Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday the 13th of Feburary 2025, The Government says Kainga Ora has exceeded savings targets, delivering $211 million in operating cost reductions, Associate Minister of Housing tells Ryan how they've made savings. New Zealand First's announced they'll be campaigning for a referendum to put an end to Māori electorate seats, former Te Pati Mā...

All eyes are on Auckland's waterfront this weekend - as Sail GP returns.  Thirteen teams on foiling catamarans will race around the Waitematā Harbour tomorrow and Sunday. Last year's Sail GP drew in more than 25-thousand spectators - for Auckland's first time hosting.  Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Chief Executive Nick Hill tells Ryan what they're doing to prepare.  See omnystudio.com/l...

You know how everyone complains the lights at supermarkets are too bright? People reckon they do it on purpose.... it's a trick to make you awake and alert, no matter the time of day, so you keep shopping and buy more stuff.  Well, the opposite is true of movie theatres, right.  You go there and they dim the lights because it makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. The screen is a sensor...

Draught beer excise tax has been frozen in Australia and there are calls for the same to be done here.   The goal is to relieve some pressure on local pubs.  It rises in New Zealand automatically every year, while beer consumption has fallen to the lowest on record.   Founder and Director at Abandoned Brewery Tim Ward told Ryan Bridge he questions what the tax is trying to achieve.&...

New Zealand homeowners are holding onto their properties for the longest period yet.  A report by Cotality NZ reveals the median hold period for profitable re-sales hit a record 10.1 years for the fourth quarter of last year.  Resale profits have also stabilised, with 88% of homes selling for more than their purchase price.  Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson told Ryan Bridge...

Signs of fatigue with another review of the country's Covid-19 response now in the works.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis new inquiry looks at the Reserve Bank's monetary policy decisions, including printing $55 billion.  Findings are to be released just weeks before Election Day.  Massey University business professor Claire Matthews says there's potentially some value in it, but th...

Signs of fatigue - with another review of the country's Covid-19 response now in the works.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis new inquiry looks at the Reserve Bank's monetary policy decisions - including printing 55 billion dollars.  Findings are to be released just weeks before Election Day.  Massey University business professor Claire Matthews says there's potentially some value in...

The brutal death of that poor wee boy Malachi is a disgrace.  It's heartbreaking to think an adult could be so cruel to young child. Malachi was beaten, starved, thrown against walls... you name it. Basically torture.  Now we have these debates popping up about it. Should the Minister front for interviews? Karen Chhour, herself a product of the foster care system, was criticised yesterda...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 12th of Feburary 2025, The Government's launching an inquiry into how the Reserve Bank acted during the Covid pandemic, Claire Matthews, Associate Professor at Massey University Business School shares her thoughts.  Kiwi brewers are calling for the Government to freeze draught beer excise, Founder & Director at Abandoned Bre...

More turmoil could be waiting in the wings for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.   He won't be standing down in the wake of his press secretary and chief of staff resigning.   Starmer's former deputy leader, Angela Rayner, has set up a website as part of a potential leadership challenge.   UK correspondent Mike Pearse told Ryan Bridge an upcoming byelection could be another blow for S...

Foreign Minister Winston Peters' politicking around the India free trade agreement is nothing new.   There's been weeks of back and forth within the coalition about the contents of the deal, which still hasn't been publicly released.   Peters has spoken out about the deal prohibiting a specific cap on Indian student visas.  Queen City Law managing director Marcus Beveridge told Ryan...

Critical minerals are starting to be wielded as a geopolitical weapon.   The Trump administration's ramping up pressure on allies to strike a deal in order to shore up US supply.   Talks with New Zealand officials are said to have been picking up steam.   US Critical Materials Executive Director Harvey Kaye told Ryan Bridge the US is aware of China's dominance in this space, and won...

There’s no evidence retail crime has fallen, despite claims the Government’s Retail Crime Advisory Group delivered more change than ever before.   The Justice Minister has confirmed the group will be disbanded early, months ahead of schedule, after several members resigned.  Chair Sunny Kaushal says he doesn't think there is any other Ministerial advisory group that's delivered eight key...

Labour's getting flak, especially in Auckland, for their capital gains tax.  Rightly so.  But National's approach, as is usually the case with centre-right parties, is user-pays.  It's a way to get revenue without appearing to tax-grab your starving constituents.  Yesterday it was whacking a new tax on our power bills in order to make them cheaper - we hope.  Last week the...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 11th of Feburary 2025, Todd McClay's confirmed the FTA with india will not allow the Government to cap the number of students coming in from India, Managing Director & Immigration Lawyer at Queen City Law, Marcus Beveridge shares his thoughts.  The Retail Crime advisory group is being disbanded in early May, Retail NZ C...

A promise of certainty and hopes of cheaper power prices with a facility to import liquefied natural gas.  The Government’s confirmed it will build a liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki, with a contract expected by mid-year.  It says the project will save the country about $265 million annually – roughly $50 per household.  Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie t...

More consistency across the Tasman in the standards for goods and services could reduce administrative burdens and free up business capacity.  A new agreement aims to streamline operations, reduce costs, improve quality, and meet regulatory requirements in New Zealand and Australia. Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge we were out of kilter with the Aussies on about 24 stan...

This Government's running into similar problems Jacinda's one did on energy - they're getting too much 'official' advice and reports.  The problem when you ask 'the experts' for advice on every thought that pops into your head, is that they tend to agree with it. And if they don't, you tend to ignore them. And what does that tell you about the need for the advice in the first place?  Lat...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 10th of Feburary 2025, The Government's given the all clear to build an LNG import facility to help with energy security, Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie shares his thoughts.  The Government's signed a new standards agreement with Australia, Infometrics CEO and Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains.&...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 9 February. 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.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff has quit - claiming he's responsible for advising Starmer to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.  Morgan McSweeney's position had been in doubt - after emails revealed Mandelson’s relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson's facing a criminal investigation - into claims he'd passed sensitive information to Epstein.  UK...

I was having a good old debate with a mate at the weekend about interest rates.  We're of the age where, mortgages are a thing.  In Auckland, quote a bog and annoying thing.  Paying them down is the aim of the game.  Now this mate of mine knows a bit more about this stuff than I do and watches the markets closely. He's worried about the middle of the year - potentially this rec...

Westport’s only air link could be cut within months.  Originair won’t guarantee its Westport-Wellington service beyond May after failing to secure Government and local funding.  NZ Airports Association CEO Billie Moore says Westport is one of the last remaining airports still co-owned by the taxpayer.  She told Ryan Bridge taxpayers already cover half the airport’s annual shortfall,...

A Wellington City Councillor says he's frustrated to see yet another example of the capital's water infrastructure failing.  Heavy rain flooded the city's wastewater treatment plant's lower floors, causing sewage to leak into Tarakena Bay, writing off equipment and forcing the plant to shut down.  Untreated wastewater is currently flowing into the southern coast, with Wellington Water sa...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 5th of Feburary 2025, unemployment’s jumped to a 10-year high of 5.4%, EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald tells Ryan what the outlook is for the rest of the year.  Wellington's water is contaminated after an equipment failure flooded multiple floors of the moa point wastewater treatment plant, Eastern Ward Councillor Sam O'B...