Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

All the stars have aligned for the first concert at Christchurch's new stadium. Six60 and Synthony will open the music calendar at One NZ Stadium at Te Kaha next May - following Super Rugby’s Super Round a month earlier. It’s backed by the Government’s $70 million Major Events fund. Duco Events Promoter David Higgins told Ryan Bridge Synthony wouldn’t be part of the lineup without that funding. He...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 4th of December 2025, Andrew Coster's resigned with immediate effect employment lawyer Gareth Abdinor shares his thoughts on why he was placed on leave for so long.  Ikea opens in Auckland today, First Retail Group Managing Director tells Ryan whether the hype will last.  Six60 and Synthony will play the first ever live...

Andrew Coster's three weeks of silence and negotiating speaks volumes about the sincerity of the apology delivered yesterday.  If you really felt that way, if you hadn't until yesterday realised what had gone on, which he had of course, he saw the report long before any of us did, then surely, you'd have come straight out starting blocks with an apology to Ms Z. Wouldn't that be a bit more cr...

A pivotal year ahead for Liam Lawson after confirmation his seat is safe in Formula 1 in 2026.  Red Bull has confirmed Lawson will retain his spot in Racing Bulls and be joined by 18-year-old debutant Arvid Lindblad.  Herald motorsport correspondent Eric Thompson says Lawson will have plenty to race for.  He told Ryan Bridge that 2026 will be the year for him to cement his position...

The Police Association says when it comes to new policing targets, the devil will be in yet-to-be-confirmed detail.  Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has announced four new targets, including raising New Zealanders trust and confidence from 69 to 80-percent. It follows the force taking a major hit in the wake of the McSkimming scandal.  Association President Steve Watt told Ryan Brid...

This story should shock everybody, but it won't. Sadly.  The headline? Former Covid response lead Alister Thorby stole $1.8 million from DHBs. From us, taxpayers.  This guy was 25 and yet somehow in charge of the DHBs’ response to the Covid pandemic in the Lower North Island. He stole almost $2m over five months. He bought cars, holidays, a house.  He was an MIQ boss. He submitted i...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 3rd of December 2025, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has set new 2026 targets to lift public trust, Police Association President tells Ryan how he can lead the Police to doing so.  Liam Lawson will keep his Racing Bulls seat for 2026, former, motorcycle racer and Herald motorsport Journalist Eric Thompson tells Ryan w...

SkyCity's pulling together the final touches on its colossal International Convention Centre ahead of its February 11th opening.  A large fire in 2019, when the building was nearing completion, set the project back significantly.   Now with just two months to go, SkyCity's locked in more than 100 conferences and events at the new venue.   General Manager Prue Daly told Ryan Bridge a...

There are doubts the proportion of homeowners in New Zealand will grow significantly anytime soon.  Kiwibank's Annual State of Home Ownership Index finds 57% of non-owners feel locked out of the market, improving by 6%.  60% still find cost of living the biggest obstacle to owning a house.  Squirrel Mortgages Chief Executive David Cunningham told Ryan Bridge that problem's always ex...

Agreement from Wellington's Mayor over council rates needing to be kept in check.  The Government's proposing to cap rates increases at 4% a year, with only water rates and other non-rates revenue to be excluded.  Wellington Mayor Andrew Little says rates increases are due to decades of under-spending.  However, he told Ryan Bridge the Government's tapped into a justified concern.&n...

This rates cap is popular politics, no doubt, and local government needs a good kick in the pants.  But does a 2-4% band simply mean we're going to pay more in other fees?  Rates aren't the only way these guys make money off us, we also pay for specific things like resource and building consents, LIM requests, dog registrations, and campgrounds.  Will hairdressers have to pay more t...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, the government's announced a rates cap for councils, Wellington City Council Mayor Andrew Little shares his thoughts.  More renters reckon they have a shot at buying a home of their own, David Cunningham from Squirrel Mortgages tells Ryan why the housing market is improving for first home buyers.  We finally have an opening da...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 2025, Labour’s pledging to offer low-interest loans for doctors and nurse practitioners to set up or buy into GP practices next year, GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers shares his thoughts.  The government says Local Water done well reforms will cost $48 billion over the next decade, Porirua Mayor Anita Baker tells Ryan if the money w...

Doubts ratepayers will be any better off under the Government's Local Water Done Well plan. The Department of Internal Affairs says councils face nearly 48-billion dollars in water infrastructure costs over the next decade. By comparison, the former Government’s reforms were projected to cost at least 120-billion over 30 years. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker told Ryan Bridge the price tag will likely e...

The housing market is once again in the driver's seat for the economy, but it's not heading in the direction we're used to.  Yes, a recovery is underway.  But the brutal truth of 2025 was summed up rather well, I thought, by Sir Bill English in an interview about the current state of play.  Basically, this protracted downturn - which for anyone living outside Queenstown or living on...

A retail frenzy is expected today as shoppers take advantage of Black Friday sales.   Data from PriceMe shows nearly 40% of Kiwis are planning to take advantage of Black Friday to do their Christmas shopping.   The day now outpaces Boxing Day in terms of sales volumes and popularity.  Oyster Property Group’s Jennifer Andrews told Ryan Bridge that they’re preparing for a very busy da...

A youth protection advocate says it's entirely appropriate to look deeper into Tom Phillips' children's four years on the run.  The saga ended when he died in a Police shootout in September.  The Government will explore whether agencies did everything possible for the children's safety and welfare.  Child Matters Chief Executive Jane Searle told Ryan Bridge she’s hopeful it will be...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 28th of November 2025, Judith Collins has ordered a public inquiry into the Tom Phillips case, Child Matters CEO Jane Searle tells Ryan what she hopes to see from it. Jennifer Andrews from Oyster Property Group which manages Dress Mart shares what retailers are hoping for this Black Friday.  The Government's considering moving esc...

A push to get more bike lanes as the Government eyes up moving e-scooters onto them from pathways. ACC statistics show there were more than 2,100 claims for e-scooter related injuries in the first half of this year.  Payouts for e-scooter injuries this year are close to surpassing $14 million.  Cycling Action Spokesperson Patrick Morgan told Ryan Bridge e-scooters are here to stay, so co...

The RBNZ update this week again made the point that yes, the economy's in bounce back mode. We'll grow 2.5% next year, they reckon.  But this country needs more than that. It deserves more than that. The problem for us is, and has been for about the past 30 years, productivity.  How much we get out for what we put in. We went sideways and it's now falling.  As you know, this is a ba...

The Finance Minister believes the country is in a position to grow.   The Reserve Bank believes the economy has now turned a corner after last month's 50-basis-point cut to the OCR.  It's cut the cash rate a further 25-basis-points to 2.25%, but is signalling further cuts are unlikely.  Nicola Willis told Ryan Bridge that while the data lags make things difficult, there is enough ot...

Encouragement for any Northlander who feels hard done by from the region-wide power outages last year to explore legal avenues.  Local businesses are taking class action against Transpower and its lines maintenance contractor over the outages caused from a pylon collapsing in Glorit, north of Helensville.  An investigation found a relatively inexperienced and inadequately supervised Omex...

The Auckland Business Chamber believes a a surcharge cap is a reasonable compromise to an otherwise unfair rule.  In July, the Government announced its plan to ban surcharges for shoppers on methods like Paywave, forcing merchants to front the cost instead.   The business chamber says this will just force businesses to increase costs, which will be unfair for other customers.   CEO...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 27th of October 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins Ryan to talk on the final OCR cut of the year. The Northland pylon fiasco is heading to court, Northland MP Grant McCallum shares his thoughts.  Business groups have come up with an alternative plan for the surcharge ban, Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges t...

So what do we know today that we didn't know yesterday after the big show from the Reserve Bank?  Well not much, really.  The cut was expected - it was already priced in. They're a bit more rosy on growth, it looks like the end of the cycle for cuts.  But beyond that, it really is guesswork.  The central outlook was 'balanced'. Meaning closed wallets could could hurt the outloo...