Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Another cut to the Official Cash Rate is expected today but it could be the last for a long time.  The Reserve Bank's reviewing the OCR at 2pm.  Most economists expect the cash rate to be cut 25-basis-points to 2.5%.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge they expect the Reserve Bank to keep the door wide open to taking further action next year if needed.   He says...

A lot of roles could be facing the axe as the Government looks to scrap regional councils.  The Government's proposing replacing them with boards made up of Mayors in a particular region.  The proposal aims to reduce duplication and put downward pressure on rates.  Boards would be required to put plans in place around re-organising services and infrastructure, which will be checked...

Hopes a nationwide maths pilot can continue to deliver results. The $40 million Government programme targeted 1,500 Year 7 and 8 students needing extra support, through small-group tutoring up to four times a week.  New data shows students averaged one to two years progress in 12 weeks. PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Ryan Bridge the focus on core skills like maths never stopped, but th...

I'm part of the generation that grew up pre-cell phones.  Gifts were usually clothing you needed. Toys were chatter rings, marbles, maybe a skate board.  There was no 'picky eating', as we've heard about this week. If you didn't finish what was on your plate at dinner, you didn't get a treat afterwards.  Sweet treats were fruit. Or Raro sachets (sugar rush) if you managed to sneak o...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 26th of November 2025, The Government's committed to abolishing all 11 regional councils, Otago Regional Council Chair Hilary Calvert says she thinks this is a good idea.  Students forced to do an hour of maths a day made a full year's progress in just 12 weeks, PPTA President Chris Abercrombie shares his thoughts.  It...

A rise in bulk buying may be contributing to New Zealand's food waste.   A report commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment reveals more than 1.2 million tonnes of food is wasted or thrown away here every year.  Nearly a third is by households, with processing and food production making up the rest.  Love Food Hate Waste Programme Manager Sophie Wolland told Ryan Bridge buyin...

A construction sector voice says mandatory home warranties are well overdue. The Government's announced plans to require warranties for new homes three storeys or less and all renos worth at least $100,000. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says it hopes to protect homeowners from cowboys. Certified Builders Association Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Ryan Bridge it will cost more...

A Bay of Plenty trust says new investment will help more families address harm before authorities have to step in. The Social Investment Fund's putting $50 million into programmes for children with parents in prison, and those who’ve grown up in care. Among the recipients is Ngati Awa Social and Health Services Trust. Chief Executive Enid Ratahi-Pryor told Ryan Bridge their aim is to tackle family...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 25th of November 2025, The Government's announced a new building rule designed to protect homeowners from cowboy builders. A study from Otago uni says Kiwis toss out 1.2 million tonnes of food a year, Love Food Hate Waste Programme Manager, Sophie Wolland shares how we can improve food waste.  The Government's revealed the first...

This rates cap, how's it actually going to work.  I had Luxon on my Herald show yesterday, an announcement's coming in the next few weeks.  But ask any Mayor, not the ones who like disco toilets and golden miles, but the ones who already to the basic stuff and little else. They're cutting their cloth. Tim Macindoe in Hamilton. I spoke to the Tararua Mayor yesterday. They all say the same...

A banking expert is picking apart National's 'piecemeal' Kiwisaver election pledge, saying it doesn't go far enough.  The party's promising to lift default worker and employer KiwiSaver contributions to six percent by 2032 - matching Australia's 12 percent superannuation rate. Employer contributions would increase by half a percent - but not until 2029. Massey University banking expert Claire...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, National promises to lift the default kiwisaver rate to 12% by 2032 if elected again next year, Claire Matthews Associate Professor at Massey University Business School shares her thoughts.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  The trucking industry wants tougher rules for unsafe vehicles, Billy Clemens Head...

The trucking industry wants NZTA to have the power to impound dangerous vehicles, after an Auckland operator was jailed for manslaughter. Ashik Ali kept his truck on the road despite it being banned, and its failed brakes caused it to roll away and fatally hit a roadworker last year. Transporting NZ Policy Head, Billy Clemens told Ryan Bridge the assessment for entering the industry needs to be mo...

Unions charge like wounded bulls for their services.  And they claim they're in it for the workers.  They care about workers' pay and conditions so much, they're worked their way up the union ranks to help those at the bottom. But then once they get a bit of profile. They jump ship to the Labour party, their good mates.  Craif Rennie - flits between the CTU and Grant Robertson's off...

The All Blacks playing stocks have been refreshed for the final test of the year against Wales on Sunday morning.  Only captain and lock Scott Barrett and blindside flanker Simon Parker are retained in their positions from the loss to England with Will Jordan moving from fullback to right wing.  Ruben Love makes his second test start from fullback.  Former All Black Josh Kronfeld to...

A lifetime Black Power member is warning of a larger threat on the anniversary of the gang patch ban.   Today marks one year since the law was changed to give Police increased powers to go after gangs, including banning gang insignia in public.   Since then, officers have seized 182 patches, more than 600 insignia items, and 178 firearms.  But Community Advocate Denis O'Reilly told...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 21 November. 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.

Hopes that those responsible for the Pike River mine disaster will finally be held accountable.  Police believe they have sufficient evidence to prosecute certain people for manslaughter.  This week marks 15 years since 29 men died in the West Coast mine tragedy.  Sonya Rockhouse, whose son died, told Ryan Bridge Police have done their job and now it's a waiting game for justic...

Can you trust Winston Peters not go with Labour next year? No you can’t. He hasn’t ruled it out. Despite National scoring a higher party vote in 2017, he went with Jacinda. Labour has not ruled Winston out. Winston has not ruled Labour out. Winston has ruled out Chippy, so a leadership swap in the last seven weeks of the campaign, or even during negotiations, is possible.  Hipkins is a party...

Ferry Holdings' Chairman says he's more confident in the new Cook Strait ferry plans than the ditched iRex project.  The Government's officially signed a fixed-price contract with a Chinese shipbuilder for two new rail-enabled ferries.  It's now securing teams to build the required infrastructure at Picton and Wellington ports.  Winston Peters claims the total cost will come in unde...

Students getting around a school phone ban could be chatting with family members.  An Education Review Office report shows three-quarters of secondary school teachers believe the ban has improved student behaviour.  But nearly half of students admit to using their phones in class, likely because family members were getting in touch.  Whangaparāoa College Principal Steve McCracken to...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 20th of November 2025, New Cook Strait ferries are set to arrive in 2029, Ferry Holdings Limited Chair Chris Mackenzie tells Ryan how the government managed to save $2.3 billion dollars.  A ERO report shows the cellphone ban is working but half of high school students aren't following the rules, Whangapaeroa College Principa...

One of the country's top youth health experts says puberty blockers have been safely used in New Zealand for 20 years.  No child or young person experiencing gender dysphoria or incongruence will be able to start taking gonadotropin-releasing hormones from December 19. Health Minister Simeon Brown says Cabinet has agreed to new settings until the outcomes of a major clinical trial in the UK i...

We've got a bunch of new economic numbers this morning.  The recovery is underway. Finally.  We've had false dawns before, so I'm not overcooking this, but things are moving in the right direction. Investor confidence is up for Q3. Most regions are getting a slice of the recovery action, according to Infometrics.  What's most interesting is investor confidence, led by Auckland, is u...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 19th of November 2025, a new report from Business NZ projects a shortfall of at least 250,000 workers by 2045, Chief Executive of Business Canterbury Leeann Watson shares her thoughts.  Over half of our apprentice trainees in new zealand drop out before they complete their course, Te Pukenga CEO Gus Gilmore tells Andrew...