Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

We all know the Covid Inquiry is looking at MIQ, amongst other things.  And we all know that MIQ had noble aims and notable successes. But we also know the execution was far from perfect, and many people ended up feeling ostracized from the rest of New Zealand.  The idea of the Inquiry is to find out what went wrong so we do better next time.  And yesterday, Les Morgan, the Chief Op...

News the Government's set to shred half a million books from the National Library is being described as standard management.  Books including religious texts, Shakespeare, and Virginia Woolf are among them, with the cull expected to save about a million dollars in storage costs.   Library and Information Association Executive Director Laura Marshall told Andrew Dickens books are destroye...

It's being suggested we need to generate more power if we want to fix our electricity market.  Major power companies will soon be required to charge less for power during off-peak periods and pay more for solar and battery power during peak periods.  The Electricity Authority hopes the measures will drive down power prices over time.  But Paul Fuge —the manager of Consumer NZ's Powe...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Thursday the 17th of July 2025, the Government's ditching open-plan classrooms, May Road Primary principal Lynda Stewart shares her thoughts on whether the classrooms work.  New deals will soon become available to bring down your power bill, Consumer NZ Powerswitch manager Paul Fuge tells Andrew Dickens the difference it'll make.&nbsp...

There's concerns the Government's being too black and white with its decision to pull the plug on open plan classrooms. The idea was introduced by John Key's Government in 2011.   The Education Minister Erica Stanford says now all new builds will have more traditional layouts. Auckland's May Road Primary School Principal Lynda Stuart told Andrew Dickens it shouldn't be a binary discussion. Sh...

So the Local Government Conference is underway and the Government took advantage of it to talk down to councils like a stepdad telling off their stepson.  They’ve been told to reign in wasteful spending to keep their rates increase down. It'd be good if the government that is currently spending more than any other ever practiced what they preached.  But anyway, the Government is talking...

Should your job provide health insurance coverage?  There are calls for a fringe benefit tax break as a Council report reveals people are twice as likely to have car insurance than life or health.  It says 78% of Kiwis pay for their own insurance, rather than employers footing the bill.  Enriched Retirement Founder Liz Koh told Andrew Dickens that New Zealanders tend to think they’r...

The future of the latest BBC MasterChef UK series is up in the air.   John Torode is leaving after a report upheld allegations he used an "extremely offensive racist term".  It comes after an independent report substantiated 45 of 83 allegations about the behaviour of former co-judge Gregg Wallace.  UK correspondent, Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens there are calls to scrap the alread...

Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones is floating the idea of special economic zones as an answer to New Zealand’s energy security.   The Government's asking for feedback on its new long-term fuel strategy.   The special economic zones are areas where businesses can get tailored policies on regulation, financial support, and access to infrastructure.  Major Electricity Users' Group...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday 16th of July 2025, The Government’s cracking down on councils -  forcing them stick to their core business, Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell shares her thoughts. There's calls for fringe benefit tax breaks to help kiwis pay for the rising cost of health insurance, Enrich Retirement founder Liz Koh tells Andrew Dickens the differe...

The Government wants to scrap local councils' four well-being provisions.  A amendment bill has been introduced to remove the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing provisions from the Local Government Act, to refocus councils on their core services.  The Government wants councils to give more value to ratepayers.  Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Andrew Dickens she'...

I’m always amazed at how much credence the United Nations is given in domestic New Zealand politics.  The left loves the UN pronouncements on New Zealand’s stances because if reinforces their view that we’ve got much to feel guilty about.  Meanwhile the right somehow believes that the UN can supersede our sovereignty and is an enemy to be repelled at all costs.  But the UN is actual...

A turning point for Auckland.  The third annual State of the City report has been released, showing how we compare on a global scale.  It highlights strengths in sustainability, resilience, and culture, but says we lag behind in prosperity, skills, and innovation development.  Deloitte’s Future of Auckland Lead Kate Sutton told Andrew Dickens that Auckland’s at 40% of GDP while the...

Here we go again.  The polytechs that were centralised by the last government are going to be de-centralised by the current mob.  It's not quite back to the future because it won't be the same as we had before the politicians started tinkering. There will now be ten polytechs run locally, six others will have to prove their financial viability, but it still feels like we're going back to...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday 15th of July 2025, Secondary Principals Council Chair and Aotea College Principal Kate Gainsford joins Andrew Dickens to discuss the number of students passing the NCEA literacy and numeracy co-requisite tests slowly on the rise. Dr Sandra Grey, National Secretary of the Tertiary Education Union, shares her thoughts on the Governme...

Concerns we're narrowing the focus too much in the push to improve literacy and numeracy rates. Small improvements were seen on last year with 57% of NCEA students achieving the numeracy standard, 61% achieving the reading standard and 55% achieving the writing standard. Secondary Principals Council Chair, Kate Gainsford told Andrew Dickens the focus hasn't been spread across other important subje...

Over the weekend, a group of well-known organizations published an open letter to the Prime Minister.  Organizations like the EMA, 2degrees and Consumer New Zealand all signed the letter calling for the government to reform the energy sector.  Chief Executive of Consumer New Zealand John Duffy said that the government needs to have a fast, but measured response.  He said, ‘[We don’t...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday 14th of July 2025, Act's Tertiary Education Spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar shares her thoughts on a new plan from the government to double the amount international students contribute to our economy to $7.2 billion by 2034.  A group of well-known organisations have written an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for immed...

The Government's unveiling new initiatives in hopes of doubling the international education sector.  Education Minister Erica Stanford wants it to contribute 7.2 billion dollars to the economy by 2034.  The Government's plan begins with expanding work rights to all tertiary students in approved exchange programmes.  It's also allowing eligible students to work 25-hours per week - up...

I find it ironic that the government and the electorate are once a gain keen on getting rid of some of the layers of our council bureaucracy. First NZ First’s Shane Jones publicly questioned the role of regional councils, pondering whether “there’s going to be a compelling case for regional government to continue to exist”. Then Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that the Governmen...

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson is determined to have more success in the air against France during Saturday's second test in Wellington.  The French aerial assault often caught the ABs on the hop in the narrow first test win, an area Robertson says the All Blacks have been tidying up in practice.  Weekend Sport Host Jason Pine told Andew Dickens that defusing their ariel game is essent...

A belief all sectors will need to step up to deal with online scammers.  The new Anti-Scam Alliance brings together government agencies, banks, telcos, digital platforms, and consumer groups.  The task force will share data about scams to shut them down in real time.  Banking Association chief executive Roger Beaumont says it will make a difference if all participants play their par...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Friday 11th of July 2025, the Government's going to address the country's scamming issues head on with a anti-scam alliance, NZ Banking Association Chief Executive Roger Beaumont, tells Andrew Dickens the difference it will make.  The All Blacks are taking on France this weekend in Wellington, Newstalk ZB's Jason Pine shares his thoug...

New migration numbers may be painting a bleak picture of our economy.  New Zealand saw it's highest net migration loss to Australia in the year to December in more than a decade - with 30 thousand leaving. Overall net migration for the May 2025 year levelled out at a gain of just under 15 thousand.  But ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Andrew Dickens net migration is normally about a...

Another poll. Another rush of fevered opinion, and yet still so far away from an election.  The poll business is booming. Once upon a time we had just the two TV networks in the game, but now they’ve been joined by others.  Keeping the opinion writers in business and politics as the leading news driver in this country.  So this one was paid for by the Taxpayers Union and it breathle...