Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The Government's crackdown on antisocial Kainga Ora tenant behaviour is being labelled a "move back to the real world".   It's instructed Kainga Ora to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and strengthen its management of disruptive tenants.   Former Monte Cecelia Housing Trust chief executive Bernie Smith says the issues it's having are generations in the making.   He told Mike Hosking that the...

Mouldy and flooding courtrooms, the district court backlog, and legal aid issues are among problems the country's courts are facing.   Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann has released her latest briefing to Attorney-General Judith Collins.   It outlines the need to raise the cap on the number of senior court judges, and under-funding in courtroom maintenance.   Criminal Bar Association President A...

New Zealanders are drinking less alcohol than previously thought.   Auckland University has carried out the country's first large-scale trial of testing wastewater to monitor alcohol consumption.   It found the average alcohol consumption to be 1.2 standard drinks per day for people over 15 years, lower than the World Health Organisation's 2018 estimate.   Alcohol Beverage Council executive direct...

Winston Peters delivered a State of Nation speech yesterday to a crowd of around 600 people.   The speech came following the first 100 days of Government and included controversial statements comparing co-governance to the Nazi regime.   ZB Political Editor Jason Walls tells Mike Hosking the New Zealand First leader was firmly back on campaign mode with cracks at the media and opposition, but the...

UK Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps abandoned a Ukraine port visit in Odessa for security reasons.   UK & Europe correspondent Gavin Grey tells mike Hosking Shapps travelled with the intention to meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior members of his wartime administration but Russian missile attacks on the city meant the trip was cancelled abruptly.   Meanwhile, friend...

In the first inwards visit from a Chinese leader for some time, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits New Zealand today.   Executive Director of the NZ China Council Alistair Crozier describes the country’s relationship with China as positive but says NZ will be seeking re-assurances about China’s intentions in the Pacific.   Crozier tells Mike Hosking about what is on the agenda for the Foreign...

Colossal rate hikes are looming for homeowners as councils contend with rising construction and insurance costs.   Local Government New Zealand says rates around the country will rise by an average of 15%. It says the main factor contributing to the rates escalation is the costs of civil construction.   Vice President Campbell Barry told Mike Hosking that these costs are 20% higher now than predic...

The Airports Association is taking aim at the cost of Air New Zealand's domestic airfares.   It's calling on the Government to set up an independent airfare monitoring system.   But the Board of Airline Representatives disagrees with claims that the domestic market isn't set up to be competitive.   Executive Director, Cath O'Brien told Mike Hosking that policy settings allow any Australian airline...

The first case of its kind in New Zealand, a former Super Rugby player has been diagnosed post-death with a degenerative brain disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy.   Billy Guyton played for the Blues, Hurricanes, and Crusaders, but died in a suspected suicide aged 33.   An examination of his brain by the Neurological Foundation's Brain Bank has now identified he had stage 2 CTE.   Auckland U...

An unaccounted-for problem of overheating in some newly built townhouses is being seen as a country-wide problem.   Frustration is brewing among owners in Auckland who are paying two times more for cooling in the summer than they would for heating in the winter.   Some townhouses have just one heat pump to cool the three-storey home, which can leave rooms on higher floors unbearably hot.   But the...

Another bailout for Ruapehu Alpine Lifts as the Government pours $7 million into the ski field.   The operator has been running on a previous government bailout for over a year.   Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says it's their last chance after the Prime Minister previously said no more money would be poured into the ski field.   Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton told Mike Hosking he...

United States lawmakers are concerned TikTok users' data is being accessed by China.   The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would ban the social media platform if Chinese tech giant Byte Dance doesn't sell its stake within six months.   It will now go to a vote in Senate.   US correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking that there's a lobbying campaign by TikTok underway.    He say...

There’s a focus on rebuilding today for the Labour Party as MPs head to Wairarapa for their belated retreat.   The annual meeting is usually held in January.   Political commentator Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking that Labour has about a year to rebuild before being competitive for the 2026 election.   He says they're facing a big challenge from the Greens, so Labour needs to rebuild in a way which...

Online rental platform Airbnb is introducing a worldwide ban on indoor security cameras.   It says it's updating its policy after consultation with guests, hosts and privacy experts.  Outdoor security cameras and those in common areas, like on doorbells, are still permitted, but hosts will have to disclose their location on the property's listing.  Privacy lawyer Kathryn Dalziel told Mike Hosking...

Businesses hope the Government will bring change to the Holidays Act.   Brooke van Velden has laid out her agenda with a focus on regulations around contractors, public holidays, health and safety rules, and personal grievances.   Also a priority is sorting out the law around holidays.   Employers and Manufacturers Association Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking that there's no need f...

The Climate Change Commission is urging the Government to cut back the number of carbon credits available.   They say there are too many credits on offer and the problem is just getting worse.   The coalition Government promised to use emissions pricing to meet New Zealand's climate goals.   Climate Change Research Institute adjunct professor Adrian Macey told Mike Hosking that it's not clear what...

Are disruptions in the Red Sea hitting New Zealand as hard? Freedom Furniture has reported a $9 million loss in profit, saying that it’s partially due to the chaos in the Middle East.   Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking that the disruptions are impacting businesses in quite different ways, depending on whether they’re using that route to ship to Europe.   The challenge f...

For the second time in as many weeks, Kiwibank and ASB have reduced their fixed mortgage rates.   It follows falls in wholesale rates on the expectation that central banks are getting closer to cutting their benchmark rates.   ASB’s Chief Economist, Nick Tuffley, told Mike Hosking what people are seeing is the settling of rates and the response to news over the last week.   The market is still rea...

The Princess of Wales has admitted to editing an image of her and her three children.   The first image since her abdominal surgery, it was posted to mark Mother's Day in the UK.   It was then pulled by numerous media photo agencies over concerns it'd been manipulated.   Catherine says like many amateur photographers, she occasionally experiments with editing.   Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell M...

The Property Investors' Federation says easing rents relies on many factors. The Government's re-introducing interest deductibility for landlords. They'll be able to claim 80 percent of interest expenses from April, and 100 percent from April 2025. The Government says it'll ease pressure on rents, also benefiting tenants. Property Investors' Federation President Sue Harrison told Mike Hosking that...

The Green's new co-leadership could look different under Chloe Swarbrick. The Auckland Central MP has won the race to replace James Shaw, and will lead the party alongside Marama Davidson. Former Greens MP Gareth Hughes says Swarbrick's assertive approach to politics is a contrast from Shaw. But he told Mike Hosking that people are looking for passion and authenticity in politics - and some will b...

A US military ship is on its way to Gaza, carrying equipment to build a temporary pier off the coast. It comes after President Biden announced the US would build a floating harbour to help get aid into Gaza by sea. They had carried out an airdrop on Sunday, parachuting in more than 11-thousand meals. Europe correspondent Gavin Grey spoke to Mike Hosking about what it will contain.   LISTEN ABOVE S...

The Associate Finance Minister says the last Government removing landlords' interest deductibility was a tax grab. The current Government's re-introducing it. They'll be able to claim 80 percent of interest expenses from April, and 100 percent from next April. David Seymour told Mike Hosking that they've restored the integrity of the tax system. He says if you invest in any business or commercial...

The Black Caps have one last shot against Australia.   Today the final test match against the Australian side takes place at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, kicking off at 11am.   Newstalk ZB’s Cricket Correspondent Andrew Alderson told Mike Hosking that last night was the 50 th anniversary of New Zealand’s first taste of victory over Australia back in 1974.   So, if New Zealand needs any belief toda...

A former National Minister says this Government's changes are a big turn-around from the last. The Government's first 100 days are virtually up, and it's ticked off almost all of its 49 items.   Many of the things on the list were to unpick the last government's changes or to begin work on their plans.   The last point to tick off is setting major targets for the health system, and that's expected...