Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Tensions are heightened in the Middle East as the truce in Gaza enters a seventh day.   The UK is sending a second warship —the destroyer ship HMS Diamond— to the Gulf to join the frigate HMS Lancaster.   It comes after Israel and Hamas reached a final-hour agreement last night to extend the ceasefire to the end of today.   Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Tim Dower that the UK Defence Force is...

Wellington's housing market is ending the year on an upwards trajectory.   Latest One Roof-Valocity figures show the nationwide average property value has jumped 2% in the past three months, to reach $968 thousand.   Wellington prices are up 2%, while Auckland's are up 2.5% and Canterbury's are up 1.7%.   OneRoof Editor Owen Vaughan says interest rates are still inhibiting price growth.   He says...

Some former ministers have taken top positions in Labour's front bench while others have lost out. Carmel Sepuloni has social development, Grant Robertson has finance, Ayesha Verrall has health, and Ginny Andersen keeps police. Damien O'Connor's been taken off agriculture, with Jo Luxton taking up the spokesperson role. Former senior Labour staffer Clint Smith told Tim Dower that Luxton's one of t...

A fresh plea for a helping hand for primary care, to ease the pressure on hospital emergency departments.   An opinion piece in today's New Zealand Medical Journal suggests ED overcrowding may not be caused by unnecessary visits, but an increase in more urgent cases.   But Northcare Accident and Medical's Peter Boot says primary care is more efficient at dealing with small issues filing EDs, and i...

Dogs eh... jeez do they get to you.   It's 12 years this Christmas, Luka and me. 12 brilliant years for me, and what a mate he's been. A great, great mate.   We had a long talk last night, cos I wanted say things while he's still with me.   Kinda with a warm heart and not a broken one, cos I know the day will come.   He truly scared me last night; I thought it was the end for a little while.   All...

It's thought New Zealand's achievement of water quality targets hinges on every Kiwi getting behind efforts.   A new report has evaluated four contaminants —nitrogen, phosphorus, E. coli, and sediment— in rivers, lakes, and estuaries nationwide.   Every region needs a substantial reduction in at least one to meet freshwater standards.   75% of land is contributing more E. coli to water than is all...

A push back from the Reserve Bank against the financial markets. The central bank kept the Official Cash Rate at 5.5% and signalled that no cuts are on the immediate horizon. It's also kept the door open for another rise if inflation pressures are stronger than anticipated. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Tim Dower that markets had been getting excited in recent weeks, wondering ho...

The incoming Government isn't wasting any time in getting down to business.   Chris Luxon has unveiled a 100-day plan that will include scrapping Auckland's fuel tax and the clean car discount, repealing Three Waters, and passing new RMA laws.   Political Editor Jason Walls told Tim Dower that many laws will be changed by early next year.   He says it sounds like a lot of the legislation will be p...

Search and rescue operations are underway after a US Air Force osprey crashed while performing a routine training mission off the coast of Yakushima Island.   US correspondent Mitch McCann told Tim Dower that this is not the first time this type of aircraft has fatally crashed.   He says that so far, one crew member is confirmed dead while the other five are still unaccounted for.   LISTEN ABOVE  ...

So here's the low-down on the Public Interest Journalism Fund.   55 million bucks dished out over a series of funding rounds, and all gone now. The fund's been wound up.   The company that owns this station won nearly $7 million in round one, another $3 million in round two, and a couple of top-ups after that.   In fact, all the major players, including the already publicly funded broadcasters, ev...

Don't expect any major change to interest rates before Christmas.   The Reserve Bank is tipped to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 5.5% at its next review at 2pm today.   Economists and commentators remain divided on whether there will be further hikes in the current cycle.   NZIER's Christina Leung told Tim Dower that, for now, previous hikes appear to be having the desired effect.   Howe...

A big step for sustainability within the aviation sector   The first transatlantic flight by a large passenger plane powered only by alternative fuels has taken off, flying from London's Heathrow to New York's JFK airport.   The Virgin Atlantic flight is a one-off flight at this stage and isn't carrying passengers.   UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Tim Dower that the industry's acknowledging they...

It’s believed that more thought needs to go into the Auckland Mayor's plans to sell the long-term lease of the Ports of Auckland.   Wayne Brown is putting forward two options for the port in his proposed 10-year budget, which also includes a rates rise of 7.5%.   He proposes either keeping the business and gradually releasing land for public use or selling the lease to raise up to $3 billion.   Au...

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has headache to deal with after his Government's first Cabinet meeting.   Winston Peters called a $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund provided during Covid a "bribe".   He told reporters to "tell the public what they had to sign to get the money".   Media commentator Vaughan Davis told Tim Dower that Luxon handled the situation poorly.   He says avoiding the comm...

I'm wondering if people in Auckland will, in a few years, look more kindly on their current Mayor.   Fair to say that Wayne Brown didn't exactly get off to a flying start, especially with the media, and let's face it, no one's happy when the rates go up.   On that score, you've seen nothing yet.   I've been reading Mr Brown's proposals to build long-term financial and physical resilience.   It's a...

Covid lockdowns may have played a part in the increase in learning and behavioural issues being picked up at early childhood education.   The Educational Institute says the increase has meant waiting lists for specialist support are far too long.   Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland told Tim Dower that the main thing kids that age do is play and interact with other kids, which provides social...

It's thought the new Government will start with some of the 'easy wins' in its 100-day plan.   Ministers from our first three-party coalition of National, ACT, and New Zealand First meet for their first Cabinet meeting today.   Prime Minister Chris Luxon says today's meeting will lay out expectations, and at tomorrow's meeting they'll discuss items like agreeing to a plan.   Former Senior Minister...

New Zealand's egg shortage may be over, according to producers who say prices have levelled out.   Shelves were left bare at times last summer after supermarkets pledged to only sell cage-free eggs.   Egg Producers' Federation executive director Michael Brooks told Tim Dower that the new restrictions have been difficult for the industry, but prices are finally coming down.   He says free range egg...

Calm's been restored in Ireland's capital after a stabbing last week led to unrest. Three young children were among five people taken to hospital after a knife attack in Dublin, which sparked riots in the city centre. Thirty-four people have been arrested. Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Tim Dower that officials are blaming far-right agitators for the clashes. He says it's thought an Irish ci...

The incoming Attorney-General says it's a big job but she thinks she has the experience for it. Judith Collins has picked up the portfolio alongside seven others including Minister Responsible for responding to the Christchurch mosque inquiry. She says it will be a challenge, but the roles are quite closely aligned. Collins says told Tim Dower that her background as a lawyer, holding a practicing...

Backlash to the incoming government scrapping smokefree laws to fund tax cuts. Advocacy groups say removing regulations on levels of nicotine and the age of who can buy cigarettes is irresponsible. Action for Smokefree Director Ben Youdan told Tim Dower that the Government is putting the interests of the cigarette industry before the health of the nation. He says more people will die if these laws...

Nicola Willis is blaming ACT and NZ First for the momentous dismantling of Smokefree laws. That's what she said over the weekend, telling Newshub the minor parties were insistent on reversing the amendments, not even a year after they were passed.   ACT says tobacco taxes bring in about 1.8 billion all up, and we're given to believe taking those new restrictions away will be worth about a billion....

So, this is my last day – not just for the year but for good. It’s time for me to turn off the early alarm.   I’ve been so conflicted about making this decision, purely because I love the job so much, it’s the most fun and best time I’ve ever had in my broadcasting career. Radio is addictive. It’s dynamic and instant and an intimate connection with your audience. I’ve felt privileged to be in your...

Shoppers hunting for a bargain will be hitting the malls over the weekend for Black Friday sales.   Tens of thousands of shoppers are expected to swarm the shops.   But Wellington Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Simon Arcus told Kate Hawkesby that consumers should be careful to ensure they are getting a fair deal.   He says shoppers should look online to see if the same product can be bought c...

More details on the incoming governing trio are expected to come soon.   National, ACT, and New Zealand First have agreed on a deal which will be signed in Parliament today.   It'll have the parties' policy agendas, details on who's in and who's out of Cabinet, and who's becoming the Deputy Prime Minister.   Herald political reporter Adam Pearse told Kate Hawkesby that we've apparently been in the...