Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Could the worst of the brain drain be over?   Though migration remains low year-on-year, provisional figures show that net migration for October was up 7% on 2024.   Massey University Sociologist Paul Spoonley told Andrew Dickens he’s optimistic we’re starting to see it plateauing, if not turning around.   He says the pull of Australia is still very strong, but in terms on non-New Z...

There are areas for improvement in how we prevent cancer, with the number of new cases expected to jump in the next two decades.   The Cancer Control Agency's latest State of Cancer report shows cancer's on the rise.  Diagnoses are expected to rise from 30 thousand this year to more than 45 thousand in 2044.  Cancer Society National Chief Executive Nicola Coom told Andrew Dickens pe...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Thursday the 11th of December 2025, Parliament's education and workforce committee has dropped its interim report on youth online harm, Dr Parmjeet Parmar who represents Act of the committee shares her thoughts. Emeritus Professor & Massey University Sociologist, Paul Spoonley tells Andrew whether or not the worst of the brain drain is...

ACT says New Zealand isn’t ready to follow Australia with a youth social media ban. An interim report from Parliament's education committee suggests we consider taking a similar approach to our neighbours, who introduced a ban yesterday. It's found social media is exposing young people to a wide range of harm. Act representative Parmjeet Parmar told Andrew Dickens we should watch how the policy un...

The story that keeps getting my goat this week has been the accusation that New Zealanders take too many holidays over the Christmas-January period.  It’s burbled along since the weekend. Business owners, economists, Simon Bridges, and talkback callers all alleging that the country closes down for a month and that’s killing our productivity.  But there’s no proof of that and the allegati...

An urban planner's giving the proposed Resource Management Act a big thumbs up, calling the reforms awesome and fantastic.    The Government's confirmed the current RMA will be replaced by two pieces of legislation, one for the environment and one for planning.  They'll be phased in by 2029.   Independent urban planner and strategic development expert Bruce Weir told Andrew Dic...

Australia's pioneering social media ban is casting ripples around the world.   The new law sets a mandatory age limit of 16 or older for accounts on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Now countries like Malaysia and Denmark are following the Australian lead with similar approaches.  AUT communications studies professor Patrick Usmar told Andrew Dickens enforcement will be diff...

A Supreme Court decision has finally settled the long-running battle over whether family carers should be paid.  The ruling —brought by parents Christine Fleming and Peter Humphreys, who care for their severely disabled adult children— confirms family carers are entitled to pay.  Employment lawyer Joe Williams told Andrew Dickens it’s a monumental shift in how these workers are recognise...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 10th of December 2025, the government's announced it's replacement of the RMA, independent urban planner and strategic development expert, Bruce Weir shares his thoughts.  The Supreme Court's ruled parents caring for their severely disabled adult children will now be recognised as home-workers, employment lawyer Joe Will...

So today is the day the Australians lead the world with a social media ban for people under 16.  Good luck with that. The kids who still want to be online will get around it. Because, you know, kids and computers.  They can’t speak the Queen’s English, but they sure can speak computer.  They’ll VPN and forge and weasel their way through the same way we all got our hands on booze whe...

The Hurricanes have revealed a $2 million loss is projected for the current financial year, after announcing a new leadership structure.  Local developer Malcolm Gillies has stepped in to buy the Wellington Rugby Union's 50% stake in the Super Rugby franchise.  NZ Rugby will also take a minority shareholding and bolster the 'Canes with loans.  Interim CEO Tony Philp told Andrew Dick...

The Rural Communities Minister believes a new wool deal will take the sector to a whole new level.  It's a significant milestone for the country's wool sector, as Wool Source confirms its first commercial export order.  The Wool Research Organisation company's signed a deal with a Japanese company, for eight tonnes of Kiwi products.   Minister Mark Patterson told Andrew Dickens its...

Farmers are hoping an RMA shake-up will deliver a faster, cheaper consenting system. The Government's today announcing significant changes to consenting as part of a shake-up to the Resource Management Act. It's expected to slash the need for consents in 46% of cases that currently need them. Federated Farmers' spokesperson Mark Hooper told Andrew Dickens layers of added costs hold farmers back fr...

For as long as I’ve been in talk radio, I’ve been talking to people about RMA reform - and I’ve been in talk radio since 1996.  The Resource Management Act was introduced in 1991 and it has ballooned into an albatross around our necks. To comply you need to pay a fortune. To check your compliance authorities, have to spend weeks reviewing your plans.  So today we learn what comes next. N...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 9th of December 2025, the Government's announcing a major shake up to the Resource Management Act, Federated Farmers RMA Reform Spokesperson Mark Hooper tells Andrew what he's hoping for.  Kiwi company wool source has landed its first big export deal with Japan, Rural Communities Minister Mark Paterson tells Andrew what th...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday 8th of December 2025, Andrew Coster has made explosive claims in an interview with Q&A, lawyer and former cop Matthew Hague shares his thoughts.  Elliot Smith has the latest on the weekend's sport.  A new report from ASB shows clear signs of life for the economy in 2026, Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen share...

One person's been arrested after a string of pepper spray attacks at London's Heathrow Airport. Twenty-one people suffered injuries, with five needing hospital treatment, after an argument escalated in a terminal carpark.  Social media footage shows a large armed police response, as the area was temporarily locked down. UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens police were quick to say...

What to make of the Andrew Coster interview on Q and A yesterday  Firstly why did he do it.  Obviously he felt he had been thrown under the bus by Judith Collins, Mark Mitchell and Richard Chambers at their recent press conference  So he was prepared to throw them under the bus as well. And he does have a point when the IPCA report did not mention corruption but the politicians and...

80% of trained secondary teachers will have a base salary of more than $100 thousand from late next month.  PPTA members have voted to accept a collective agreement offer from the Government.  The settlement includes a 4.6% pay increase over two years, increased allowance for teachers with greater responsibilities, and a million dollar a year fund for professional development.  Seco...

The Climate Change Minister says we're still at the table for the Paris Agreement, despite the targets being challenging.  The Coalition rejected all three recommendations made to it by the Climate Change Commission yesterday.   It means it won't be including international aviation and shipping emissions in its 2050 reduction target.   Simon Watts told Ryan Bridge they remain commit...

The Retirement Villages Association is calling out the Government for issuing a double whammy against the sector.   Newly announced Retirement Villages Act 2003 amendments include ensuring money on a unit is paid back within a year after a resident leaves.    Interest will also be payable after six months if a unit remains empty.    Association Executive Director Michelle...

The family of a British woman who was killed by a nerve agent smuggled into the UK have spoken out following an inquiry into her death. 44-year-old Dawn Sturgess died in 2018, after spraying herself Novichok from a fake perfume bottle discarded in Salisbury by Russian agents. The inquiry states Russian President Vladimir Putin must have ordered the use of it to assassinate former spy Sergei Skripa...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 5 December. 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.

This is my last day on Early Edition for 2025. I’ll be on Drive for a few weeks from Monday and while I won’t lie, I’m looking forward to few sleep-ins before Christmas, I will miss our wee 5am club. It’s a huge privilege to be here with you every morning as you wake up, head off to work, off to school sport or home from a night shift yourself.  Your messages and emails bring so much to the s...

Shoppers are travelling from around the country to witness today's Ikea launch.  The mega-retailer will start trading at 11am but the car park will open at 8:30am.   Heavy traffic's anticipated, including 40-minute queues to exit the motorway at Mount Wellington.  It could take punters up to an hour just to enter the carpark.  First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinso...