Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Do you know what I’m loving at the moment? Normality. At least as much normality as you can get with a mask still on. But as of tonight mandates are gone, and vaccine passes are gone - more steps towards a more relaxed lifestyle. Our local pub was excited - it posted on social media that it looks forward to welcoming everyone back into the pub and not having to scan vaccine passes, and exclude peo...

The ripples from that Oscar slap continue for Will Smith. The actor's resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Netflix has now put his next film on the backburner. PR firm Red Banyan CEO Evan Nierman Kate Hawkesby he missed an opportunity to act quickly during his Best Actor Oscar acceptance speech. “In that speech, he apologises to all sorts of folks like the Academy, his...

A Wellington bar is catering to its customers still keen on vaccine passes. From midnight tonight, it won't be mandatory for businesses to check passes. Hashigo Zake is planning on still requiring them for the first half of the week, and not for the second half. Owner Dominic Kelly told Kate Hawkesby some of his patrons are only comfortable going places checking for passes. He says the arrangement...

Christopher Luxon thinks National's responded well after Labour politicians in Christchurch were harassed online.   Two Young Nats have resigned from the National party as a result.  The move followed misogynistic and personal attacks were targeted at three women.  They were Cabinet Minister and Wigram MP Megan Woods, Ilam MP Sarah Pallett and Christchurch City Council member Sara Templeton.  Chri...

A student representative says the increase to the student allowance and living costs will affect very few people.  They are both increasing by $25 a week.  Union of Students' Associations President Andrew Lessells told Kate Hawkesby it's far too little far too late.  He says the increase isn't going to cover the rental increases most students are seeing and it's not going to cover the cost of food...

I’ve been pretty vocal in my criticism of the Police Commissioner, but never the actual police.  However, yesterday my brother had an experience that makes me question what on earth is going on inside the police force at the moment.   Yesterday morning my brother was dropping his son and his son’s mate to school around 8am. My brother’s friend who's just flown back into the country was on speaker...

One of the things that's irked me this week - apart from Will Smith - (who I'm still irked by, by the way), but the other thing annoying me, is Auckland Transport.   I mean I guess we shouldn’t be surprised at the lengths they'll go to, to get us out of our cars.. and actually if you think this is just an Auckland thing, think again. The anti-car brigade is coming to a road near you any day now. I...

Air New Zealand's  $2.2 billion recapitalisation package is being seen as the only way forward.  It plans to use it to repay the Crown loan.   The Government will participate in the raise to retain its majority 51 per cent shareholding.  Aviation commentator Irene King told Kate Hawkesby Air New Zealand really doesn't have any option.  She says the fallback is for the Government to inject more mon...

With most vaccine mandates being scrapped for workers soon, the Government have given some guidance for how private businesses should navigate the changes.  It says businesses should undertake their own risk assessment as to whether they should keep mandates.  But just because you lost your job due to being unvaxxed, doesn't mean you should expect an offer for your old job back.  CEO of Beyond Rec...

A large study out this morning found New Zealand has the highest melanoma death rate in the world.  It also predicts worldwide cases within the next 20 years will increase by 50 per cent, and mortality rates will increase by 68 per cent.   Dr. Chris Jackson, medical oncologist and former Cancer Society medical director joined Kate Hawkesby.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

The Government is spending $15 million over three years on its zero road toll campaign.   The National Party say that money is better spent on actually fixing the roads.   But Transport Minister Michael Wood says it's about getting the word out that change is needed.  Mike Lee, Associate Professor of Marketing at Auckland University joined Kate Hawkesby.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener f...

Holding the America's Cup in Barcelona is expected to breathe new life into the event.  Team New Zealand head Grant Dalton says having the event there will allow the team to propel its growth trajectory on the global sporting stage.  America's Cup commentator and double Olympic gold medalist, Shirley Robertson, says the team was up against others with unlimited budgets.  She told Kate Hawkesby she...

I'm not remotely bothered that the America's Cup's going to be held in Barcelona.  I can't even imagine how tough it is to organise and fund an event like this - and I take my hat off to all those working so hard to keep it going and to find locations - no easy task. Securing this location has taken a year, no mean feat.  But also - can we really complain that it's heading offshore? I mean look wh...

Mixed reaction to the Government's decision to push ahead with Fair Pay Agreements.  The bill was submitted to Parliament yesterday - in a bid by the Government to lift incomes and improve working conditions.   It would allow employees to force negotiations with employers, if 10 percent of the workforce, or a thousand workers, agree.  Primary teacher union NZEI president Liam Rutherford told Kate...

Well Denzel Washington was right when he said to Will Smith last night that - 'at your highest moment, the devil comes for you'.  But the devil didn't just come for Will Smith, the whole Academy and Hollywood glitterati who witnessed it are also at fault here, I reckon.  They just sat there and acted like nothing happened, they carried on clapping, laughing.. why did they condone it? Why did absol...

LA's A-listers are spilt down the middle, over Will Smith's assault on Chris Rock.  The incident overshadowed the Oscars ceremony.  Hollywood reporter Dean McCarthy told Kate Hawkesby stars like Nikki Minaj are backing Smith, while comedians like Rosie O'Donnell have condemned him.  “You’ve got part of Hollywood who are like, yes, that’s how you defend your wife and then the other side is that beh...

The Ukrainian community says while support from New Zealand has been helpful, there's more to be done.   We're sending nine members of our Defence Force to UK and Belgium to aid with intelligence.   The Ukrainian Association says the Government has been quick to sort out visas.    However Chairman Yuriy Gladun told Kate Hawkesby there needs to be more understanding of the situation.   He says our...

Elon Musk isn't happy.  With a personal fortune that is flirting with US$300 billion, the Tesla CEO — the richest person on earth — has been attacking a Democratic proposal to tax the assets of billionaires like him.  The idea behind the Democratic plan is to use revenue from a billionaires tax to help pay for a domestic policy package being negotiated in the US Congress that would, among other th...

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage is pushing ahead with plans for the National Erebus Memorial to be at Parnell's Dove Myer-Robinson Park.  That's despite criticism from the Chief Ombudsman that the ministry should have consulted more widely, before forming its preference for a location.  Former Waitemata Local Board Member Sarah Trotman voted against the memorial.   She told Kate Hawkesby whi...

As Caribbean nations debate their relationship with the British crown, Prince William says he will support and respect whatever decision the people make. William, second in line to the throne, made the comments after an eight-day tour of Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas during which he and wife Kate were celebrated but also criticized as being “tone deaf” for perpetuating images of Britain’s coloni...

India have fallen agonisingly short of the World Cup semifinals, being beaten on the last ball by South Africa to hand a playoff place to the West Indies. After England earlier secured their semifinal spot by completing a remarkable turnaround with victory over Bangladesh, India were left with a simple equation: beat South Africa and their tournament would continue. But having racked up 274-7 batt...

Last time Phil Goff was on the show was when he announced he was departing as Auckland's Mayor. I asked him about heading off to London for the High Commissioner gig. He denied it. He batted it away as something he wasn’t even considering. But now we know that’s exactly what he’s doing.  And maybe the fact he’s been packing his bags for London explains why he’s seemed so absent of late in his role...

Newstalk ZB has discovered it’s getting more expensive to keep prisoners behind bar. It costs us an extra $140 million since 2018/19 — up from $1.1 to $1.3 billion. It also costs more per prisoner — each person behind bars costs about $150,000 per year, a 20 per cent increase. All of this while the prison population has decreased by 25 per cent in the same time period. Barrister and visiting justi...

LA is preparing for its first Academy Awards with no pandemic restrictions in three years. The ceremony starts at 1 this afternoon, with New Zealand director Dame Jane Campion's Netflix film, Power of the Dog, up for 12 nominations. It will be hosted by three women for the first time - Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, and Regina Hall. LA entertainment reporter Kristyn Burtt told Kate Hawkesby there's hop...

So tonight, the big Moana Pasifika game, just hours before the restrictions lift that could’ve seen bigger crowds attend. Seems crazy that they just miss out by a short timeframe, midnight Friday, when they surely could have let a bigger crowd gather at Mt Smart tonight. So, two of this weekend’s Super Rugby games can be held without restrictions on size, but tonight’s won’t be.  But are fans read...