Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 31st of March 2025, Ryan talks to Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie about the nerves facing the NZ economy as the Iran War continues.  We hear about how underfunding of life-saving kidney care in parts of the country is impacting patients.  And Ryan argues Auckland's City Rail Link needs to hit the ground running and be r...

As far as conditions go ahead of a grand opening, you couldn’t do much better than a petrol price spike for the City Rail Link. Construction and testing will be finished within three months. Then it’s handed over to operators, who need another three months. So we can use it from September. Trains will depart every four to five minutes under the city. The cost? $5.5 billion. Half of that is funded...

The Former Buller Mayor turned New Zealand First candidate thinks the party's mining policy will win over West Coast voters.  The party's policy will see 50% of the royalties from each mine returned to the region where the mine's located. The party also wants to review mining rules, limiting the role of Government agencies like the Department of Conservation. West Coast Tasman Candidate Jamie...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 30th of March 2025, Ryan asks Minister for Regulation and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour on his quest to cut red tape to help NZ's fuel resilience.  He also asks about the rumour the government is about the shelve the LNG terminal.  Former Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine talks why he's standing for New Zealand First - and whet...

David Seymour is hunting for red tape to cut in an effort to stretch New Zealand’s fuel stocks further. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regulation has asked businesses and the public to dob in any rules or regulations that could be getting in the way of an effective fuel response. Seymour says stripping back unnecessary bureaucracy could help keep fuel flowing and ensure supplies are us...

New Zealand First’s mining policy hits all the right notes but ultimately is not worth the paper it’s written on. I’ll tell you why. On the whole, Kiwis don’t mind a bit of mining, so long as there are good jobs to be had in the right place — preferably not the middle of Milford Sound. Last year, the Government took in more than $250 million in royalties. But there was a poll we spoke about on thi...

It's been revealed the documentary on the disappearance of Tom Phillips will screen on Netflix.  He and his children were missing for four years, and the saga ended with a shootout in September, killing the fugitive. Dame Julie Christie is creating a documentary on the case with the help of the Police and has been granted exclusive access.    Massey University’s James Hollings told...

A new cruise terminal in downtown Auckland is set to be a game changer.  The large terminal precinct is part of a $200 million “big ships” development project.  It'll also be able to receive cargo vessels carrying 10 thousand containers by the end of next year.  Cruise Association Chief Executive Jacqui Lloyd told Ryan Bridge it creates a dedicated 'welcome' area for people disembar...

A union for scientists says its vital New Zealand's keeps some extra helium on hand to ensure cancer scanning treatment can continue at full capacity. Health officials are closely monitoring how the Middle East conflict could affect access to medical items. Minister Simeon Brown has been seeking advice, particularly around the supply of helium, which is critical for MRI machines. APEX national sec...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 27th of March 2025, The Government's getting advice on a potential helium shortage which is needed for MRI's, Apex National Secretary Deborah Powell shares her thoughts. Downtown Auckland's getting a new cruise terminal, NZ Cruise Association CEO Jacqui Lloyd tells Ryan Bridge how this will boost the cruise industry.  It's been re...

For the second year in a row, Donald Trump has rained on the parade of our economic recovery. The economists this week have been beavering away, updating the economic forecasts. We'll kiss goodbye to up to a third of our growth for the year. What was 3% is now 2%. Groundhog day. This is exactly what happened last year with tariffs. The recovery begins in earnest, there are signs of life, then...

Rising jet fuel prices are continuing to cause flight cancellations, but the Government is confident we still have steady supply coming into the country.  Jetstar has now followed Air New Zealand in scaling back both domestic and international flights.  Associate Transport Minister James Meager says there's 43-days worth of jet fuel either onshore, or on its way.  He told Ryan Bridg...

There are calls to power up the energy sector's workforce so it doesn't short-circuit.  A report by two industry groups —Energy Resources Aotearoa and the Electricity Engineers’ Association— has found the current size of the workforce is a constraint on growth.  It recommends a new energy workforce governing body and a more bipartisan approach on energy to ensure job security.  Elec...

Greenpeace says the Government’s partial backdown on controversial fishing rule changes don't go far enough.  Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has U-turned on a plan to allow commercial fishing companies to sell some undersized fish to reduce wastage.  It follows concerns the move would deplete fishing stocks.  Greenpeace Oceans Lead Ellie Hooper told Ryan Bridge the rest of the Gover...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 26th of March 2025, Associate Transport Minister James Meager tells Ryan what the government plans to do to support the aviation industry around the fuel shortage.  A new report’s warning we need a lot more workers in the energy sector and fast, Electricity Engineers' Association CEO Nicki Sutherland explains why.  Commerci...

Everyone keeps asking why the world feels so hectic at the moment.  If life were a movie, they'd call it One Battle After Another. Winston Peters, Judith Collins, and their counterparts in Europe and elsewhere all agree we’re living in the most dangerous era since the World Wars. But why? Yes there’s Trump, he’s unpredictable and a bit nuts, but Trump is really just a symptom of a wider probl...

It’s believed businesses will hold off on hiking prices for as long as possible as rising fuel prices risk pushing inflation up.   Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman says fuel prices are likely to lead to higher inflation and weaker growth over the coming months.  She says it's too early to say how much that will push up inflation across the board, or whether the Official Cash Rate will n...

Disbelief in Hawke's Bay as another major food producer prepares to cut back.  McCain's confirmed it plans close its Hastings vegetable processing plant early next year.  The move follows Heinz Wattie’s plans to shut its Hastings packing site, along with factories in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin.  Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Will Foley told Ryan Bridge locals thought they were...

There are concerns over the Government's fuel relief package missing benefit-dependent households. It's unveiled a temporary $50 weekly tax credit for about 143 thousand eligible working families with children as the Iran war sends fuel costs rocketing.   Another 14 thousand families will get support at a lower rate. Green Party Social Development Spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March told...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 25 March. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That’s the real question we should be asking ourselves this morning. Remember, the Government’s running a deficit. A structural one. They spend more than they earn in taxes.  The up to $400 million in yesterday’s package comes from the operating allowance. New money.  The Government claims this is like a cheque account, but that’s disputed. The Taxpayer’s Union says given the fact the bo...

NZ20 has triumphed, but the administration disaster at New Zealand Cricket continues.  Former Black Cap Dion Nash —understood to have been against the local franchise league that has been provisionally accepted— has resigned from NZC's board.  A statement says Nash was no longer aligned with the future direction of the organisation.  NZ Herald Sports Reporter Alex Powell told Ryan B...

Fonterra's confident it will be able to make the best of bad global circumstances.   The dairy giant has reported a 2.8% lift in first-half net profit to $750 million.   It's also announced a 20 cent increase in the farmgate milk price with a midpoint now sitting at $9.70 per kilo of milksolids.   Chief Executive Miles Hurrell says the war in Iran creates uncertainty.    F...

Calls for New Zealanders to remain level-headed at the pump as the Government moves to improve our fuel supply.   It's changing fuel specifications so importers have the option to bring in fuel refined to Australian standards.    The announcement comes as petrol surpasses four dollars a litre at some stations.   Transporting New Zealand CEO Dom Kalasih told Ryan Bridge we don't...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 24th of March 2025, the Government's announced its first change to help us from running out of fuel, Transporting NZ CEO and Former Z Energy Logistics Manager Dom Kalasih shares his thoughts.  NZ Cricket's made the decision to move ahead with NZ20, NZ Herald Sports Journalist Alex Powell tells Ryan what this means for the gam...