Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Pensioners marched on Parliament yesterday, demanding that politicians remember them.   And one of the biggest things on their mind is the rules around retirement villages. Here’s an example: A couple had been in their retirement village for 10 years. Needing more care, they decide to move out and find a more appropriate place to live.   They’d bought their villa for $600,000, but under...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 5th of November 2025, the unemployment figures get released today with economists picking a nine-year high, BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones tells Andrew what today's figures mean for the Reserve Bank.  Winston Peters has submitted a members bill which would ban the importing and sale of fireworks, Fire and Emergency NZ Re...

There’s concern our cemeteries are running out of space, with some councils taking too long to secure new land.  The Cemeteries and Crematoria Collective says many graveyards are already at or near capacity, forcing delays and limiting burial options.  It warns too many councils are failing to plan far enough ahead, and many are excluding cemeteries from urban growth strategies that ofte...

Consumer confidence could be turning around as borrowing rises.  Latest data from credit bureau service Centrix shows residential mortgage and household lending have both increased more than 20% year-on-year.  Personal loan and Buy Now Pay Later applications and business borrowing are also up.  Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold told Andrew Dickens we're heading in the right dire...

Rain's on the forecast for today's 165th running of the Melbourne Cup. There are no New Zealand-trained runners this year, but Smokin Romans and Torranzino were both bred here. Newstalk ZB's Melbourne Cup correspondent Donna Demaio says those heading to Flemington will need to pack their brollies and coats. She told Andrew Dickens the weather is dominating much of the conversation. Demaio says it'...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday 4th of November 2025, Centrix data shows more people are getting mortgages, Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold tells Andrew what this means for the economy.  A new NZ Initiative report’s calling on the government to tap into GP data, Chair of General Practice Owners Association Dr Angus Chambers shares his thoughts.  N...

The GP Owners' Association's backing calls for the Government to make better use of primary care data. A New Zealand Initiative report says information from GP clinics isn’t being systematically collected, unlike hospital and prescription data. It argues the information could help identify prescribing issues and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions. Association Chair Angus Chambers told Andrew...

9 people were left in a critical condition after a knife attack on a train in the UK.  It is believed that a man on the train, which was moving from Peterborough to London on a fast-track line, pulled out knives and started attacking passengers once it was on the move. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens that the incident was not terror related.  'Originally counterterrorism...

The public service union says ACC has breached employee contracts with its working-from-home rule change. The PSA's taking the agency to the Employment Relations Authority.  It says ACC gave the union only one hour's notice when it told staff four weeks ago they would have to come into work three days a week - up from two.  PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons told Andrew Dickens that...

Attracting the extra staff needed for 140 new hospital beds could be a challenge. The Government's announced new wards for Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington and Nelson hospitals, in addition to a new Hawke's Bay ward announced earlier this year. Health Minister Simeon Brown told Andrew Dickens funding has been approved to recruit the additional 350 staff needed. See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

On Friday I interviewed a representative of oyster farmers in the Mahurangi area who were outraged at a wastewater dump by Watercare that had poisoned their oysters.  They have to close for 28 days. One farmer has to dump 80,000 oysters. That’s not good for business or their cashflow.  As the interview went on I found out that this is not an isolated incident.  It’s already happened...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast 2025, the Government’s adding 140 new hospital beds across five hospitals from mid next year Health Minister Simeon Brown tells Andrew Dickens the difference it'll make to capacity. Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekends sport.  The PSA’s taking ACC to the employment relations authority, PSA National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimon...

The All Blacks are set to face Ireland in Chicago for the first match of their Grand Slam Tour.  This will be the first time the two sides have faced each other in nearly a year, where the All Blacks beat Ireland 23 - 13.  ZB's Voice of Rugby Elliott Smith told Francesca Rudkin that '[the game] promises to be a special occasion even if it's not tearing the headlines off the front pages.'...

Health Minister receiving advice on allowing babies to receive measles vaccine as the outbreak spreads. New Zealand has two new Auckland cases bringing the total to 13.  A national immunisation week starts on Monday - to help bring it in under control.  Minister Simeon Brown told Francesca Rudkin there is the potential that if children are immunised earlier than 12 months, their longer t...

Is Donald Trump testing the limits with his latest nuclear weapon testing comment? The US President posted on social media - saying he has no choice but to restart testing, because of other countries testing programs. If the US follows through it'd mark the first official nuclear weapon testing - apart from North Korea - this century. Geopolitical Analyst Geoffrey Miller told Francesca Rudkin that...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 31 October. 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.

Signs are looking good for Fonterra's major sell-off to get the green light this morning.  By 10:45 today, the shareholders will decide if selling big brands like Anchor and Mainland to global dairy giant Lactalis is the right decision.  Fonterra Shareholder and Supplier Garry Reymer told Ryan Bridge that the majority of shareholders seem to be in favour of the sale. 'I hear a few farmer...

Opinion remains split on whether we have to renew our vehicles' Warrants of Fitness,  too often.  Proposals up for consultation from today would further stretch out WOFs for light vehicles, to once every two years.  The one-year rule would continue for vehicles older than 10 years.  AA Principal Policy Adviser Terry Collins told Ryan Bridge that they've surveyed their members t...

You know how we're a free trade country? It’s our thing. We export, we earn, we sell, we get richer. And we want open supply chains and free movement of goods across borders, etc., etc. Well, today Trump and Xi of China are finally signing that deal—or at least the framework of a deal—to bring an end to this war. This should, in theory, benefit both of them. The region. And us. That's a good thing...

Belief that both employers and the Government need to up their game to ensure Kiwis are being hired before migrants.  The Immigration Minster's getting tougher on employers hiring more migrants than unemployed New Zealanders. Erica Stanford says employers will be stripped of the chance to recruit migrants if they're not looking closer to home. Business NZ Immigration Specialist Rachel Simpson...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 30 October. 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.

More MPs and longer parliamentary terms have been deemed key to modernising a decades old electoral system.  Fresh New Zealand Initiative research found 30 years on from the introduction of MMP, our parliament is in the need of a four year term and 50 more members.  That would take the Parliament to 170. Report author and Senior Fellow Nick Clark says MMP has delivered fairer and more re...

It's early days for new curriculum changes, as not all subject documents have been uploaded. The Education Minister has unveiled proposed changes to content for Years 1-10,  on top of the English and Maths refresh announced earlier -  changing subjects like health and history.  The Immediate Past President of the Auckland Primary Principals Association Kyle Brewerton told Ryan Bridg...

A former Labour leader says there'll be a sense a relief among many to see a new capital gains tax policy. Labour's announced the policy for next year's election campaign, targeting commercial and investment properties, but not family homes.  The revenue would go into health, creating a Medicard scheme providing free GP visits. Phil Goff told Ryan Bridge the OECD has been calling out New Zeal...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 29th of October 2025, The Government’s finally unveiled its new school curriculum for years 1 to 10, Immediate past President of the Auckland Primary Principals Association, Kyle Brewerton shares his thoughts.  A new report for the NZ Initiative believes our MMP system needs 50 more MPs, report author and senior fellow at the N...