Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The Chief Children's Commissioner has labelled the latest review of Oranga Tamariki shocking.   The latest probe into the government agency has found that there needs to be urgent change to fix major issues, including those related to staffing and capacity.   Judge Frances Eivers told Francesca Rudkin that it's not good enough and our children in care deserve better.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudi...

Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as head of Fox and News Corp.   The 92-year-old media mogul has been an influential figure in the US, UK, and Australia for decades, owning numerous tabloids, newspapers and TV channels.   He's passing the baton to his son Lachlan but will remain with both companies as chairman emeritus.   UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Francesca Rudkin that Murdoch's age is...

So on Tuesday evening I was quite excited about the first Leaders Debate.   It was a funny old evening. I thought Jessica Mutch McKay did a good job moving things along but the two Chris’s energy wanned, and so did mine. It wasn’t a dynamic debate.     There wasn’t actually a lot of debate.     So, after a solid, but slightly disappointing Leaders Debate, I then turned my attention to the Newshub...

I see it reported that 'the Auckland restaurateur whose close to the site of Monday’s fatal bus stop stabbing is worried “people are afraid to come out to the area to eat” after the second violent attack on innocent members of the public in Albany in months.' The other one was the axe wieldng man attacking diners back in June.   But also at the the Albany bus stop, a 16-year-old told the Police th...

Economists are expecting the latest GDP figures to have risen in the second quarter.   The numbers will be released this morning.   After two drops, the country entered a technical recession in the first quarter of the year.   ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Kate Hawkesby that things are likely to get a bit more challenging again later on this year.   He said that there’s a risk of a double...

ACT is promising a huge shake-up to the education system, aiming to hold underperforming schools to account.   Its new education policy would crack down on ECE providers that don't teach children the basics.   The party would increase surprise visits to early childhood providers and penalise those failing standards.   Leader David Seymour told Kate Hawkesby that they need to start thinking out of...

Labour's announced changes for migrant workers are being described as a soft cushion at the bottom of a cliff.   The package includes basic financial support to help with accommodation and essential living costs.   The Government also plans to remove 90-day trial periods for employers utilising the Accredited Employer Work Visa.   Employment lawyer Aaron Martin told Kate Hawkesby that the changes...

Amid the recent allegations against Russell Brand, the BBC has announced an internal review of the comedian's time with them.   Brand hosted a series of programs on BBC 6 Music and Radio 2 between 2006 and 2008 as well as being a guest on other shows, overlapping with the period of time the allegations fall within.   The BBC has now removed programming featuring Brand from their streaming services...

The events of the past few years are having a major impact on young kiwis.   Extreme weather and economic uncertainty have become a source of concern and anxiety for young people, with social media and vaping being other common stressors.   Youthline’s ‘State of the Generation’ report found that a quarter of those surveyed had been impacted by extreme weather events, and half of that group’s menta...

Labour says it's taking a long-term approach to reducing youth crime.   In Auckland, a 16-year-old boy has been charged over Monday's fatal bus station attack, the victim's family revealing he was a 24-year-old alleged 501 deportee from Australia.   And in Christchurch, an 18-year-old learner driver is facing charges over Sunday's fatal Rangiora crash, with new figures revealing Canterbury has bee...

How over all the violence are we right now?   I can’t tell you how over it I am. I’m sure you are too. It’s actually getting ridiculous and what I’m worried about now is that not even a change of government is going to stop it.   A stabbing murder at an Albany bus stop in Auckland Monday, another knife incident 30 minutes later in Auckland’s Waterview, the next day, Tuesday, a person taken into cu...

Some are picking Chris Luxon as narrowly taking the crown in last night's leaders’ debate.   The National Party Leader went head to head with Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins in the first of three debates ahead of the election.   Newstalk ZB Political Editor, Jason Walls, told Kate Hawkesby who he thought came out on top.   He says Luxon was more passionate and had a better plan on law and order,...

A former MP has some advice for both candidates in tonight’s leaders’ debate.   Labour's Chris Hipkins will face off against National’s Chris Luxon on TVNZ.   Peter Dunne mastered the crowd reactor tool the Worm during TV debates in the 2000s, and says Hipkins should control his words to avoid seeming snide.   But, he told Kate Hawkesby, there are traps for Luxon too.   He says Luxon needs to avoi...

David Seymour said yesterday that the media can’t be trusted to fairly carry ACT’s message.   Based on the texts we got yesterday from people who attended the ACT launch rally, there may be some truth in that. In general, I don’t think we’re being well served by election coverage at the moment... but from all sides. The annoying disruptors, the shadow boxing politicians, the agenda driven clickbai...

New Zealand is making a comeback on the world hospo map as new overseas arrivals drive up demand.   ABC Business Sales says enquiries from potential hospo owners is nearly twice that compared to 2019.   It shows that's due to migrants filling staff and ownership shortages.   Hospitality NZ CEO Steve Armitage told Kate Hawkesby that the country is viewed overseas as a safe place to do business, and...

Labour's latest energy package is copping flack from some of those in the sector.   It includes a rebate of up to $4000 for installing solar panels and will provide $20 million for community energy projects.   Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie told Kate Hawkesby that its not the right move.   He says they should lay off picking winners in the energy sector and rely on the emission tradin...

Labour's made a suite of announcements targeting women.   The party's released its first women's manifesto promising improved endometriosis care and extended breast cancer screening.   It'd also introduce gender pay gap reporting and establish an innovation and entrepreneurship scholarship programme for low to middle-income women.   Employment lawyer Jennifer Mills told Kate Hawkesby New Zealand r...

Wasn’t the Warriors game just the much-needed boost we all needed? Amazing scenes on Saturday night, a wild home crowd, as raucous as any I’ve seen.   I mean that was ebullient and electric – how awesome to have been there for those who were. I was so thrilled for Shaun Johnson – a last-minute bounce back from injury and what a superb performance he gave right up until his final minutes on the fie...

As policies fly about here and there in these last 4 weeks heading into the election, Labour's deputy prime minister and National's deputy leader will join once a week to gain insight into all things party-related.   National’s Nicola Willis joined Kate Hawkesby to discuss any fiscal plans, Act vowing to end co-governance and Labour supposedly turning down proposals to stop gang funding.   LISTEN...

Police in the UK are approaching the paper which brought allegations to light against Russell Brand and one of his former employers.   The comedian has been accused of rape and sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013.   Police have gone to Channel 4 and The Sunday Times to make sure any victims of crime can be made aware of how they can report it to police.   UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Ha...

Liam Lawson continues to press his case for a fulltime Formula One seat in the 2024 season. In just his third race of deputising for injured AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo, the 21-year-old Kiwi has earned his first two points in Formula One with a ninth-placed finish at the Singapore Grand Prix. Not only was it his first finish in the points, it was the best result any AlphaTauri driver had ac...

Another exciting weekend of Rugby kicks off tomorrow, as the All Blacks face Namibia in their second World Cup pool match.   Newstalk ZB’s rugby commentator, Elliott Smith, told Kate Hawkesby that they can be fairly confident in winning.   He said that it should be a comfortable win tomorrow and a good chance to build some confidence back.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Consumer NZ is backing Labour's policy to shake up the legal system to make class action lawsuits easier.   Labour says it will establish a formal class actions regime, allowing groups of people to band together to sue.   Leader Chris Hipkins says people are blocked out of justice due to costs or system delays.   Consumer NZ Chief Executive John Duffy told Kate Hawkesby that class action lawsuits...

It’s funny as we get to the sharp end of the election campaign, what exercises people and what doesn’t.   The media are exercised by the Nats tax cut plan. They’re exercised by it largely I assume because the Labour party are exercised about it. And the Labour party are exercised about it because they hate it because it’s popular. It’s seen poll surges for National, and they’ll do anything to try...

Central Otago residents fighting to stop the planned Tarras Airport are doing all they can to make their voices heard.   A new survey has slammed Christchurch Airport's plans with more than 80% of the region's surveyed residents and businesses in opposition.   The study has found opposition has risen by nearly 10% compared to two years earlier.   Wanaka Stakeholders Group Chair Meg Taylor told Kat...