Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

There’s hopes an improved vaccine against an infectious disease running rife through New Zealand cattle could ease costs for farmers.   The Ministry for Primary Industries is backing a project which aims to develop a modified vaccine against Bovine Viral Diarrhoea.   It impacts about 80% of our dairy and beef herds and costs the industry more than $190 million each year.   Research lead John Moffa...

A victims' advocate says new measures to address court backlogs are doable if all players in the system play their part.   The Chief District Court Judge has introduced maximum waiting times based on the seriousness of the crime.   For the least serious category —where there's no risk of prison— the aim is six months.   Independent victims' advocate Ruth Money told Mike Hosking that the courts are...

Following his visit to New Zealand, the Chinese Premier has begun his visit to Australia.   Li Qiang was greeted by hundreds of supporters and protestors upon his arrival in Canberra on Sunday, receiving a ceremonial welcome at Parliament House.   Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that there has been talks of better military communication, as well as extending the offering of...

The Government's changed its tune on transgender people participating in community sports.   A policy in the New Zealand First-National Coalition agreement threatened to withhold public funding if sports bodies didn't separate trans athletes from grassroots competitions.   After feedback from Sport New Zealand, Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop says the government will now take a watching...

The Government promises “granny flats” of 60 square metres or less will be easier to build after planning changes that will force councils to permit small dwellings on rural and residential zones without resource consent. Making it easier to build granny flats was part of NZ First’s coalition agreement with National. NZ First leader Winston Peters, taking over as Acting Prime Minister while Christ...

This weekend's Super Rugby semifinals have raised a few eyebrows over their smaller-than expected attendance numbers. ZB sports reporter Andrew Alderson suspects this is because these Super Rugby matches had to compete with this weekend's Warriors' clash. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Princess of Wales has returned to the public eye for King's Birthday celebrations, making her first public appearance this year. Kate faced wild internet speculation on her whereabouts earlier this year before revealing she's undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. She was pictured smiling, sitting alongside her three children in a carriage for the Trooping the Colour parade. UK correspo...

One teachers' union is concerned abut the recommended changes to teaching standards in a new report. The Ministerial Advisory Group reviewing English and maths learning has recommended annual 'checkpoint' tests for students. It also recommends children be encouraged to write by hand as much as possible for their first three years at school - and cursive lessons in years four to six. NZEI president...

Christopher Luxon is on the ground in Japan, but his business delegation won't be touching down for another day. The Prime Minister's plane has broken down yet again, this time while refuelling in Papua New Guinea. Luxon's been forced to fly commercial to Tokyo, while the business leaders, officials and others in his delegation are travelling to Brisbane and then on to Japan today. ZB political ed...

Britain’s Labour Party has launched its manifesto.   It said on Thursday that it would be “pro-business” and prioritise “wealth creation”.   Among the party’s flagship pledges is the creation of a new publicly owned energy company, a ban on awarding new North Sea oil and gas licences, and reducing medical wait times.   UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking that it’s quite different f...

It’s a big weekend in sports as the Super Rugby semifinals kick off tonight.   The Blues and the Brumbies are facing off at Eden Park tonight, the Hurricanes and the Chiefs going head-to-head in Wellington’s Sky Stadium tomorrow afternoon.   Sports Commentator Sam Ackerman told Mike Hosking that if he could only watch one of the matches, he’d take the Hurricanes v Chiefs.   He said it’s got blockb...

There’s been push back against the Government's plan to scrap around the clock speed limits outside schools.   The Coalition's reversing speed limit reductions implemented over the past four years under the previous Government.   The draft report wants speed limits in place at the start and end of each school day as opposed to the current 24-7 system.    Healthy Auckland Together spokesperson Dr J...

The Government's ditching plans to make gender pay gap reporting compulsory.   The Labour Government pledged it would require companies with more than 250 workers to publish a pay gap report.   But acting Minister for Women Louise Upston's instead developing a tool for businesses to calculate pay gaps voluntarily.   Mind the Gap Co-Founder Dellwyn Stuart told Mike Hosking that while mandatory repo...

Yesterday saw another historic ruling in the United States, as Hunter Biden was found guilty in his federal gun trial.   The conviction makes him the first child of a sitting President to be found guilty of a crime.   He was convicted of three gun offences for lying about drug use while illegally buying and possessing a gun in 2018.   US Correspondent Katherine Firkin told Mike Hosking that severa...

There's an expectation New Zealanders will continue to file out of the country in high numbers.   The latest figures from Stats NZ show more than 130,000 people left the country in the year to April, the highest number on record.   Among those were a record 81,200 NZ citizens.   ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking that we are moving in the right direction, but there’s still a way to...

There’s a belief that there's a problem with the New Zealand electricity business model, not just the new disclosure rules.   Gentailers —companies that both generate and sell electricity— are required to disclose the price they use internally to sell power to their retail arms.   But NZIER research found the new disclosure rules don't provide enough information to show if companies are artificial...

It's thought New Zealanders' faith in rural banks is dwindling.   The Government's requested for the Finance and Expenditure and Primary Production select committees to lead a joint inquiry into rural banking.   Rural Women NZ says their communities are facing a range of problems including banking competition and customer service.   Chief Executive Gabrielle O'Brien told Mike Hosking that a lot of...

Unemployment is hitting the UK hard.   It’s unexpectedly risen to its highest level for two and a half years, climbing to 4.4% in the three months to April.   On the other hand, wage growth has remained strong and is outstripping inflation, having increased at an annual rate of 2.9%.   UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking the other striking figure is the inactivity rate, which is the numb...

Police have already received tips on the back of the $80 thousand reward offered in the case of the Phillips children.   The now eight, nine, and ten year olds, along with their father Tom Phillips, have been missing since 2021.   They're believed to be in western Waikato, near or in Marokopa.   Police have given two weeks for the reward to be claimed and say information has been coming in since y...

The Government's decision to work with farmers to price their emissions by 2030 is being welcomed by the industry.   A law change will stop farming being charged through the Emissions Trading Scheme, which offsets credits against emitting.   It was a fallback option if partnership group He Waka Eka Noa didn't find an alternative for agriculture.   Meat Industry Association advocacy manager Jason K...

A fuel retailer's applauding the Commerce Commission for raising awareness about prices at the pump ahead of the removal of Auckland's fuel tax.   The commission's calling out retailers who lag in dropping prices at the pump, saying it's costing motorists millions each year.   It says it's a timely reminder, with the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax being removed at the end of this month.   Waitomo Grou...

A council in Australia’s New South Wales is displeased after being ordered to repay millions of dollars.   The NSW Government has ordered the Hornsby Shire council to repay $36 million as after six years, it still has yet to develop and build a park.   Hornsby Mayor Philip Ruddock, a former federal minister, has accused the government of looking to save money ahead of the state budget coming next...

The cost of building a new home's starting to stabilise.   Figures from QV CostBuilder show the average cost to build a three-bedroom home in main centres has risen by 1.8% for the year, and 0.3% this quarter.   It compares to an annual average increase of nearly 5% last December, and nearly 10% last June.   Newstalk ZB’s Resident Builder Pete Wolfkamp told Mike Hosking that the main difficulty bu...

A political scientist says the allegations that Census data has been misused by a political party would be very concerning if true.   The Prime Minister's announced the Public Service Commission will undertake an independent investigation amid allegations surrounding Te Pāti Māori and Manurewa Marae.   It relates to the misuse of Census data and Covid-19 vaccination information.   Political commen...

It's expected China will try to sweeten the pot for New Zealand.   Chinese Premier Li Qiang will arrive in Wellington this week, the first such visit since 2017.   International relations expert Geoffrey Miller told Mike Hosking that expects he'll want to cover business, education, and likely New Zealand's position on AUKUS.   He says tempting offers will likely be made to the Prime Minister.   Mi...