Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

New Zealand Rugby is pumping $21 million into a 10-year strategy to promote the women's game. It wants to get rid of old school attitudes, and rugby just being seen as a men's sport. Former Black Ferns captain and New Zealand Rugby board member Dr Farah Palmer joined Early Edition. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy NZ says targeted payments are the best solution to help farmers affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. The Government has approved an additional $23 million to help those affected, raising the total to $78 million. More than half of the applicants have already been approved, with $37 million paid out already. Farmer-elected director Jacqueline Rowarth told Tim Dower throwing money at the problem isn...

So Trump is in New York being arraigned today, it’s history in the making. What's funny about this is we're actually heading to New York for the school holidays, this is the last day I'll be on air for a couple of weeks, so we're heading back at a time of Trump dramas. This is ironic because the last time we were in New York was a long time ago, 2016, and we were there for work covering the Presid...

Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying business records. Trump surrendered to authorities Tuesday at a Manhattan courthouse ahead of his arraignment on criminal charges stemming from a hush money payment to a porn actor during his 2016 campaign. A stone-faced Trump entered the courtroom this morning without saying anything. Trump, who was impeached twice b...

Another hike is expected for the Official Cash Rate this afternoon. Most economists think the Reserve Bank will be slightly more conservative, with a 25 basis point rise. But that will still take the OCR to 5 percent, which will be the highest it's been since December 2008. ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Healthcare workers are raising alarm bells over low vaccination rates from a disease that puts babies at risk. Three babies, under the age of one, have died from whooping cough since February. Te Whatu Ora is encouraging pregnant women in their second trimester to be vaccinated, to pass protection on to their baby. General Practice New Zealand chair Dr. Bryan Betty told Kate Hawkesby the pandemic...

So Stuart Nash is off and I don’t blame him. Who’d hang around at this point? It must have been a tough call to make given he seemed to love politics, love people, love his portfolios and enjoy representing his home town of Napier.  But it was unsustainable that he stay on after the start to the year he’s had, and no doubt greener pastures are awaiting him. And by greener I mean maybe a job in his...

Fonterra's revised forecast for the 2022/23 shows a worrying outlook for the dairy industry. The milk giant has revised down its farmgate price to between $8.00 and $8.60 per kg of milk solids. It's a sharp drop from the record payout of $9.30 last season. Head of Insight at NZX Limited and dairy sector expert Julia Jones joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Kate Hawkesby wrote an editorial on cyclists on Monday that has ruffled a few feathers. Hawkesby had been told about cyclists using the footpath instead of the ratepayer funded "gold-plated" cycleways. It was said that it was particularly bad on Auckland's Tamaki Drive. So the idea was floated over fining cyclists who insist on using the footpath. Patrick Morgan from Cycling Action Network joined...

Christopher Luxon says Stuart Nash had to go. The Napier MP has announced he's leaving politics at this year's election after being booted from Cabinet last week. National's leader says Nash breached trust time and time again. But Luxon told Kate Hawkesby he could've left earlier, and not caused a by-election, since a new candidate's campaign kicks off months before the voting starts. LISTEN ABOVE...

I have a very smart girlfriend who is an extremely active citizen in her local community, and her city in general actually. She is a go-getter who stays informed, keeps up with local and national politics, and donates a lot of her time and energy to helping the community. She was an early adopter to the e-scooter, uses the city’s cycle ways, and is all for saving the planet and getting cars off th...

Covid is being partially blamed for an increase in people being granted bail despite police opposition. The numbers jumped from just over 2000 in 2018 to slightly over 5000 last year. Police Association President Chris Cahill says some of those will be on electronic bail and will be closely monitored. He told Kate Hawkesby that the pandemic's seen more serious offenders being kept in prison while...

An increase to the living wage could look to help improve the labour market. From September first, it will jump to $26 an hour, $3.30 above minimum wage. It's an almost 10-percent rise since last year. Infometrics Chief Economist Brad Olsen told Kate Hawkesby that we could see businesses re-evaluate the offers they put on the table. He says paying the living wage could be a way of securing an empl...

Russia’s security service arrested an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal on espionage charges, the first time a US correspondent has been detained on spying accusations since the Cold War. The newspaper denied the allegations and demanded his release. Evan Gershkovich was detained in the city of Yekaterinburg while allegedly trying to obtain classified information, the Federal Security...

I am very late to the party on exercise. I've never been a fan of it. Even though the stats are strong, that it's irrefutably the best thing you can do for both your physical and mental health, I just never got my 'thing'.  Yoga I did for years because it was enjoyable and stretchy.. ie.. you're not really breaking a sweat. Pilates I love, but again, my commitment over the years has come and gone....

Kiwis are being challenged to do '100 kms in 30 days' to raise money for breast cancer charities across the country. The fundraiser was so successful in the Bay of Plenty last year and it's being brought back and going nationwide during May. People can complete the 100 kilometres any way they want; on foot, wheels or in the water. Helen Alice is the campaign organiser and joined Kate Hawkesby. LIS...

Queenstown renters are so desperate for housing they're asking real estate agents to rent out empty houses on the market. Tall Poppy Real Estate Queenstown owner Keeley Anderson says she's getting daily calls from people searching. It comes after a protest of around 100 people earlier this week over the resort town's rental crisis. Keeley Anderson joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudi...

A construction expert believes the second Auckland Harbour crossing will become a political football. The Government has brought forward construction for a second Waitematā   Harbour crossing to 2029. Its offered five options that all include walking, cycling and road options plus light rail connections to the city centre. AUT Construction Management Professor John Tookey told Kate Hawkesby betwee...

I hit a nerve clearly yesterday when I talked about the top-down malaise in this country at the moment from our politicians, to our police force, to the public polling. And there seems a general sense of 'blah' among us right now.  A large number of you texted in agreeing.  One said it was a post pandemic thing – that we were all just so grateful to be alive that we just meander around now saying...

New Zealand King Salmon's profits are going swimmingly after posting their first full-year profit in three years. The company has taken a number of measures to scale back operation costs, including a change to their farming model. Acting CEO Graeme Tregidga joined Kate Hawkesby. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gun laws are back in the spotlight in the US, following the latest school shooting. Audrey Hale killed six people at her former Christian elementary school in Nashville. US correspondent Katherine Firkin told Kate Hawkesby the incident has sparked debate on Tennessee's approach to firearms, one of the most relaxed in the country. She says requirements for background checks have been totally remove...

It's thought the Prime Minister's trying to draw a line under the Stuart Nash saga. Chris Hipkins has ordered a review of all the Napier MP's  communications. It follows revelations Nash discussed a confidential Cabinet decision with two former donors in 2020. He is cooperating with the review, and intends to stay on as Napier's MP. Former Labour staffer, Kaine Thompson told Kate Hawkesby you woul...

Demonstrations across France have turned ugly as the country reaches its 10th day of civil unrest. The backlash is in response to a controversial pension law pushed through parliament without a vote last week, lifting the retirement age from 62 to 64. Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Kate Hawkesby protests started peacefully, but things have turned, with cars and rubbish being set alight, and...

I miss the grown-ups.  I’m desperate for some grown-ups, or just someone informed and engaged to be running this country, instead of the malaise and fly by night experience we’re currently having. Like many of you, yesterday I despaired as I listened to Chris Hipkins on the Mike Hosking Breakfast. It was cringe worthy. He literally could not answer a single question, was so ill informed, offered n...

A message to wine lovers; Hawke's Bay vineyards are bouncing back and open for business. Images of devastated wineries were widely circulated following Cyclone Gabrielle, but six weeks on, the industry is keen to bring back its customers. Hawke's Bay Wine Growers Executive Officer Brent Linn told Kate Hawkesby good weather over the past few weeks has meant the region is well prepared for the Easte...