Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 6th of October 2025, The Government’s cracking down on youth benefits, Former Welfare expert Phil O'Reily shares his thoughts.  Andrew Alderson has the latest from weekend sport.  Criminal lawyer, Steve Cullen shares his thoughts on new numbers on crime while on bail.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the lat...

Freedom is the thing I think we love the most about living in our country like ours: democratic, pretty liberal. We fight, to protest, we argue, we debate. But unlike it seems most of the rest of the world, we don't get physical. We don't kill each other for our beliefs.  We express ourselves and then we try find a solution.  Look around the world section of your newspaper this morning....

It’s the final round of the Rugby Championship this weekend.  The All Blacks are taking on the Wallabies on Saturday night, in a sold-out Optus Stadium in Perth.  Seven changes have been made to the side and Scott Barrett is back in the captaincy.  Newstalk ZB Rugby Commentator Elliott Smith told Ryan Bridge inconsistency is likely the focus for the All Blacks.  He says there a...

Producers want pork from abroad plated up with transparency.  The Government's raising minimum spacing requirements to 13% while time in farrowing crates drops from 33 days to just seven.  Farmers need to implement the changes by 2035.  NZ Pork Chief Executive Brent Kleiss told Ryan Bridge 60% of Kiwis eat imported pork, so it would be ideal to introduce standards for them too.&nbsp...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 3 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.

One of Māoridom's biggest movements has split with Te Pati Māori.   Toitu Te Tiriti — which led the hikoi on Parliament last year — has voted to distance itself from the party. Leader Eru Kapa-King is the Party's former vice President and son of one of its current MPs - has told Te Ao Māori news the party has a dictatorship model of leadership.  Labour leader Chris Hipkins says Te P...

At what point do you say this local government election's a failure, a flop, not worth the paper it's written on? I think we're fast approaching that point now.  Even in Auckland - our biggest city. Super-City. With the most responsibility, the biggest burden to shoulder after amalgamation, the turnout with two weeks left to go is 9.2%. Last year it was 35%. That's not a mandate. It's a vote...

Property values have ticked up again after a five-month fall.  Cotality data shows property values in New Zealand edged up by 0.1% in September.  Across the main centres, Wellington dipped by 0.4%, with Auckland also down 0.2%.  It follows a cumulative -1.6% drop over the five months to August.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge the regions that are doing the be...

US Federal Government workers are bracing for days without pay.  Republican and Democrat lawmakers have been unable to reach an agreement on a spending bill.  US correspondent Mitch McCann says the shutdown's likely to last almost two weeks.  He told Ryan Bridge until then, affected staff aren't getting paid, even if they're in essential roles.  McCann says people like airport...

The Gut Cancer Foundation says author and broadcaster Nigel Latta played a vital role in raising awareness of the disease.  The high-profile clinical psychologist has died from stomach cancer this week – he was 58.  He was heavily involved with the Gut Cancer Foundation following his diagnosis, educating people about the symptoms and risk factors.  Foundation CEO Liam Willis told Ry...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 2 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.

Disappointment the Government's energy reforms haven't prioritised keeping electricity prices down. Changes include allowing Crown-controlled gentailers more government capital for projects, plans for a new gas import terminal and giving the Electricity Authority more power. Electric Kiwi CEO Huia Burt told Ryan Bridge this could result in wholesale prices reducing by about 2% per annum. She says...

Yesterday was MMP in action. It was exhibit A of a coalition government. Without a single party with a clear mandate, you end up with piecemeal positions. You get a report done then you cherry pick which options are palatable to everybody and effective for nobody. In this case they picked just two of the ten options. Seymour would have liked the option of flogging off the 51% of energy compan...

Faster access to primary and specialist mental health and addiction care is having a flow-on effect.  The latest data shows nearly 84% of people are accessing primary care within a week, surpassing the government's target, while 80.3% are accessing specialist support within three weeks.  Some regions, including Northland, Gisborne and Nelson Marlborough don't meet either of the targets.&...

All eyes are on Hamas as Donald Trump gives it three or four days to respond to his proposed peace plan.   The deal would end the war, see hostages returned, Israeli troops pulled out of Gaza, and Trump leading an interim Government.   It's been supported by our Foreign Minister Winston Peters as well as European and Middle Eastern leaders.  CBS Jerusalem correspondent Linda Gradste...

There’s nothing quite like watching a well-thought-out strategy come together and work. And hats off to South Korea this morning — they’re absolutely smashing it when it comes to tourism. The government set a goal: 30 million visitors a year by 2030. In 2005, they had 6 million. Last year? 16 million. This year: they’re on track to hit 20 million. This isn’t happening by chance — it’s happening by...

The energy sector's hopeful that Government reforms will be bold,  and address their concerns. Energy Minister Simon Watts is expected to announce reforms today, which will focus on issues the market hasn't been able to solve itself.  Major Electricity Users' Group Executive Director, Karen Boyes, says told Ryan Bridge Liquefied Natural Gas could be an option - as we're running out of do...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 1 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.

The Reserve Bank has been learning lessons from its handling of the Covid pandemic.  Chief Economist Paul Conway says they now have a deeper understanding of supply shocks and the structural drivers of inflation and are better equipped for future shocks.  He says in hindsight, going earlier or harder to OCR hikes would have reduced inflation sooner.  New Zealand Initiative Chief Eco...

Some building owners may decide it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to new earthquake standards.   The Government's eased regulations which will see Auckland, Northland, and the Chatham Islands removed from the regime.  Institute of Building Surveyors President Darryl August says while an earthquake isn't likely in Auckland, it could cause a lot of damage if it did happen. &n...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 30 September. 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.

Health has always been a portfolio MPs never want a bar of. You never win. Endless fights with the unions. People waiting for surgery. Constant pressure to keep up with technology. And it’s deeply personal for those who don’t get the care they need - it’s literally life-and-death stuff. So if the numbers Simeon Brown is putting out are to be believed—and I’ve no reason to doubt them—then he deserv...

Belief improvements are being made in the health system, but they don't show the full story. Quarterly data shows improvements around cancer treatment access, childhood immunisation rates, ED stays, and wait times. Health Minister Simeon Brown says it shows the system is turning a corner.  Former Health NZ Chair Rob Campbell told Ryan Bridge there are inconsistencies in how targets are measur...

Our Corrections Minister says services in prisons are improving, despite concerns around staff shortages An extra 98-million-dollars from this year’s Budget was meant to fund corrections until June - when prisoner numbers were expected to reach 10,800. This figure is already within reach, nearly a year ahead of schedule. Mark Mitchell told Ryan Bridge the officers they have are performing well. He...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 29th of September 2025, there's concern prison funding is drying up, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell tells Ryan what the government will do about it. Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  The world has heard New Zealand's verdict on Palestinian statehood, Foreign Policy Analyst Geoffrey Miller tells Ryan how b...