Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

An Auckland high school has placed CCTV cameras in its bathrooms in a bid to stop vaping.   Green Bay High School students have taken to social media to voice their concerns, saying it's a breach of privacy.   The school has also installed a glass door to a new bathroom.   Auckland University senior law lecturer Nikki Chamberlain told Mike Hosking that children are vulnerable when it comes to priv...

Banking restrictions are on the chopping block, in the hope to make the lending process smoother.   Laws introduced by the previous government which aimed to prevent loan sharks are set to be scrapped.   Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayley says it had unintended consequences.   CEO of Money Sweetspot Sasha Lockley told Mike Hosking that it made lending too restrictive for both len...

The Parnell Business Association wants more to be done to address what it says is a sharp rise in crime and disorderly behaviour, linked to nearby Kainga Ora tenants.   It's written to Housing Minister Chris Bishop and former Prime Minister Sir Bill English who's leading a review into the agency.   General Manager Cheryl Adamson says that in the last 6-8 months they’ve seen an uptick in the number...

There’s potential for a more radical leadership of the Greens in the wake of co-leader James Shaw's resignation.   Shaw's announced he'll step down in March but will remain an MP for the time being to support his Sustainable Environment Bill.   Green Party rules state that a woman and a Māori person must be in leadership roles, but with Marama Davidson covering both criteria, the floor is wide ope...

I have never really been able to work James Shaw out.   As he quit his leadership yesterday, which made perfect sense, he waxed lyrical about the Green Party, and its achievements, and its place in the political landscape.   Which makes no sense because they are a mess and no longer remotely green, and he stands out like the dogs proverbials as the one remaining environmentalist.   Of course, you...

High inflation in certain parts of the economy is dashing hopes of a cut in the OCR.   Reserve Bank Chief Executive Paul Conway says despite overall inflation being at 4.7 percent, non-tradable inflation is still high at 5.9 percent.   New Zealand Initiative Economist Director Oliver Hartwich says that non-tradable inflation is produced in New Zealand.   He told Mike Hosking that the Reserve Bank’...

Parliament is officially back in business, with the first sitting of the year today.   The Government will resume its 100 Day Action Plan, which still includes scrapping the Māori Health Authority, Auckland Fuel Tax, and Three Waters reforms.   Parliament is still under urgency when it comes to the passing of legislation.   Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking this impacts things like pa...

The annual apple and pear crop is forecast to pip last year's total.   New Zealand Apples & Pears estimates export volume at 21.2 million boxes, a rebound from the 2023 Cyclone Gabrielle-ravaged total.   It's also a return to pre-cyclone levels.   CEO Karen Morrish says there are several factors behind the recovery, including cyclone-damaged crops bouncing back.   She says it's also down to a...

I am assuming you got as bored as I did over the break with the obsession—or mania, as Shane Jones quite rightly called it— when it came to ACT's idea of having a chat about the way we view and interpret the Treaty.   The problem with David Seymour is he is too logical, especially for nutters and extremists.   He wants to debate, to toss ideas about, to —dare we suggest— act like an adult and have...

Decades of underinvestment are to blame for Wellington's water crisis, according to infrastructure experts.   Wellington is facing tightening water restrictions as more than 40% of treated water is lost due to leaks and burst pipes in the region.   Infrastructure New Zealand Policy Director Michelle McCormick told Mike Hosking that the whole country is facing water issues, and we need to better pr...

A political commentator says the Prime Minister is continuing to distance himself from ACT's Treaty Principles Bill. The bill featured heavily in ACT Party leader David Seymour's State of the Nation speech over the weekend. Brigitte Morten says the move to make Seymour Associate Justice Minister, reinforces that it's ACT Party, not National Party policy. She says the appointment has some practical...

The famous Mona Lisa painting has fallen victim to yet another protest attack, with activists hurling pumpkin soup over the 16th century masterpiece. The protestors, who represent a French environmental protection group, took to the painting to raise awareness for the issue of sustainable food. Newstalk ZB Europe correspondent Gavin Grey says the group is calling on food to be more accessible. "Ba...

It's the first day schools can go back for term 1. The new Government's making compulsory an hour each of reading, writing and maths at primary school. Next term schools will be required to have cellphone policies in place, but it's expected most schools will implement them this term. NZEI president Mark Potter says there's a lot of things competing for children's attention these days. He says tea...

New Zealand needs a great deal in order to get back on track, printing money and once again becoming an almost first world nation that the rest of the world wants to come and see, travel and enjoy. The Tourism and Hospitality Minister is Matt Doocey and yesterday, he came out saying that nothing is off the table when it comes to helping fund the industry and the vital infrastructure it needs. Noth...

The UK is sending back Ghana's 'crown jewels'.   The long-term loan deal will see the artefacts returned 150 years after they were looted from the court of the Ashanti Empire.   UK Correspondent, Vincent McAviney, told Roman Travers that it consists of 32 pieces from the British and Victoria & Albert Museums.   He says Ghana's chief negotiator is hopeful for a 'new sense of cultural co-operati...

Other banks might be following ASB in dropping interest rates.   ASB is dropping its rates on its three, four, and five-year home loan terms.   Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold says that last year the Reserve Bank warned interest rates may have to rise.   He told Roman Travers that recent developments have likely flipped that around.    Eckhold says low GDP figures signal further rates drops...

An NGO is alarmed by data issues at Oranga Tamariki.   An Independent Children’s Monitor report has revealed gaps in information about whether children in state care are receiving medical and dental checkups.   Voyce National Care says it's state negligence, which can't be ignored.   Youth Participation Advisor Mary-Lynn Huxford told Roman Travers that this can have long term effects.   She says t...

For the record, New Zealand doesn’t have a minister for the tobacco industry. Or does it?   The Associate Health Minister, Casey Costello is being labelled by some as the Minister for the Tobacco Industry, based on a proposal that’s yet to be confirmed by Casey Costello, that she wants to see a 3-year freeze on the tobacco tax.   What this means is that cigarettes would be insulated from the full...

The Government faced some heat yesterday at Rātana.   NZ First’s Winston Peters and Shane Jones were both booed by some in the crowd, and the Prime Minister himself faced a frosty reception.   Christopher Luxon used his address at Rātana to assure he wants progress for Māori, promising the crowd his Government had no plans to meddle with the Treaty, and wants to partner with Māori to achieve bette...

New Zealand's average rent has gone through the roof and is sitting at an all-time high.    Latest Trade Me figures show the national median rent is $625 a week, about 7.8% percent higher than this time last year.   For the first time, the Bay of Plenty is the most expensive place to rent a home, at $670 a week.   Property Commentator Ashley Church told Roman Travers that when the cost of owning a...

More so than ever, we live in a world where virtually everyone is outraged or offended more frequently.    There’s never been anything wrong with being outraged or offended – the difference in recent years is that we don’t only want to tell everyone who’ll listen about how we feel, we also want to shame the offender into stopping what they’re doing. We want to cancel them.    The offending now ext...

New Zealand might not be entirely out of the woods with high inflation.   The Consumers Price Index rose 4.7% in the year to December, a two year low.   The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research says inflation is still above the 1-3% Reserve Bank target.   Principal Economist Christina Leung told Roman Travers that while she expects the figure to get under the target this year, some factors a...

All signs are pointing to a much-needed easing in inflation.   Stats NZ will release its latest quarterly inflation numbers at 10.45 this morning.   They're expected to show the annual inflation rate has fallen below the 5% forecast of the Reserve Bank.   ANZ economist Henry Russell told Roman Travers that they expect most of this downward trend to come from the tradable side of the basket, which...

Yesterday we became aware of yet another giant leap backwards for the mankind of New Zealand, based upon an entirely retrospective move by this coalition Government.   Our health system is like one giant lab rat: constantly poked and prodded by each and every Minister of Health with every change of government. It’s no wonder so many of our healthcare professionals want out.   The Minister of Healt...

Fears that New Zealand's military involvement in the fight against Houthi rebels in Yemen could close diplomatic doors.   Six personnel are being deployed to the Red Sea to support coalition forces carrying out precision attacks on Iran-backed groups who have been attacking commercial shipping.   Geopolitical Analyst Geoffrey Miller says several US presidents have bombed Yemen and haven't solved t...