Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

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...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 12th of August 2026, Chris Luxon’s in Wellington for an urgent caucus meeting over speculation about his leadership, political commentator tells Ryan if it's the end of the road for him as Prime Minister.  Over half a million kiwis now in debt to the IRD, Deloitte Tax Partner Robyn Walker explains. A new study from the Univ...

National will struggle to show they are a unified caucus if Prime Minister Christopher Luxon survives a leadership challenge today, political commentator Bridget Morten says.  “They can’t let this drag on any longer,” Morten told Ryan Bridge.  She says that if Luxon were to survive, it’ll be difficult for them to demonstrate that this kind of speculation won’t plague them all the way thr...

Here's how this morning is going to play out.  At 9:30am, any member of National's caucus can call a no-confidence vote in Luxon's leadership.   The party's constitution calls these guys the Parliamentary Section.   They vote. It's majority rules. If there's a vacancy, i.e. if Luxon is goneburger, then they elect a new leader or leaders.   It's majority rules. So if a majority...

Contact Energy's putting serious thought into data centres after reporting record earnings.   The gentailer's made $423 million annual profit – up nearly 28%.  It's now in talks with Australian firm CDC Data Centres for a 250 megawatt data centre in Taranaki.  Shareholders Association CEO Oliver Mander told Mike Hosking that the companies looking at data centres are investing heavil...

Christchurch City Council’s push for an NRL league team has moved beyond talk.  The council is working with the governing body on details for a potential 20th club.  New documents show eight key areas are being worked through, including governance, funding, infrastructure, high-performance facilities and building a fanbase.  A call on whether to make a formal bid remains undecided.&...

A group of North Island councils is working on an alternative proposal to the Government's amalgamation programme.   City and district councils were given until Sunday to pitch plans to create larger combined unitary councils.  Manawatu, Whanganui, Ruapehu, Rangitikei, and Tararua councils have signed a memorandum of understanding to work on an alternative model.   Manawatu Mayor Mi...

Here we go again.  For the second time this year, there's a story in the media about National MPs doing the numbers on Luxon. At least one of them is talking to Thomas Coughlan at the Herald. Now, one or two chatting to the media doesn't equal a coup.  But the political calculation is that Luxon is a drag on the party’s polling. Changing horses midstream would not hurt their chances of f...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 11th of August 2026, Not every council is happy about the attempted forced amalgamation by central government, Manawatu Mayor Michael Ford shares his thoughts. It seems the Christchurch Council is backing Sir Graham Lowe's NRL Southern Orca's bid, Newstalk ZB Canterbury Sports Commentator Nick Bewley tells Ryan how likely it is te...

St John's triggered a major incident response, after two consecutive weeks of record-high demand for ambulances.  Saturday was the worst, with 2,500 call outs.  The service says some wait times are longer than usual for those not in critical condition.  Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quin told Ryan Bridge that delays are probably making people more frustrated.  H...

National's push for tighter control of the books is being welcomed - but questions are being raised over what's actually new. Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis yesterday unveiled National's fiscal strategy - promising a surplus by 2028/29 and Government spending below 30 percent of GDP.  But independent tax expert Geof Nightingale told Ryan Bridge National has made these same commitments bef...

Tony Randle was the exactly the type of person, the sort of brain, you want sitting round a council table.  Especially given the types who now seem to occupy many of the seats. It's very sad to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family and those who knew him well.  For those who didn't, Tony was a councillor in Wellington. He sat on the Northern ward.  He was the guy you'd c...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday the 10th of August 2026, National's re-stated its 'Budget responsibility rules', independent tax expert Geof Nightingale shares his thoughts. Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on UK and EU PMI seeing a rebound in services, German production cuts having wider repercussions for growth across Europe and Labour considering...

The Greatest Rivalry in sport is back.  The All Blacks kick off their tour of South Africa tomorrow, taking on the Stormers.  Coach Dave Rennie says that every player will get a chance to impress in the opening matches, and potentially get a spot in the Springbok test teams.  NZ Herald Rugby Correspondent Liam Napier told Ryan Bridge they’re expecting to see a comfortable victory.&n...

There’s a view Labour's small business policy would give owners more room to grow.  The party wants to up the GST threshold, lift the asset write-off, and require big businesses to pay small suppliers faster.   It'll cost $1.5 billion and will scrap the current Government's more expensive Investment Boost scheme.   Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson told Ryan Bridge it's great st...

The Prime Minister's interest in an MMP referendum's being labelled as a potential blunder. Christopher Luxon's revealed on Newstalk ZB he's open to another vote on the 1996 Mixed Member Proportional system, if re-elected.  It provides a party and an electoral vote and was reaffirmed in a 2011 referendum. Lawyer and political commentator Liam Hehir told Ryan Bridge no one's able to say if thi...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday the 7th of August 2026, Christopher Luxon floats the idea of a referendum on MMP, Liam Heir Political commentator shares his thoughts on Luxon's bold statement.  The All Blacks kick off their tour of South Africa Saturday when they take on the Stormers, NZ Herald rugby correspondent Liam Napier tells Ryan what we can expect. ...

Christopher Luxon's going rogue.  The risk when making constitutional policy pronouncements 92 days out from an election, blindsiding your colleagues and diverting attention from your key messaging, is that you look erratic.   At best, voters might see this as a distraction play. They might see this as a means to regain the oxygen.  But it's not something anyone's actually asking fo...