Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

A warning the Government's $12 billion defence plan won't work without an overhaul of the defence service.  New research by the New Zealand Initiative business think tank has found equipment purchases currently still move through a long approval processes.  It's found digital systems, intelligence tools, and skilled workforce are being treated as secondary.  Massey University Centre...

Taking daily multi-vitamins may not have the benefits we think.  British GP James Le Fanu has sparked a debate after suggesting even tiny amounts of added vitamins exceed what most people require.  Nutritionist Nikki Hart says taking copious amounts of vitamins could actually do more harm than good.  She told Ryan Bridge people think they need to up their intake over winter, but a b...

Infrastructure New Zealand hopes a change in process will lead to New Zealand getting better value from infrastructure projects.  The Government's shifting responsibility for analysing projects from Treasury to the Infrastructure Commission.  It hopes the change will result in better value for money.  Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett told Ryan Bridge New Zeala...

You heard the news about this AI hacking beast called Mythos?  It's a bit scary to be honest. And what's reported to have happened with it in the last seven hours is even scarier.  It's basically a big AI-powered cyber-hacking machine. It can spot flaws in operating systems – in some tests, it is better at doing this than human hackers.  Central banks are worried. Retail banks are w...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 23 April. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank may have to hike the OCR sooner than expected, with inflation tracking higher than forecast.  Inflation remains at 3.1% – unchanged on three months ago.  ASB economists say the central bank could be facing a "nightmare scenario" of soaring inflation, against the backdrop of a fragile economy.  Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge it’s increasingly likely th...

Demand for health workers is leading more people to take up health courses.  Ministry of Education data shows 52 thousand people were studying some form of health course last year – the most since records began a decade ago.  That includes 17,800 people studying nursing.  Auckland University Dean of Medical and Health Sciences Warwick Bagg told Ryan Bridge more people are highly mot...

A former National cabinet minister says the party needs to move on from internal wrangling to the more pressing issues at hand. Christopher Luxon passed a vote of confidence at yesterday's caucus meeting. MPs aren't revealing details of the vote, including how many of them supported Luxon. Former minister Chris Finlayson told Ryan Bridge the path forward for National is simple. He says they need t...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 22nd of April 2026, Christopher Luxon’s survived a confidence vote, shutting down talk he’s lost the support of MPS. Record number of Kiwis are deciding to go into the health workforce, Auckland University dean of Medical and Health Sciences Warwick Bagg shares his thoughts.  Inflation's come in hotter than expected at 3.1% for...

People hate the media, so hating on the media is not a bad strategy.  It's worked for Winston over many decades, although the bloke only needs 10% of people to like his style - most find it a bit abrasive.  As I've said previously, ministers are the de-facto top brass in the caucus. When all the ministers line up behind their man, no vote is going to topple him. The backbenchers fall int...

Today's inflation numbers could represent calm before the storm.  Annual inflation's likely to have fallen in the first quarter of this year after ending last year at 3.1%.   BNZ is picking 3.1%, KiwiBank's is picking 3%, ASB and ANZ are picking 2.9%, and Westpac is picking 2.8%.  ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Ryan Bridge that the future trajectory is more important.   H...

Flood-affected Wellington and Wairarapa are continuing to be hit by yet more heavy rain.  A Red Rain Warning is in effect until 6pm, with many schools and facilities closed, and people in low-lying areas being advised to leave their homes.  A search for missing Karori man Philip Sutton has been suspended overnight due to dangerous conditions.  Victoria University Emeritus Professor...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 21st of April 2025, inflation’s expected to ease or hold steady for the first three months of the year, ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith tells Ryan what this when we'll start to see the full impacts of the oil shock. Erica Stanford’s rolling out help for rural schools hit by fuel costs, Kaitaia Primary School Principal, tells Ryan how...

A Northland principal says the Government's latest relief package for teachers struggling with the cost of fuel will help secure more educators for rural areas.  Relief Teacher Transport Allowance mileage rates are being doubled, and up to 70 schools will get a one-off grant to replace diesel boilers. Rural schools with fewer than a hundred students will also get a one-off payment to help pay...

Take away migrants from our economy and the thing pretty much falls apart.  This is not Europe, where they're overrun with migrant boats and expensive hotel bills to house the passengers.  This is not the US, where illegal migrants poured across a porous border. This is New Zealand, separated from the rest of the world by the Pacific Ocean and rather fussy about who comes here and why.&n...

Talks are set to resume this week in Pakistan, but currently it's unconfirmed whether Iran will be in attendance. Previous talks have been unsuccessful, and over the weekend the Strait of Hormuz was opened and then reclosed by Iran after the US continued to block Iranian ports.  This instability has raised questions over the ever-increasing fuel prices.  Business correspondent Vicky Pryc...

In the Green Party's annual State of the Planet Address they have called for a National Electrification Plan.  The plan would focus on reducing reliance on fossil fuels and using renewable energy like solar panels to benefit the planet and people's wallets.  NZGBC director of market transformation Sam Archer explained why this help is needed, and how they plan on clearing the grid for ex...

Iran's vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until the US's blockade is lifted. Iranian gunboats reportedly fired at ships trying to pass through yesterday - which US President Donald Trump's called a total violation of the ceasefire agreement. It comes as Iran's reportedly rejected a fresh round of peace talks set for tomorrow - labelling the US's demands as 'excessive'. Former US Ambassador...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 19th of April 2025, the strait of Hormuz is shut again, Trump says his team led by JD Vance is heading back to Pakistan for more talks, Former US Ambassador in the Middle East David Satterfield tells Ryan when we can expect the war to end.  The Green's are taking a mass national electrification plan to the next election, NZGBC Dir...

It's too early to tell whether National should switch leaders.  We've had one poll last night with the left-bloc winning.  If that case were to eventuate, it probably wouldn't eventuate in the way it's being reported.  New Zealand First would step in to rescue Labour from Te Pati Māori and soften the power of the Greens. If there wasn't enough support on the right to form a governme...

There's worry the new Warrant of Fitness regime will mean more dangerous vehicles on the road.   Vehicles of almost every age will get their warrants extended, with 14-year-old cars only needing a WOF every two years, rather than annually.   The Motor Trade Association say one in three cars between eight and 10-years-old currently fail.   Head of Advocacy James McDowall says it may...

Increasing reports of horrendous abuse directed towards staff at emergency departments.  Figures released under the Official Information Act show more than 7,500 reports were logged last year, matching the year before, but up significantly on 2023.  Just over 1000 reports came from emergency departments.  Nurses Society Director David Wills told Ryan Bridge the assaults vary in seve...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 17 April. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lift in beneficiaries could suggest recent policy decisions are taking us in the wrong direction.  At the end of March, just over 409 thousand people were on a main benefit, almost 3% more than the year prior. Jobseeker numbers are up 2.6%. Auckland University Associate Economics Professor Susan St John told Ryan Bridge many of the ways we've tried to bring down spending have impacted the l...

There's been a bit of hand-wringing this week about the fuel situation and some of it is justified.  If you're running an airline, it's bad. If you're paying $4 bucks to fill a truck with diesel, also bad.  But we're not yet out of fuel, or even close to out of fuel. Which is not the same as saying we won't one day be out of fuel, or having to ration before we get there, that is still a...