Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Mortgage-holders will be holding their breath in after yesterday's OCR announcement. The Reserve Bank's opted to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 3.25% while signalling the possibility of further cuts.  But new ASB research suggests interest rates remain volatile, with several opposing forces at play.  Finance and Mortgage Association Country Manager Leigh Hodgetts told Andrew Di...

A tax rebate scheme's helped boost the number of people employed in the video game sector by more than 20%.  The four-year, $160 million Game Development Sector Rebate allows eligible studios to claim back 20% of their spend.   Forty studios will receive a share of $22.4 million this year, for its second year.  Game Development Association Executive Director Joy Keene told Andrew Di...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Thursday 10th of July 2025, the Reserve Bank kept the OCR at 3.25%, Finance and Mortgages Association country Manager Leigh Hodgetts tells Andrew Dickens what this means for mortgages.  Our video game sector is having a major boom due to a government tax rebate, NZ Game Developers Association Executive Director Joy Keene shares his th...

The Rural Support Trust believes beneficiaries will make a difference to the flooding clean-up in the upper South Island. The Government's activated a beneficiary task force in Tasman and Marlborough, to support those affected by severe weather. Tasman has 600 work-ready beneficiaries. Rural Support's Top of the South chair, Richard Kempthorne told Andrew Dickens the initiative's worked well befor...

For a while now I’ve been thinking that the Reserve bank and the Government are working at cross purposes for the country.  Yesterday the Reserve Bank kept the OCR at the same rate it’s at. The reason: increasing inflation and little or no growth in GDP. Now the Government has an agenda of growth, growth, growth.  So reduced interest rates could help stimulate the economy that has some v...

Chris Hipkins was on with Kerre Woodham yesterday, as well as with Ryan Bridge on Herald NOW, and he talked about the Covid inquiry – insinuating it was slanted against Labour because New Zealand First is now part of a National government and had drawn up the scope of the inquiry to benefit them.   It also came out that he has drafted written responses to the questions the Commission might as...

Hopes a move to boost New Zealand's use of AI will get small businesses on board.   Science Minister Shane Reti's announced the Government's first strategy for using Artificial Intelligence to reduce barriers to adoption and promote responsible use.   He says it could lift our GDP $76 billion by 2038.   BusinessNZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard told Andrew Dickens AI use for Kiwi...

Hamilton's not losing sleep over the French rugby team's decision to snub the city.  The Les Bleus are basing themselves in Auckland for as long as possible before the third test against the All Blacks in Waikato next week.  A spokesperson says the team prefer the facilities in Auckland.  Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate told Andrew Dickens the city does sporting events very well, usi...

The Reserve Bank's expected to press pause on the Official Cash Rate this afternoon, but that's not it's only option.    The OCR's sitting at 3.2% after six consecutive rates reductions since last August.   Mortgage rates have followed it down over that time, falling to about 5%.   ANZ Chief economist Sharon Zollner told Andrew Dickens a 25-basis-point cut wouldn't be a bad ide...

The red carpet's been rolled out for French President Emmanuel Macron for his first visit to the UK since Brexit.  The three-day visit marks his first time there since 2008.  Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to hold meetings this week, expecting 'good progress' on issues like illegal migration.  UK and Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens the UK wants...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 9th of July, the OCR has been cut six times in a row... what will happen today? ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner joins Andrew Dickens to discuss why a cut should happen, but probably won't.  Business NZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard explains what the Government's new AI strategy means for business.  And Mayor of...

Iwi-owned entities have emerged in good shape following the country's economic downturn.  ANZ’s annual Te Tirohanga Whanui report reveals iwi surveyed saw asset values grow a median 4.1% in the 2023-2024 year.   Auckland University Professor of Māori Management Jason Mika told Andrew Dickens iwi have focused on being prudent when it comes to treaty settlements.  He says they only ge...

Belief changes to child banking requirements will affect teens the most.  The Government's making it easier to sign children up for a bank account, saying the current laws are unnecessarily difficult, in an attempt to prevent serious crime.   It's one of the first steps in Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee's revamped anti money-laundering regime.    MyMahi founder Jeff Ki...

Australia's mushroom murder trial is set to go down in the history books.  Erin Patterson was found guilty of murdering her estranged husband's parents and aunt and attempting to kill his uncle with a beef wellington with death cap mushrooms in it.  Newstalk ZB's Donna Demaio is in Victoria, following developments.  She told Andrew Dickens hundreds of people have been descending on...

Question: should Jacinda Ardern come home and appear before the Royal Commission into our Covid response? I think she should.   I could understand though if she doesn't. Because just as she became the symbol of our successful response to the pandemic, which we rewarded with a supermajority in Labour's second term, she also then became the symbol of everything that we did wrong.   And the...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 8th of July, mushroom cook Erin Patterson has been found guilty on all charges in her murder trial. Australia correspondent Donna Demaio is in Victoria following the developments.  MyMahi founder Jeff King joins Andrew Dickens to discuss changes to the anti-money laundering act that will make it easier for parents to open ban...

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 7 July. 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.

A youth charity believes the Government's taking courageous steps, to tackle chronic school absence. Ministry of Education data shows more than one thousand students weren't enrolled in school for more than a year in 2024 - a 576 percent increase on a decade ago. Graeme Dingle Foundation CEO Jo Malcolm-Black told Andrew Dickens it's good to see the Government is wanting to tackle the problem. She...

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop is into the US for a range of meetings across housing, planning, development and transport.  Notably - he's visiting New York to speak to city officials about their introduction of "CONGESTION PRICING" and how its faring.  Over there - the results of charging people to use the roads in peak times have looked promising so far, and Bishop says he wants...

There are new faces across the board for the first All Blacks test of the season.  Four uncapped All Blacks will be unleashed in Dunedin, with number 8 Christian Lio-Willie and lock Fabian Holland starting, while prop Ollie Norris and flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi will storm off the bench.  On the French side of things, with five debutants featuring in the run-on side and three in the reserv...

Franchises could soon have the ability to trespass someone across multiple sites.  Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is beefing up the current laws, calling them no longer fit for purpose.  He's also proposing doubling the maximum fines for trespassing on businesses, and increasing the maximum period to three years.  Franchise New Zealand Chairman and Coffee Club Director Brad Jacobs...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Friday 4th of July, the Government's given businesses the power to trespass people from multiple locations, Franchise NZ Chairperson Brad Jacobs tells Ryan about the difference this will make.  It's the first All Blacks test of the year, Newstalk ZB voice of rugby Elliot Smith joins Ryan from Dunedin ahead of Saturdays game.  I...

Changes to rigid insulation standards are predicted to cut new-build costs by an average of $15 thousand. They'll give more flex to requirements in the building code by the end of the year, in a bid to cut down rising construction costs.  The Government's also looking to make the Far North a separate 'climate zone', stating the region’s warmer climate allows for a more tailored approach. Far...

The award for most press releases and announcements on a single issue must got to National this week. Law and Order was front and centre - announcements about everything from first responders to coward punches. It was an assault of announcements.  Now, announcements don't make streets safer. Announcements don't fix problems on their own.  This was a targeted campaign to reinforce the ide...

The Government's one step closer to reaching long-term agreements on the future of some of our fastest-growing areas.  It's agreed to negotiate with councils in Auckland, Western Bay of Plenty, and Central Otago, on 10-year deals to boost economic growth, housing and infrastructure.  Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says "small decisions" should be kept with councils.  Central Otago Mayor...