Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

There's no doubt punters will like this new major events fund.  $70-million of new and old money.  Some for infrastructure like the cycleway network which needs an upgrade. $10-million for regional tourism.  And the showstopper is this $40 for "significant, high-impact events for New Zealand from 2026".  The PM and Minister Upston came out yesterday and said these big major eve...

It’s a big weekend for rugby, with the Warriors final against the Panthers falling at the same time as the All Blacks second clash with South Africa.   It’s been ten years since the All Blacks claimed victory over the Springboks in Wellington – will they be able to pull off another win?  And the Warriors are entering the playoffs in 6th place after a season filled with ups and downs – ho...

There's concern there's a creep towards privatisation in a refreshed curriculum.  The Government's overhauling senior secondary school subjects, with new options to be phased in from 2028.  Vocational subjects including engineering, building, and construction will be industry-led.  Principal of Auckland's Albany Senior High School Claire Amos told Ryan Bridge it could mean losing th...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 12th of September 2025, Erica Stanford's revealed the new subjects which will be included in the replacement of NCEA, Albany Senior High School Principal Claire Amos shares her thoughts. Newstalk ZB's Elliot Smith and Nick Bewley provide some analysis ahead of the All Blacks and Warriors games this weekend.  A manhunt is still und...

The FBI is releasing images of the latest person of interest following the shooting of Charlie Kirk.  The highly influential conservative activist was shot at an event at Utah Valley University yesterday morning and later died in hospital.  The manhunt continues for the person responsible after two people were questioned but later released from custody.  Washington Bureau Chief for...

This week NASA found the clearest sign yet of ancient life on Mars. We learned that for the first time in human history, there more obese children on earth than underweight children. In the Middle East, missiles bomb peace talks. Over the skies of Europe we’ve got drones and fighter jets. In the US, supposedly the first among free nations, another political assassination. It’s times like this you...

New Zealand appears to be a gateway for migration to other countries.  Latest Stats NZ data shows there were 14 thousand migrant arrivals and nearly 10 thousand departures in the year to July.  Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley told Ryan Bridge we're seeing more people migrate to New Zealand, who then move on to Australia.  He says the Australians have been actively recrui...

Calls for swift intervention to keep our young people healthy.   A United Nations report suggests 9.4% of those aged five to 19-years-old are obese, and 9.2% are underweight.  In the year 2000, 12% were underweight and just 3% were obese.   Save the Children Advocacy Director Jacqui Southey told Ryan Bridge there needs to be better education around what is and isn't healthy.  ...

A big commitment from Jetstar and its parent Qantas as both airlines make big moves to expand routes. Jetstar's adding new routes from Brisbane to Queenstown and Hamilton to Christchurch and increasing capacity on five domestic and trans-Tasman routes. Qantas is also expanding routes and will begin flying state-of-the-art A220 aircraft between Wellington and Brisbane from February. Aviation Commen...

Remember it was only a month ago Trump was parading around an Alaskan Air Force base, talking up peace for Ukraine. Within weeks, Putin sends 800 drones across the border - the biggest attack of the war so far. He’s targeted EU and British government buildings in Kyiv. He’s now entered NATO airspace. The fighter jets were scrambled. The alarm bells rang in Brussels.  Does any of this sound li...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 11th of September 2025, more New Zealand citizens are leaving the country than ever before, Massey University Sociologist Paul Spoonley tells Ryan about the impact it'll have on the country's growth.  Jet Star's announced it's biggest ever expansion here with over 600,000 extra seats, Airline Commentator Irene King tells Ryan ab...

There’s a concern the Government’s school shakeup could drive more students to drop out early.   New data shows that over 1,300 students were granted an early leaving exemption last year – the highest since 2007.  The Government is proposing to remove subjects from senior school general subject list, reclassifying them as a limited vocational option – one being Outdoor Education.  W...

A children's advocate says Tom Phillips' children are not "public property" and the public don't have a right to know and debate their lives.  Authorities say the children are safe and healthy and continuing to receive support.  Their father died on Monday morning after being shot by police near Marokopa in western Waikato.  Child Matters Chief Executive Jane Searle told Ryan Bridge...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 10th of September 2025, the missing Marokopa kids have been found, but how can we make sure we don't traumatise them further? Child Matters CEO Jane Searle shares her thoughts.  There's concern the Government's change up of the school curriculum could drive more students to drop out early, Mark Bruce-Miller CEO of Whenua It...

Organised crime is being described as the number one threat to New Zealand's national security. The Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime see it as such a significant issue, it's recommending the government should give one minister the responsibility of tackling the problem. A new report says police and customs regularly encounter drug shipments which were once t...

I watched a movie Sunday with a group of friends. Here are 12 things I learnt: 1. You probably aren’t hungover on the couch at home uber-eatsing Maccas from the sofa. 2. You have taken the extraordinary measure of walking, using your perfectly capable legs even though you're still a bit stiff and sore from the gym. 3. This means you have visited the gym four times this week to ensure your ass will...

New data shows rents are down to the lowest point since 2023.  They’ve dropped 3% in the last year to $628 per week according to realestate.co.nz.  Urban centres had the biggest decline, with Wellington leading with 11.8% drops and Auckland following with 2.3%.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge its very much an economics lesson in basic supply and demand.  He s...

A private investigator who previously tried tracking down Tom Phillips says the area where the fugitive’s campsite was found was where people expected.  Phillips was killed in a shootout with police after a quad bike he was riding with one of his children was spiked by police on a rural Waitomo road yesterday morning.  Following a large manhunt, the remaining two children were found at a...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 9th of September 2025 Tom Phillips has been shot dead and his three children have been found safe, Private investigator Chris Budge tells Ryan what happens from here.  New data shows rents are down 3% nationwide to the lowest point since 2023. The PPTA is telling members to vote down the government's new pay offer, Leighton Watso...

New comparisons show teacher salaries have plummeted relative to the minimum wage. PPTA members are voting on a new Government pay offer, while primary teachers have decided to reject their latest offer. Canterbury University maths lecturer Leighton Watson's done a comparison of teachers' pay with the minimum wage. He told Ryan Bridge a beginning teacher was paid $33 thousand in 1999, and now they...

It’s brutal, but Tom Phillips brought this whole thing on himself. Yes, he was killed and that is a very hard and sad fact his kids are going to have to live with for their rest of their lives.   Their father is dead. But, he shot a cop - an innocent local Constable who was trying to do his job. Tom Phillips also deprived his children of their mum, of any professional medical attention, of an...

Unfinished business for a former Labour minister, who may jump ship and campaign for New Zealand First.  Stuart Nash, who was Police Minister during the last Government, made a surprise appearance at New Zealand First's annual convention in Palmerston North over the weekend.  He was sacked from the last Government's Cabinet after a string of scandals including revealing confidential info...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 8th of September 2025, The Government's patting itself of it's back for new data showing it’s smashed elective surgery targets, Health Minister Simeon Brown gives an update on surgery wait times.  Former Labour leader Stuart Nash makes his pitch for becoming a NZ first MP.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's spor...

As you know I’ve been saying for some time this election is National’s to lose.  The economy will pick up, this government’s only two years in and kiwis like to give incumbents the benefit of the doubt. I still think this holds true. But, as we’ve been reporting since April, Trump’s tariffs - which took everybody (including the markets) by surprise, making a bear of a bull - hammered business...

Belief progress is being made, when it comes to cutting wait times for elective surgeries. The Government's exceeded its half-year target, by delivering more than 16-thousand extra operations before the end of June.  It's also wanting 95 percent of patients to be waiting less than four months by 2030. Health Minister Simeon Brown told Ryan Bridge they're on track to reach 63 percent this year...