Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Putin’s playing a game of chicken with the Europeans and Europeans are the chickens. NATO’s so far done nothing but talk about these fighter jets and drones. Take your pick of experts and former military bosses chiming on the why over the weekend, and you’ll get 10 different answers. Are these incursions a mistake?  No. Too many now. So he’s doing this for one of two reasons. To keep more ter...

The All Blacks have got to perform in this weekend’s Eden Park test.  They’re set to face Australia in the wake of their worst-ever defeat just 12 days ago against South Africa.  Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby Elliott Smith told Francesca Rudkin the All Blacks have to turn up, perform, and start finding some consistency.  He says consistency won’t come soley from tomorrow’s performanc...

A push for more work-based learning, to give food and fibre employers greater input on training.  Key players like Beef + Lamb New Zealand and Federated Farmers have teamed up to demand an overhaul from the government.  The sectors have released the Food and Fibre Workforce Capability Strategy.  Forestry Owners' Association Chief Executive Elizabeth Heeg told Francesca Rudkin the st...

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy claims his court case is politically motivated.  He's been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy, relating to illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.  He was acquitted of all other charges.  Europe correspondent Vincent McAviney told Francesca Rudkin it's unclear whether he will sp...

On the Early Edition with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast Friday 26th of September 2025, Fonterra’s delivered one of its best results ever, Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Karl Dean shares his thoughts.  It's the great show down between the All blacks and the Wallabies this saturday night in Auckland, Newstalk ZB rugby commentator and editor Elliott Smith tells Francesca what's at stake for...

Dairy farmers remain mindful of the chance of more tough times ahead.  Fonterra's confirmed a final farmgate milk price of $10.16 for the past season, with earnings of 71 cents per share.  But its midpoint forecast for this season remains at $10.  Federated Farmers Dairy Board Chair Karl Dean told Francesca Rudkin farmers will be paying off debt and investing back into their farms a...

Yesterday, PPTA members — secondary school teachers — voted to make addressing online extremism an official policy, and are now pushing for Government action.   Teachers say they are seeing more misogyny from young boys, as well as xenophobia and anti-Māori rhetoric – and I believe them. Sit down with your teenager and ask them about Andrew Tate, Trump, trad wives — which were some of the com...

New Zealand will have first use of the world's first portable brain scanner that could change how concussion is diagnosed for rugby players – but will it work as said?  The device —known as the Nurocheck headset— can allegedly detect head injuries in two minutes.  Medtech Labs Group CEO Michael Lee says although the brain scanner will be rolled out next month, rugby clubs will have to wa...

The new Reserve Bank Governor seems to tick all the boxes.   Dr Anna Breman has been announced as the next Governor, taking over from Christian Hawkesby in December.  She was the First Deputy Governor of Sweden’s central bank, and was selected from more than 300 candidates that were initially identified.  Economist Cameron Bagrie told Francesca Rudkin that Breman is going to be lase...

Auckland Council's new density plan won't see fewer houses zoned, but will change where they're allowed.  The council's Policy and Planning Committee voted 18-5 to pass the plan, which will see more housing near transport hubs and less in natural hazard zones.  Former Auckland Mayor Phil Goff shares his thoughts with Francesca Rudkin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

On the Early Edition with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast Thursday 25th of September 2025, Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts on the new Reserve Bank Governor.  A new portable med-tech device from the company Nurochek claims it has the ability to diagnose concussions on the sidelines in just two minutes, Dr Doug King Sports Injury Research Specialist tells Francesca h...

It was a big day at Auckland Council yesterday, and I think a good day.   The Policy and Planning Committee met for most of yesterday to thrash out the future of Auckland’s housing, debating where and how Auckland is going plan for more homes. The council voted 18-5 to discard PC78 and notify PC120 – which basically means the 3 storey townhouses seen increasingly all over Auckland’s suburbs a...

A grim outlook from business leaders.  The Herald's annual Mood of the Boardroom survey shows business leaders are less optimistic about the economy than they were a year ago.  They’re calling for more bipartisanship when it comes to tax, retirement, and the long-term outlook for New Zealand.  NZ Initiative co-founder and Chair Roger Patridge told Francesca Rudkin the business commu...

A view that small businesses may suffer and not be able to survive if the Government's surcharge ban comes into play.  Commerce Minister Scott Simpson announced the ban on surcharges like PayWave will be in place by May next year.   In an open letter, 36 Chambers of Commerce, industry and business associations warn the ban will just be passed on through increased prices.  North Cham...

Changes to the Holidays Act have been welcomed by businesses as long overdue. The new system will include accrual for sick and annual leave. The Government says it will be two years before these changes are implemented. But Restaurant Association boss Marisa Bidois told Francesca Rudkin the industry wants a faster timeline. She says while she understands the need to update systems, some of their s...

I didn’t really want to touch on this yesterday. I really hoped the story about President Trump coming out and declaring that pregnant mothers taking paracetamol was the cause of autism would just die a quick death in the news.  But it made an impact - as you may have seen.    Comments like Trump’s are hugely frustrating and unhelpful. They cause concern among expectant mothers abou...

On the Early Edition with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 24th of September 2025, The Government’s overhauling the Holidays Act, Marisa Bidois Chief Executive of the Restaurant Association tells Francesca about the difference it'll make for businesses and employees. The Herald's released the Mood of the Boardroom survey, Co-founder and Chair of New Zealand Initiative, Roger Partri...

Businesses are hopeful an overhaul of the Holidays Act will give them clearer leave guidelines.  The Workplace Minister will announcing a change to the 2003 Act today.  Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson told Francesca Rudkin the current legislation is far too complex.  She says businesses have almost needed an advanced calculus degree to meet their obligations.  LISTEN ABOV...

A tech expert says there's good reason to be sceptical about digital identifications.   Digital Services Minister Judith Collins says driver licences could soon be available on our phones before the end of the year.   New South Wales has already rolled out a similar service.  Digital Identity New Zealand Executive Director Andy Higgs told Francesca Rudkin it has to be done in good f...

Belief the Government's half-a-billion dollar investment to infrastructure will boost the construction sector. Both projects involve upgrades and maintenance for hospital and school buildings nationwide. It's at a time when construction activity is at a six year low. Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Francesca Rudkin these announcements show that better days are starting to e...

On the Early Edition with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast Tuesday 23rd of September 2025, The long-awaited overhaul of the Holiday's act will be announced today, Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson tells Francesca what she hopes will come from it.  Digital services Minister Judith Collins says digital driver’s licenses could be rolling out by the end of the year, Digital Identity NZ Exec...

On its own, you wonder what’s the point of moving in this direction when we have perfectly good drivers licences in our back pockets. But it’s not really about the driver’s licence, it's about creating an app like NSW has, which allows people to do a whole lot of government related transactions simply and easily from their phones.    Things like: car registrations, a WOF, paying road use...

A $100million dollar boost is being put towards upgrading clinical spaces and key infrastructure,  at hospitals across the country. Health Minister Simeon Brown's announced the investment for 21 local projects - ranging from more clinical space in emergency departments to extra carparks. Health New Zealand's also allocating $20million dollars to increasing frontline ED staff. Minister Simeon...

Cyber incidents continue to cause chaos across major European airports. Dublin, Berlin, Brussels and London's Heathrow are thought to be experiencing cyber attacks, knocking out online baggage and check-in systems. It's the third day of technical failures, with dozens of flights delayed or cancelled. Europe correspondent Gavin Gray told Francesca Rudkin that the issue is with a widely-used system...

On the Early Edition with Francesca Rudkin, Monday 22nd of September Full Show Podcast 2025, The Government's spending $100 million of cash from the budget on upgrading hospitals across the country, Health Minister Simeon Brown tells Francesca what that money will go towards.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  Investor confidence has slumped back to pandemic levels,...