is a factor in teacher registrations being up 40 per cent this year  Mr Abercrombie, other industry advocates and the Labour led opposition have been dead set against the changes but now they’re slowly admitting that things are bett...

The lawyers of US death row inmate Christa Pike have asked for evidence to be preserved from her botched execution.  The 50-year-old survived two lethal injections in Tennessee last week – a death sentence imposed for murder in 1996.  A statement from her lawyers yesterday stated she's now conscious and speaking, still handcuffed in hospital, and receiving critical care.  US Corresp...

A warning there are drawbacks to instant payments as Labour vows to make it possible 24/7 by 2030.  The party wants to bring more competition to the sector helping fintech companies take on the big four banks.  Part of Labour's plan to achieve this is by introducing e-money licences for businesses offering services like digital wallets and payments.   Massey University Financial Pro...

The country's teacher pipeline is showing signs of recovery.  Education Minister Erica Stanford is crediting the School Onsite Training Programme for a 40% jump in the number of Kiwis training to be teachers between 2023 and now.  But the current figure of 4,500 is still well below the 6,800 training in 2010.  PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Andrew Dickens there are jobs waiti...

A tick of approval for the National Party's small business plan.  It's released a 47-point plan to cut red tape for them around things like employment disputes and health and safety.  Small Business New Zealand Founder Phil Wicks says it creates a fairly cohesive plan.  He told Andrew Dickens while any help is appreciated what businesses really want is a growing economy.  Wicks...

I'm Andrew Dickens and I'm the fill in guy and I'm filling in for Ryan Bridge and I'm filling in all week and I'm doing three days next week and three days the week after and the reason for that is that Ryan is preparing to do telly stuff with Herald now. And last night he was doing the first of the big ones and it was a 90-minute thing called The Future of New Zealand.  Now it had politician...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Thursday 8th of October 2026, Labour is promising to shake up the banking sector if re-elected, Professor Claire Matthews head of the school of accountancy, economics and finance at Massey University shares her thoughts.  National’s got a 47-point plan to cut red tape for small businesses, Small Business NZ Founder & Director of B...

A political commentator believes a lot of weight still sits with the undecided voter.  Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins went head-to-head in the first main leaders debate last night.  The TVNZ clash saw the pair tussle over tax, education, health, the cost of living, and crime in front of a studio audience of undecided voters.  The audience gave Hipkins the win with 49% support t...

Pressure's on the next government to keep the momentum going on business confidence.  The NZIER's latest Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion shows 40% of firms expect the economy to improve in the coming months.  That's up from just 14% last quarter.  Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson told Andrew Dickens businesses want policies that lift productivity, and more cert...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast 2026, political commentator Brigitte Morten tells Andrew who won the TVNZ leaders debate.  Business confidence is rebounding as we head towards the election, Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson explains why.  National’s promising to cut foreign aid to pay for new medicines, if it leads the next government, Chief Executive of Me...

Potential for a positive ripple effect - as National pledges to boost medicine funding. The party's announced it'll cut 10-percent of the foreign aid budget - using the savings to increase Pharmac's budget by 604-million dollars.  It would also introduce new cancer cell therapy and lower the bowel screening age to 50 by 2029.  Medicines NZ CEO Graeme Jarvis told Andrew Dickens medicine's...

National’s trade-off between foreign aid and Pharmac is a sign of just how far we’ve fallen. Firstly, our spend on medicines through Pharmac has always been woefully low. It pales beside Australia’s investment and that’s never made sense to me.  Medicines funded by Pharmac save money within the health system preventing ongoing costs through hospitalisation and ongoing care.  The way we’v...

There are concerns National's $800 million promise for a major Canterbury road will be able to deliver enough bang for its buck.  National is promising to start construction on the Belfast-to-Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass if re-elected, with the money allocated in Budget 2027.  Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Dom Kalasih told Andrew Dickens that's about $73 million...

Labour's vowing to make life easier for mechanics so more time can be spent training the next generation.   If elected, the party would force car makers to share information, tools and manuals, with local mechanics so they can do a job.  It would introduce a right of repair law —like Australia— and require the Commerce Commission to enforce the rules.   Consumer Affairs spokesperson...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday 6th of October 2026, National is pledging $800 million to fully fund the 11-kilometre Belfast to Pegasus motorway in Christchurch, Transporting NZ Chief Executive Officer Dom Kalasih tells Andrew why infrastructure comes at such a cost. Labour is promising to make it cheaper and easier to repair your car if elected, Labour Consumer...

An increasing number of Kiwis are using Cocaine.  A Drug Trends Survey shows respondents reporting cocaine use increased from 11 percent in 2018, to 31 percent this month. At the same time, the reported price of a gram of cocaine has declined by 32 percent. Glenn Dobson CEO of the Drug Detection Agency shares his thoughts with Andrew Dickens.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

So Labour finally released their fiscal plan in the weekend  It was much anticipated.  In fact commentator after commentator for weeks now have been demanding it  Now it’s being dissected. And mostly by the current coalition parties.  But here’s the thing.  Where’s National’s.  And why don't they have the same pressure. And how about ACT Yesterday I asked David Seyour...

The suspect accused of murdering Reform UK's Ann Widdecombe has been charged with preparing acts of terror, including against party leader Nigel Farage. 28-year-old Joshua Kerry was charged with one count of preparation of terrorist acts, according to police.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey says Kerry is due to appear in court later this week. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Inflation across Europe jumped to 3.8 percent in September - a higher rate than economists were predicting. This increase was largely down to energy costs, and these are expected to make inflation rates go up further.  Business correspondent Vicky Pryce explained how these rates could increase, and how that's likely to impact households.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener f...

ACT is confident its KiwiSaver plan would put more in people's kitty by retirement.  The party wants to scrap the Government contribution to KiwiSaver, and the tax paid on investment earnings made through the scheme. It says the tax relief created, would be more substantial than the up to $260 currently contributed by the Government.  Leader David Seymour says someone with a small balanc...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday the 5th of October 2026, the Act Party wants to scrap tax on Kiwisaver investment earnings, Act Party Leader David Seymour explains. Labour's laid out it's highly anticipated fiscal plan, Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts.  Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the details on Inflation rising sharply in...