Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

So has the anticipation of this government been greater than the event itself?   Will it be under whelming when we finally see the state of it?   Did we just build it up as this huge thing full of controversy and twists and turns, when in fact it was just a boring longer than expected meeting of negotiating endless minutiae?   I actually felt sorry for them yesterday – especially the ones who are...

So has the anticipation of this government been greater than the event itself?   Will it be under whelming when we finally see the state of it?   Did we just build it up as this huge thing full of controversy and twists and turns, when in fact it was just a boring longer than expected meeting of negotiating endless minutiae?   I actually felt sorry for them yesterday – especially the ones who are...

A trend is emerging of older New Zealanders opting to dish out inheritance to their family before they die.   NZ Seniors data shows more than a third are doing just that.   More than half worry over what they'll be able to leave their kids because of current economic challenges.   Pidgeon Judd Law Director, Joanna Pidgeon, told Kate Hawkesby that people are living longer, and don't want to see the...

Domestic pressure in Israel is said to be the driving factor behind the hostage deal.   Israel's cabinet has agreed to a four day pause in fighting in exchange for the release of 50 women and child hostages taken by Hamas on October 7th.   It's believed there are around 200 Israeli hostages.   The agreement also includes Israel releasing 150 Palestinian prisoners.   International geopolitical anal...

An influx of migration and lack of property investors is thought to be driving up rental prices around the country. Rental growth is running at historically high levels, hitting 6.1% in the year to October, with Auckland skyrocketing by 8.5% over the past year. Aspire Managing Director Mike Atkinson told Kate Hawkesby that he's warning the incoming Government that prices need to be reined in. He s...

I don’t begrudge David Seymour tipping his hat into the ring for Deputy PM.   Many would argue it’s a relatively inconsequential role - it doesn’t mean much. I mean most of last term we couldn’t remember who was deputy leader or deputy PM: Kelvin Davis or Carmel Sepuloni. It didn’t really matter, no one really cared.   But it does carry gravitas. There is something about the title which carries we...

Questions are arising over whether Air New Zealand will have to continue to discount domestic flights in coming months as it grapples with sinking demand.   October passenger data highlights the slow down, alongside lower-margin leisure travel and lower capacity.   The airline's forecast a pre-tax profit of up to $230 million for the second half of 2023, down from nearly $300 million last year.  ...

We’re heading in the right direction, but they’re still not great numbers on the trade deficit.   Stats NZ data for October shows exports fell to $5.4 billion annually, with imports down to just over $7 billion on last year.   The annual trade deficit is $14.8 billion, slightly better than September's $15.41 billion.   Infometrics chief economist Brad Olsen told Kate Hawkesby that it's an improvem...

Wrangling continues in Auckland today between National, ACT, and New Zealand First, of the allocation of Cabinet portfolios in the new government.   David Seymour, Winston Peters, and Nicola Willis are all in the running to be Deputy Prime Minister.   But Brigitte Morten —a former senior ministerial advisor for National— told Kate Hawkesby that the allocation of other roles will be more crucial.  ...

I think we’ve reached peak woke, or at least I hope we have... who would know? But I think we’ve reached it when I see that in China now, they’re looking at banning clothes that hurt people’s feelings. You heard that right. CNN reported that, ‘China’s legislature has proposed changes to a law that if approved would allow authorities to fine and detain people who wear clothes that “hurt the nation’...

Questions over how fog cannons and body cameras in Woolworths stores will mitigate the rising abuse of staff.   The supermarket giant is reporting a 131% rise in physical assaults on staff in the past six months, compared to the same time last year.   It's also launching an in-store campaign to encourage customers to respect workers as they head into the busiest time of year.   First Union General...

High school students are increasingly visiting online gambling sites.   An investigation by Newstalk ZB has found that sports betting and online casino games are increasingly popular with teenagers, who even access the sites during the school day.   Life Education Trust Chief Executive John O'Connell told Kate Hawkesby that phones among young people have caused a number of challenges.   He says sc...

A political commentator is suggesting that we should relax a little about how long it's taking to form a government.   There's been much commentary on the fact it's been 18 days since the release of the official election results, and we still don't have a government.   Former National party staffer and now political commentator Ben Thomas told Kate Hawkesby that this time will be quickly forgotten...

The weekend has come and gone, but coalition negotiations continue into another week. Incoming Prime Minister Chris Luxon says about three issues to settle remain between National, Act and New Zealand First. The trio's been meeting in Auckland since Wednesday, where Luxon now believes they'll stay for the next few days. Herald Political Reporter Adam Pearse told Kate Hawkesby that Luxon described...

Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron had his first outing as Foreign Secretary yesterday as he made his way to Ukraine to meet President Zelensky.   UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Tim Dower that when they saw a Range Rover coming up Downing Street on Monday and David Cameron climbed out “mouths were literally a gog.”   He added that Cameron doesn’t have the best reputation across the con...

Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron had his first outing as Foreign Secretary yesterday as he made his way to Ukraine to meet President Zelensky.   UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Tim Dower that when they saw a Range Rover coming up Downing Street on Monday and David Cameron climbed out “mouths were literally a gog.”   He added that Cameron doesn’t have the best reputation across the con...

Economists are praising the Reserve Bank's decision to build up its foreign currency assets.   It's bought and borrowed to drive its total foreign currency holdings up by a third, to a total of almost $18 billion.   Westpac Chief Economist, Kelly Eckhold, says it will give a signal the central bank is willing to step in if there's a shock to the economy.   He told Tim Dower that the move should re...

Last time I had the privilege of hosting this show I said I had confidence in Chris Luxon's approach to these coalition talks.   I said it seemed businesslike, and I sensed he was out to cut a good deal that'll stick.   I hope I’m not proved wrong on that.   One thing you have to say about the way it's being handled is that all three of the key figures involved have been disciplined and kept thing...

Call centre staff are facing unprecedented levels of abuse, with industry experts warning of a future dominated by customer service bots.   Customer Contact Network CEO, Elias Kanaris, told Tim Dower that he's pleading with the public to be civil when dealing with contact centre staff.   He says customers need to remember staff are real people who are simply trying their best to resolve your issue...

Could we have a new government by Sunday?   Talks continued late into the night and are set to resume in central Auckland this morning, with Chris Luxon, David Seymour, and Winston Peters all pointing to a deal being close.   Political commentator Grant Duncan told Tim Dower that there will be final issues all three parties want to resolve.   He says it has to take as long as it takes, because it'...

I’ve got some good news for you. Every one of you up now listening, is a go getter. Early birds are into it as we know, but not only that, research tell us they also earn more.   A recent study showed night owls earn 4 percent less than early risers ..and it’s all down to circadian rhythms apparently. Scientists discovered in a Finnish study of more than 12 thousand people, that those who are more...

Some markets are feeling economic pain more than others. Infometrics latest economic monitor suggests a primary sector slowdown as annual average growth has slowed to 1.7 percent. BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Kate Hawkesby internal migration numbers are showing various trends. He notes that when people move around the country, employment and construction often follow. Jones thinks cheaper h...

New research has found children in New Zealand are dying from serious trauma injuries at twice the rate of those in the Australian state of Victoria. The study examined cases of more than 13 hundred children seriously injured between mid-2017 and mid-2022. It focused on injuries usually caused by cars, motorbikes, bicycle accidents and serious burns. Save the Children Advocacy Director Jacqui Sout...

A month on from the general election, and the leaders of National, Act and New Zealand First have met together for the first time.   Chris Luxon, David Seymour and Winston Peters caught up face-to-face at an Auckland hotel yesterday. Peters briefly returned last night, seemingly for further talks.   Seymour says they haven't yet dealt with major substantive discussions, in a potential coalition de...

Joe Biden will be hoping to ease geopolitical tensions in today's meeting with counterpart Xi Jinping.   The two leaders will meet at 8am NZST in San Francisco at the APEC summit, marking Xi's first visit to the US in six years.   They're expected to discuss resuming military communications, the climate, and control of a fentanyl pipeline.   US correspondent Mitch McCann told Kate Hawkesby that US...