Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

New Zealand's older residents will likely become a backstop if our population growth continues to fall, and workers aren't replaced.   Our estimated natural population increase —births minus deaths— is the lowest since the 1940s during World War II.  EMA Head of Advocacy & Strategy Alan McDonald told Ryan Bridge policies incentivising people to have children don't work, so the workfo...

I was reading a bit of news last night and a number jumped out. It shocked me, and it should shock all of us.   In the UK, they had a Government-commissioned review looking at young people and why they're not as active as the generations that went before them.  Where's the go-get 'em?  Where's the win the morning, win the day?  Where's the rattle your dogs and make-it-happen at...

I was reading a bit of news last night and a number jumped out. It shocked me. And should shock all of us.  In the UK, they had a government-commissioned review looking at young people and why they're not as active as generations that went before them. Where's the go-get 'em? Where's the win-the-morning-win the day? Where's the rattle your dogs and make-it-happen attitude?  Britain has t...

Is sending all every bailiff in the country out scanning parked cars number plates today a good idea? In July last year, the Government began trialling devices to scan and seize vehicles of people overdue on court fines and reparations.  Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says more than seven-thousand people overdue on payments have been identified, with more than $4.2 dollars recovered as of la...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 19th of August 2026, former Chair of FIFA'S Governance Committee Miguel Maduro shares his thoughts with Ryan on whether Gianni Infantino should get to continue on as FIFA's President.  New Zealand's birth rate statistics just keep getting worse, EMA Head of Advocacy and Strategy Alan McDonald tells Ryan what this means for...

It’s a race against the clock to fix our aged care system.   Recommendations from a Ministerial Advisory Group include increased in-home care, a workforce strategy, and national pathway for people in the system.   They're among 40 recommendations which Chair David Cunliffe says if implemented, will save the country money and improve healthcare outcomes.   He told Ryan Bridge there a...

Inflation is easing but further Official Cash Rate hikes are probably unavoidable.  Latest Stats NZ data shows the prices of diesel and petrol have been steadily falling for three consecutive months.  Diesel inflation's fallen to 34.8%, petrol inflation's fallen to 15.1%, electricity inflation's fallen to 9.5%, and food inflation is now just 1.9%.  But Westpac senior economist Satis...

An Auckland councillor's questioning why the Government needs another investigation to rule out the mayor's preferred crossing - again. Cabinet's agreed a Crown-led case into the pros and cons of a bridge or tunnel as another crossing of the Waitemata Harbour. The $1 million bill to investigate if Meola Reef in Point Chev is the right spot will be split between Auckland ratepayers and the country'...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 18th of August 2026, More delays for a second Waitemata Harbour crossing, Auckland Councillor Richard Hills shares his concerns with Ryan.  Stats NZ released their selected price index, it showed food inflation up 1.9% on last year, Westpac Senior Economist Satish Ranchhod provides some analysis. Aged Care Ministerial Advisor...

We've been waiting for decades for somebody to build a new bridge, or a tunnel, or anything across Auckland's harbour.  The consultant bill is now $100 million across the current National and former Labour Governments.  The most galling part of that was the $50m spent on consultants for Labour's plan to put an almost $1 billion cycling bridge over the harbour.  Can you imagine sitti...

New Zealand Fashion Week's back with a bang. It's making its return to Shed 10 on Auckland's waterfront this week - hosting an array of big names like Karen Walker, and Zambesi - alongside emerging talent. Last year's event debuted a new format - with an emphasis on public ticketing, panel talks, and interactive workshops. Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck tells Ryan what Aucklanders can expect in th...

Hey Labour. NZ is not Australia. To justify their capital gains tax, they point across the ditch. "Australia introduced a capital gains tax in 1985, and its economy and incomes have kept growing." This is true but one does not cause the other. Two things. 1. Australia is not rich because it has a capital gains tax. Australia is rich because it has a larger economy, with greater economies of scale,...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday the 17th of August 2026, The Opportunity party wants to toughen the rules around political lobbying and donations if elected, Transparency International CEO Jule Haggie shares her thoughts.  Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on the cost of wildfires in Europe in terms of GDP, worries about the insurance cost which...

A push for the rules to be tightened around meth contamination in New Zealand homes.  In 2018, the level of meth contamination allowed in a house was raised to 15 per 100-centimetres-squared – an increase of 30 times.  Unitec research, published in today's New Zealand Medical Journal, has found since the change, average meth contamination has increased by more than 50%.  Author Muha...

Inflation may not remain as high, for as long, as previously expected.  The Reserve Bank's latest survey of business managers suggests inflation will return to a more normal level over the next year.  Latest data from Infometrics and Foodstuffs suggests food price inflation has already eased, with grocery supplier cost inflation now back down to 1.9%.  Infometrics Principal Economis...

It's thought ACT’s alternative to a bed tax is the right philosophy, but is too small.   The party's promising one dollar given to local councils for each guest night in their area, funded through GST and levies already paid by visitors.   Leader David Seymour says it could be implemented at the next Budget, rather than needing legislation.   Tourism Holdings Limited chief executive...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 14th of August 2026, Act wants a tourism dividend instead of a bed tax, Tourism Holdings Limited Chief Executive, Grant Webster shares his thoughts.  Price of groceries might be starting to soften, Informetrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen shares his thoughts. A group of researchers have found that Meth contamination is increasi...

If you're a centrist, maybe a softer swing voter in this election, you're right to feel, so far at least, that the whole thing's a bit of a ruse.  The left and right blocs are basically going to run campaigns against each other, rather than for something else.   How do we know this?   Last Sunday the Nats put out budget responsibility rules they so far haven't been responsible enoug...

An expert believes some property investors are selling up ahead of the election.  Data from property analysts Cotality NZ shows the proportion of properties resold for a gross profit has fallen to its lowest level in almost 14 years.  The median length of time people are holding on to properties that sold for a profit hit record numbers, at almost 10 and a half years.  Property Inve...

A retired Major General says New Zealanders need to be aware the threat of terrorism is real.  A Security Intelligence Service report shows the national terrorism threat level remains at Possible, with the most likely scenario caused by a lone actor.  It says violent extremism is being influenced by a broad range of ideologies, a mix of domestic and international events, and extremist on...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 13th of August 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Act Leader David Seymour shares his thoughts on Luxon's leadership debacle. New Cotality data showing 13% of houses sold for a loss, the worst profitability rates since 2012, Property Investors Federation Advocacy Manager Matt Ball shares his thoughts.  The NZSIS are warning that th...

David Seymour says important work is going on, despite the ructions within National's caucus.   National party leader Christopher Luxon survived a confidence vote yesterday, launched by Chris Penk.   The Kaipara ki Mahurangi MP was then sent packing from his Cabinet portfolios for his efforts, and later announced he'll quit politics at the election.  Coalition partner and ACT leader...

Everything in this election's just been turned on its head in 24 hours for three reasons – and it's not because of National.   Firstly, yesterday Chris Hipkins was asked if he'd tell us how he would deal with the Opportunity Party, what the caveats would be.   He said the Labour Party were going to listen to the voters on TOP – a very different thing to what he’s said previously.  S...

A new study finds vaping by mothers could be a factor in the deaths of some babies.  Otago and Auckland University researchers say in 66 cases of Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths, three-quarters of mothers had smoked and/or vaped.   In half of cases involving bed sharing, mothers had vaped.   General Practitioners Aotearoa Chair Buzz Burrell told Ryan Bridge vaping would impact the b...

Tax debt has surged by billions since Covid, with more than half a million New Zealanders now owing Inland Revenue.  A report dating to March shows we collectively owe $9.4 billion, up from $5.8 billion in June 2023.  The increase is thought to be linked to the Government's focus on keeping businesses afloat during Covid.  Deloitte tax partner Robyn Walker told Ryan Bridge only $6.2...