Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Anyone expecting a lolly scramble from the Government today is going to be disappointed. At best, one or two old Werther's Originals. As we’ve been talking about for the last few weeks, this government can’t, politically, splash cash when oil’s forcing inflation up. The $60 billion borrowed and spent during the pandemic, half not actually on Covid expenses, was fuel on the fire of an already ragin...

A Romanian woman and Iranian man have been arrested after allegedly trying to enter the Faslane Naval Base in Scotland.  And, a UK minister says Israel's claims that Iran has missiles able to reach London and Paris cannot be substantiated.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge, "the government and ministers have been saying there is no assessment to substantiate those claims that...

Optimism the Government's electric vehicle charger investment will benefit Kiwis. More than 52-million-dollars is being spent to more than double chargers nationwide, in a bid to boost uptake. Co-investment from ChargeNet and Meridian Energy lifts the total to more than 110-million.  Imported Vehicles Association Chief Executive Greig Epps told Ryan Bridge the Government’s worked closely with...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 23rd of May 2025, The government wants to double ev charging points via interest-free loans, Imported vehicle association CEO, Greig Epps shares his thoughts.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  The government’s making moves to prevent dog attacks, Northland MP Grant McCallum tells Ryan what he wants to s...

Winston's driving a dump truck through Luxon's political strategy. Luxon‘s strategy is to let his ministers do the talking. He says his strength is picking his team. And there's good reason, he has competent ministers; finance, justice, police, education, Chris Bishop, Todd Mclay on trade, Nicola Willis - she's taking control, taking the bull by the horns on the fuel crisis, which is his COVID. Bu...

Allowing less pure fuel into the country could shore up supply.   Finance Minister Nicola Willis has asked fuel importers what specifications could be relaxed to make it easier for them to get more in.   Waitomo Group Chief Executive Simon Parham says there could be a relaxing of the rules to allow more sulphur content in our diesel.   He told Ryan Bridge that we only allow fuel wit...

A three-decade surge in how much unhealthy food we eat.   New research from Auckland University, published in the Globalisation and Health journal, shows New Zealand's imports of ultra-processed food increased from 16 kilograms in 1990, to 104 in 2023.   Past studies show about 70% of packaged food in our supermarkets is ultra-processed.  Nutritionist Nikki Hart told Ryan Bridge it'...

Yesterday’s “disappointing” GDP data gives the Reserve Bank more scope to delay a hike to the Official Cash Rate, ANZ senior economist Matthew Gault says.  The RBNZ’s next monetary policy review announcement is on April 8. It had been picking 0.5% GDP growth for the December quarter, but GDP rose just 0.2%.  Gault told Ryan Bridge ANZ had expected the Bank to be reasonably cautious about...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 20th of March 2025, the government's acknowledged a "big shift" in the government's messaging around the war in the Middle East, Waitomo Group CEO Simon Parham, tells Ryan what oil company's are doing to assist with the oil shock.  A New study highlights just how unhealthy our eating has gotten, Nutritionist Nikki Hart shares her...

Is Joe Kent this week’s voice of reason? Is he the guy speaking truth in the fog of war? He spoke to Tucker Carlson, and the podcast is worth a listen.  He’s a MAGA guy. He was a Trump guy. But this week he turned his back on his President. He quit his job as America’s top counter-terrorism official. He was a soldier. He served in Iraq. His wife was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria. ...

Changes to refugee law could put asylum seekers at risk.  Under proposed Government reforms, immigration officials would be able to consider crimes committed by refugee applicants.   The changes also introduce stricter rules, including mandatory biometrics appointments.  NZ Association of Migration and Investment Chair Simon Laurent told Ryan Bridge the new rules could have serious...

An aviation expert believes the chances of a Westport to Wellington route returning in the future are slim.  Westport is on the brink of losing its only direct air link to the capital, with flights set to be axed by May unless financial support is secured.  Regional carrier Originair stepped in to maintain the route after Sounds Air withdrew from the service in 2024.  Aviation Indus...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 19th of March 2025, Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold shares his forecast for GDP data out today.  Westport’s losing its only air service, Aviation commentator Irene King shares her thoughts. The Government's cracking down on criminal migrants and refugees, Immigration lawyer and Chairman of the New Zealand Association of Mi...

Westpac's chief economist is still holding out hope New Zealand will weather financial headwinds from the Iran war.  Stats NZ's releasing data for the December quarter just before 11am. Westpac and ASB have forecast 0.4% quarterly growth, while BNZ and Kiwibank suggest 0.3% and ANZ 0.2%. Kelly Eckhold told Ryan Bridge everyone's looking forward to the conflict's impacts, but he's optimistic.&...

Old, yes. Backward looking, by its nature, but not irrelevant. We’re tipped to grow around 0.3%-0.4% for Q4 2025. It would mark, barring any surprises, the second straight month of per capita growth on the trot.  That means average income and standard of living was ticking up on a per person basis, albeit from a low base. This is important because it tells you we're on the move. We're fightin...

BNZ’s chief economist Mike Jones says Treasury’s previous worst-case inflation forecast for this year of 3.7% is probably too conservative.  Annual food costs climbed 4.5% in the year to February but Jones told Ryan Bridge BNZ's 2.9% consumer price index forecast for the first quarter hadn’t changed.  “It's the second quarter that's really going to bear the brunt of the spike in petrol p...

China remains vital to our education sector, but the market is shifting.  A new NZ China Council report shows Chinese students make up about a third of revenue, spending nearly $60 thousand a year.  But it warns families are increasingly price-conscious and weighing up other countries.  Executive Director Alistair Crozier told Ryan Bridge New Zealand must keep visa processing world-...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Wednesday the 18th of March, Beef mince and Steak are driving the latest spike in food prices, BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones shares his thoughts.  Resource Minister Shane Jones is putting money into geothermal; Mercury Energy CEO Stew Hamilton tells Ryan how big of an impact this will have.  We’re in a global scramble for Chin...

Mercury Energy believes geothermal has a huge role to play in the future of the country's electricity industry. The Government's released a strategy on how to double the use of geothermal energy by 2040.  It's also ring fenced $50 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund for the development of geothermal energy projects.  Mercury Chief Executive Stew Hamilton told Ryan Bridge the po...

Hopes that whoever takes the reins at Fonterra can continue the current CEO's good work.   Miles Hurrell will leave the company in six months to ensure a smooth transition.   Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Karl Dean says the next CEO should continue Hurrell's approach to honest communication.   He told Ryan Bridge farmers have been told that a spade’s a spade, and that’s what needs t...

A view the Government's proposed changes to alcohol laws is a needed re-balance for licence-holders.  The Bill would only let people object to a premise's licence application, if they live or work in the same council area or live within one kilometre.   It also gives applicants a right of reply to objections.    Hospitality New Zealand Head of Advocacy told Ryan Bridge the curr...

Treasury has released numbers on the potential fallout for the New Zealand economy from the Iran war. It estimates that under a worst‑case scenario — a conflict lasting until the end of the year with elevated oil prices — inflation would rise from 3.1 percent to 3.7 percent. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says that number is too high - but is lower than Australia's current inflation - which is sit...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 17th of March 2025, ASB's Chief Economist Nick Tuffley talks the "worst case scenario" for the New Zealand economy from the Iran war.  And Ryan explains why he agrees with Nicola Willis' call to not splash the cash in response to the Iran crisis.  Hospitality NZ want the government's liquor law changes to go further - th...

A 1pm presser and Covid‑style alert levels. This fuel price spike is bringing back bad memories from those dark days of lockdown. But a few facts help put things in perspective. There are a lot of scenarios and best guesses floating around, but the reality is we’re not yet short on fuel. That’s at least weeks away, we’re told. The economy is in recovery, and even the worst‑case scenarios still hav...

In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump called on the UK, China, France, Japan, South Korea and others to send ships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open - but his request has been met with little response.  Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian, David Smith, told Ryan Bridge, "there's been some reporting suggesting that Donald Trump was warned this is a possibility by his military plann...