Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

July's record tourism numbers are being seen as a reflection of investment finally paying off.    Stats NZ data shows 256,600 overseas tourists arrived during the month, overtaking pre-Covid numbers from July 2019 by 0.4%.  Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Andrew Dickens the effort from local councils, regional tourism operators, and the Government is bearing fruit.   She says...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 15th of September 2026, international visitor numbers are finally back above pre-Covid levels, Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell tells Andrew how the government's tourism push has helped.  Migrant arrivals for the year were up 5%, immigration expert Simon Laurent shares his thoughts.  Our debt situation might be catching up...

The past week has seen immigration policies come to the fore.  New Zealand First is signalling a tougher immigration stance, longer waits for residency and citizenship, a referendum to cap new residency approvals at 20,000 a year, and a 30-year population plan tying migrant intake to infrastructure capacity.   Labour is also tightening its settings, extending residency qualification to f...

A Russian drone has hit a train near the Ukraine-Poland border, moments after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other top European security officials had been present. No one died in the attack, and all passengers were safely evacuated. Johnson had been passing along the same line on a different train, returning from a conference in Kyiv. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says there's plenty of...

The UK's GDP grew by 0.4 percent in July, surprising economists after no growth was predicted. The economic growth was driven by several key sectors, and boosted by more businesses investing in AI and data centres. Business correspondent Vicky Pryce says the World Cup also helped contribute to the growth, with more people spending money in pubs and restaurants over the July period. LISTEN ABOVE Se...

The City Rail Link finally launched over the weekend and it's set to bring extra foot traffic to Auckland CBD, but concerns have been raised over the potential risks. National's promising a dedicated Auckland Transport police team if elected, pledging an extra $7 million per year through Budget 2027 to recruit the extra officers. Auckland Councillor Alf Filipaina says this is the right move, and h...

A clear standout - as Labour rolls out a raft of proposed changes to our KiwiSaver scheme. The party's promising to lift the employer contribution rate to six percent by 2032 - if elected.  Labour would also introduce compulsory employer contributions, even when employees have paused or reduced their own share.  Finance Spokesperson Barbara Edmonds shares the latest with Ryan Bridge.&nbs...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2026, Labour Finance Spokesperson Barbara Edmonds shares the details of Labour's KiwiSaver policy.  Auckland Councillor shares his thoughts on the opening of the CRL and if we need to establish Auckland Transport Police to keep people safe.  Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on UK GDP, the European Central Bank raisi...

There's a reason we talk a lot on this programme about bond markets, growth, central bank decisions and wars in far-away places. There was, and probably still is, a school of thought that people either don't want, or don't understand, financial markets, currencies and economics. I've always thought this was BS. It's why we focus on them a lot. They're important because they tell a story about wher...

The All Blacks are hoping to rally after back-to-back losses to the Springboks.  But this time they're not on South African territory, instead the two sides are clashing on the neutral ground of Baltimore in the United States.  But whether or not the All Blacks manage to tie the series, former Springbok Kevin Putt believes Dave Rennie has already got the tick.  He told Ryan Bridge h...

A retired US politician believes the Iran war has no end in sight. The Wall Street Journal reports top advisers told President Trump privately that his war would likely drag on through the rest of his term.  It differs from his comments yesterday, in which he was telling supporters it'd end immediately after the November mid-terms.  Former Defence Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta...

A warning from a constitutional law expert that every time the Government rushes legislation, it risks a major stuff up.  The Ministry of Social Development's apologising after 30 thousand winter energy payments and main and supplementary benefits were wrongly cut.   It was caused by an error in legislation which was passed under urgency through Parliament last year.   Graeme Edgele...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 11th of September 2026, the Ministry of Social Development has released its review into two issues that meant thousands of pensioners, veterans and beneficiaries had their benefits incorrectly cut, constitutional law expert Graeme Edgeler shares his thoughts. Former US Secretary of Defence and former Director of the CIA Leon Panetta, j...

A clearer direction for the hospitality sector, with red tape set to be slashed.  The Ministry for Regulation's completed a review into cumbersome rules hindering food and drink operators from doing business.   It highlights several recommendations designed to make things easier for the sector. Regulation Minister David Seymour told Ryan Bridge the changes would make life easier for peop...

Tech New Zealand's hoping AI becomes a hot topic this election as Labour releases its policy on the new technology.  If elected, the party wants stronger regulations on the use of copyright materials, private information, and the energy needed to power data centres.   Labour also wants stronger oversight through an Office of AI and would establish an online safety regulator.  Tech N...

House prices could be on track for a much faster recovery than ASB expects. The bank says national prices are still 15% below their late-2021 peak and won't fully recover until 2029. But real estate agent Rawdon Christie thinks the market's about to pick up. He told Ryan Bridge the sheer number of people he's talking to points to a strong start to 2027. Christie says that's because people have acc...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 10th of September 2026, the Minister for Regulation, David Seymour tells Ryan how big of an impact the Hospitality review will make for the sector and what comes next.  Real Estate Agent Rawdon Christie shares his thoughts on ASB picking house prices will return to 2021 peaks by late 2029.  Labour's put out an AI policy...

Do we really need a Minister of Booze?   Back in the good old days, they were all Ministers of Booze. The whole cabinet – especially Robert Muldoon.   But the idea that we need a Minister responsible for alcohol is well-intentioned, like all 80-odd portfolios that reviews and recommendations have created.   This one is a recommendation from the Hospitality Sector Regulatory Review....

Israel's taking several measures against the UK, including closing its consulate in Jerusalem and banning 11 MPs from entering the country.  The move's in retaliation to the UK saying it'll ban the imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank.   UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens the language used in the British Parliament was startling, with...

Queenstown's Mayor says National's alternative to a bed tax is better than nothing.   The party's pledging to change how the International Visitor Levy is spent, pouring $100 million into conservation a year and $50 million for tourism.   The rest would be dished out to councils based on how many international visitor nights they get.   Queenstown would get $17.1 million in the firs...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 9th of September 2026, new numbers on how students are are comparing with the rest of the world and it's good news, Secondary Principals Association Chairman Steve McCracken shares his thoughts. Nationals got an alternative to a bed tax, redirecting international visitor levy money to councils, Queenstown Mayor John Glover te...

Beef + Lamb New Zealand is welcoming Labour's plan to review the Emissions Trading Scheme. Labour says ETS prices are too low to meaningfully cut emissions, and make planting exotic forests more attractive than growing food. It wants farmers to adopt new technology to reduce emissions and isn't campaigning on making them pay directly for agricultural emissions. Beef + Lamb Chair Kate Acland told A...

Well, the jungle drums are starting to thrum for the fast-track regime.   Word on the street is that legal action is coming for a number of the proposals currently before the committee.  Meanwhile, there was a fiery Auckland Council meeting yesterday full of anger at residential fast-track developers.  Mayor Wayne Brown has vowed to be a thorn in the side of subdivisions looking to...

Germany's far-right AfD is piling pressure on parties to work with them after a state election win.  Preliminary results show the party is three seats short of an outright majority in Saxony-Anhalt.  However most German political parties refuse to work with the AfD.  If it finds support, it would be the first far-right party to govern a German state since World War II.  Sky New...

The oil and gas industry is welcoming the first loans from the Government’s $200 million Gas Security Fund. It's investing $23.5 million into two projects, including drilling a new well and accessing deeper gas at existing fields.  Both with be run by Todd Energy, while there are 17 other proposals sitting on the Government's desk.  Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie told Ryan B...