Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Tourism is making a comeback and people are deciding to spend more time here.   Before Covid it was our largest export.   It's clambered back up to number three on the list, with visitors spending 2.1 billion dollars in the last quarter.   Tourism Holdings Limited Chief Executive Grant Webster told Kate Hawkesby that it's recovering faster than he anticipated, partly down to a good ski season and...

A fascinating insight into what it’s like to move countries —which I think is timely given how many Kiwis are doing it right now— appeared on social media the last couple of days from an ex-pat living here.   It was reported that a British native said they were moving back home to England from NZ, because Kiwis lack interest in other people’s lives, and we’re short on banter. That part made me lau...

Gin-lovers rejoice!   The number of distilleries creating gin in New Zealand has shot up from just 15 to more than 150 in recent years.   So what are the challenges for owners working in a now-saturated market?   Mt Fyffe Distillery owner Justine Shroder joined Kate Hawkesby.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said Sunday that disposable vapes will soon be banned in the country as part of a national anti-smoking plan.   Borne, speaking on RTL radio, did not say when the ban would enter into force.   She said the government would soon unveil its new plan to combat smoking, which she said is the cause of 75,000 deaths a year in the country.   It will include a ban on...

So a weekend chocka of political campaigning as the parties hit the ground running in the lead-up to the election.   I don’t know about you but I’m finding the whole lead-up so far a bit low rent. As in, a lot of gutter politics, name-calling, misinformation tactics, and a lot of needless disruption and chaos. And I reckon that puts voters off, s o I’m not sure why political parties do it. It has...

Liam Lawson’s Formula One stocks continue to rise.   After impressing in his debut last weekend, the 21-year-old Kiwi posted a new season’s best result for the second AlphaTauri car with an 11th-placed finish in the Italian Grand Prix.   In just two races since replacing the injured Daniel Ricciardo, Lawson has come away with better results than the Aussie (two races) and teammate Nyck de Vries (1...

Very different campaign launches by the two major parties over the weekend.   Chris Hipkins launched Labour's in Auckland on Saturday, with the promise of free basic dental care for those under 30 by 2030.   The following day, in the same city, Chris Luxon went with an eight-point pledge card to voters, but no new policy.   Newstalk ZB Political editor Jason Walls told Kate Hawkesby Luxon didn't w...

I am on what seems a never-ending quest to find a good fruit and vege supplier - and it’s not the supermarket. I’m so sick of soft old apples and wilted lettuce on supermarket shelves, I’m hankering for a good farmers market vibe to get fresh produce into the house. I’ve tried many of the online ones, the companies who purport to pick it fresh that morning and deliver straight to your door. But so...

The review into New Zealand Rugby is being labelled a step in the right direction.   It found rugby unions constitution and structures 'are not fit for purpose in the modern era.'   And there's questions being raised of how to ensure change is made moving forward.   New Zealand Rugby Players' Association CEO Rob Nichol joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Air New Zealand is expected to follow suit and ditch expiry dates on Covid travel credits. Qantas is removing the expiration dates for the credits that were due to run out at the end of the year. Customers with these credits can request a cash refund, while Jetstar customers can use their vouchers for flights indefinitely. Aviation commentator, Irene King, told Kate Hawkesby copying the idea would...

Conflicting reports have emerged of how business owners are feeling about the state of the economy.   ANZ's latest business outlook survey shows business confidence has lifted another nine points in August, with inflationary expectations down.   But, Canterbury Business Chamber CEO Leeann Watson told Kate Hawkesby they've done their own survey - which paints a different picture.   She says 58 perc...

Hurricane Idalia has thrashed Florida’s Gulf Coast, sparking the evacuation of millions of residents as they hunker down for a surge of tidal water.   At least two storm-related deaths have been reported.   US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Kate Hawkesby says more than 300,000 residents in Florida and Georgia are without power.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A foodbank owner says National's tax plan does a lot for middle income earners, but not much for those really struggling.   It's promising a $14.6 billion package - adjusting income tax brackets for inflation and expanding tax credits.   Community leader David Letele told Kate Hawkesby if we can help people, we should.   He says they're seeing more and more starving children, and some who haven't...

So the Nat’s tax plan – is good – and we know it’s good for two reasons, one, because of all the positive feedback it’s had, and two, because of how ropeable the Government are about it.    They are dark on it because they know they’ve been badly exposed here, by a sensible party doing sensible things, which reeks of common sense.   It reminds us just what common sense feels like - a distant memor...

KiwiSaver investments in companies that cause social and environmental harm have reached a record high.   Charity Mindful Money has found 8.9 percent of KiwiSaver funds go into companies the public generally want to avoid.   Mindful Money Chief Executive, Barry Coates, told Kate Hawkesby climate change is a major concern, but investment in fossil fuels by KiwiSaver is at a record high.   He says t...

Our national health service is being accused of structural imbalance.   New documents reveal Te Whatu Ora's contractor workforce may not have earned their high wages.   The number of contractors has dropped from more than 1,000 to just over 600 - after the audit found significant deficiencies in the agency's recruitment processes.   The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Directo...

Labour announced yesterday that ‘bottom trawling and Danish seining will be banned in most of the Hauraki Gulf as part of a plan to better protect the 1.2-million-hectare marine park.’   They have four options going for public consultation next week, one of them stipulating that ‘bottom-trawling would be banned from 89 per cent of the Gulf. Currently, 27 per cent of the Gulf is closed to bottom tr...

The Government is expected to announce a mental health co-response model between Police and health today.   Psychologist Sara Chatwin says it's a nice notion, but when it comes to mental health you need to tread lightly.   Chatwin joined Kate Hawkesby on Early Edition. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fears have come that new legalisation aimed at taxing multinational companies that provide digital services might not be as effective as hoped.   The Government has unveiled the Digital Services Tax, which will slap three percent on New Zealand revenue of companies like Amazon, Meta and Google.   It's expected to bring in $222 million over four years.   However, Tech Commentator Paul Spain told Ka...

National is expected to make tax bracket changes to keep up with inflation.   It'll unveil its policy in a few hours, with Finance Spokesperson Nicola Willis saying it'll be funded through a mix of spending cuts and "targeted" revenue tools.   She's long talked about the "squeezed middle", meaning as much relief for middle income earners as higher income earners.   Auckland University tax expert C...

There’s a lot of sport going on at the moment – school sport I mean - and I’m always amazed at how dedicated and committed parents and volunteer coaches are to these school teams.   Having had kids as players, and later on as coaches, having seen how much work goes into it all, it’s very impressive.   Especially in terrible weather and especially in a cost of living crisis where things like sports...

New Zealand Fashion Week is being refreshed after three years away from the catwalk.   Starting today Kiwi designers will have their talent showcased across more than 50 runway shows, talks, and workshops.   Owner Feroz Ali told Kate Hawkesby this time round there's greater opportunity for the public to see work from a more diverse pool of designers.   Ali says there are a lot more indigenous and...

There are fears unemployment could rise as many businesses look to restructure.   Seek's latest report for July shows job ad volumes dropped four percent month-on-month and are 26 percent lower year-on-year.   They're now just one percent higher than in July 2019 - while applications per job have risen by 11 percent - the highest level on record.   Employers and Manufacturers Association Head of S...

National says Grant Robertson can't deliver on the savings he's announced by slashing public contractors and consultants' spending.   The Finance Minister says the move will mean savings of almost $4 billion over the next four years.   He's also announced a trimming back of programmes and a limit on future budget allowances.    National Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis told Kate Hawkesby this wo...

A former Cabinet Minister believes Chris Hipkins has snookered Luxon very cleverly.   The Labour leader has ruled out working with New Zealand First, saying Winston Peters no longer holds policies fit to run the country.   Hipkins has labelled Peters a force of instability and chaos.   Former MP Peter Dunne told Kate Hawkesby that he's reinforced in people's minds that a vote for New Zealand First...