Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The Commerce Commission is ramping up efforts to disrupt the supermarket monopoly.  It says supplier charges and promotional pricing are reinforcing the dominance of Foodstuffs and Woolworths.  It's proposing a simplified grocery code, reducing the range of payments that supermarkets can charge suppliers.  Grocery expert Ernie Newman told Ryan Bridge that supermarkets are receiving...

Homeowners will have to pay more for home insurance to help the Natural Hazards Commission.   Associate Finance Minister David Seymour says levies will almost certainly need to rise further, with Cabinet set to decide on the changes in the coming months.    Insurance consultant Dean Lester told Ryan Bridge that these changes could cost homeowners two to $300 more a year.   The...

New Government reforms aim to tidy up inconsistencies in Fish and Game New Zealand.  It will be shifted to a nationalised fee collection system to reduce double handling of fees.  Fish and Game councils will also be required to consider the interests of other stakeholders, like farmers and the aviation sector, when it comes to decision making.  Hunting and Fishing Minister James Mea...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 5th June of 2025, The Grocery Commissioner has revealed changes to crack down on the grocery sector, Grocery Policy Expert Ernie Newman shares his thoughts.  Homeowners could be in for more insurance levies, Insurance Consultant Dean Lester tells Ryan Bridge why.  The Government's announced an overhaul of Fish and Game, Min...

The Commerce Commission reckons we need fewer items 'on sale' at the supermarket.  That would mean less yoghurt on special at $4.99, fewer $1.99 chocolate bars at the checkout, and just less price yo-yo-ing in general. This is counterintuitive. The job of Commerce Commission, through the Grocery Commissioner, is meant to score us cheaper prices and boost competition, right? So, what the hell...

Ukraine's struck a critical bridge connecting Russia and the Crimean Peninsula.  It's security service claims agents mined the supports of the bridge with more than one-thousand kilograms of explosives, severely damaging the foundations.  Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge the bridge is a hated symbol of Russian occupation for Ukraine.  He says it's also a vital piece...

Wellington's seen as the ideal place to host a major movie premiere.  That's due to a decade-old agreement between the producers of the Avatar franchise and the Government, given the amount of taxpayers' money that's been contributed.   In return, the producers agreed to roll out a red carpet in New Zealand for at least one of the three movies.  818 Publicity Managing Director Chris...

The Building and Construction Minister's confident they're providing the right support while sector liquidation rates remain bleak.  Building Research Association data shows construction companies now make up about a third of all business liquidations – up 25% in 2022.   Minister Chris Penk told Ryan Bridge it's not a great statistic, but they're focusing on what they can control.  ...

Although visitor spending is on the rise, some parts of New Zealand are still doing it tough. A Government survey's found international visitor spending increased by 10% and contributed more than $12 billion to the economy in the year ending March. That's 9.2% up on the previous year. It reflects an increase in international visitors, topping 3.3 million arrivals, up from almost 3.2 million. Queen...

Tourism mojo.  Louise Upston fired off an enthusiastic press release last night.  "International visitor spend on the up” it proclaimed. New data, which we get from the International Visitor Survey, showed a 10% jump in spending on the previous year. Sounds impressive, right?  Sounds like we’re getting somewhere. Finally shaking off the Covid cobwebs.  But this is where we star...

Australia's refusing to play ball with the US, which is demanding it up its defence spend to 3.5% of GDP as soon as possible.   Australia's currently tracking to lift spending to 2.33% of GDP in the next eight years.   Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seems to be brushing off the demand.   Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge that Albanese has said what you should do...

Plenty happened in the sporting world over the long weekend, and Andrew Alderson joined Ryan Bridge to delve into some of it. On today's agenda is the latest from Roland-Garros, the Warriors' win and Mitch Barnett's unfortunate ACL injury, and a social media spat coming out of IndyCar. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minimal progress in another round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.   The two countries have agreed, in Istanbul, to exchange sick and wounded prisoners of war, and those under 25.  Meanwhile, Ukraine's carried out drone strikes on several Russian air bases.   BBC's Olga Ivshina says even the loss of one plane is significant, as Russia can't replicate it quickly.   She...

Do you know what's really starts to rub me the wrong way?  It's governments telling us to do more things.  This morning, we've got the government coming out with yet another hotline. Sounds fancy. Sounds efficient.  It's a hotline to report road cones. A road cone tipline.  Sorry, but if the problem is that there are too many road cones on the road, and they're unnecessary...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 3rd of June 2025, The Government's introducing new changes to Worksafe and implementing a new roadcone hotline, Parallax CEO Dave Tilton shares his thoughts on how it will work.  Ukraine and Russia have been having peace talks in Turkey, BBC Senior Russia Correspondent Olga Ivshina shares the latest.  Andrew Alderson has the...

Significant changes at WorkSafe as it moves from an enforcement focus and launches the road cone hotline. The agency will now engage early to support risk management, starting with today's opening of a tipline for excessive road cone usage.  Parallaxx Traffic Control Training Chief Executive Dave Tilton told Ryan Bridge there are good elements to this announcement.    He agrees with...

Just 60% of Air New Zealand's trans-Tasman flights took off within 15 minutes of their scheduled time last month.   A report by the Ministry of Transport shows airline performance for April.  78% of Jetstar's flights between Australia and New Zealand left on time, and 70% for Qantas.   Aviation commentator Peter Clark told Ryan Bridge Air New Zealand's has a large fleet, which means...

Doubts many parents will be prosecuted for repeat truancy under a new Government directive.  Associate Education Minister David Seymour's confirmed these parents could be fined up to $30 a day as part of a firmer approach on school attendance.   Any possible prosecution cases will be referred to the Ministry.  Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Ryan Bridge they have 28...

Farmers are welcoming a proposal to remove difficult rules from the Resource Management Act.  The Government's released three discussion documents proposing amending 12 current national directions and four new ones.  They include changes to freshwater management and regulation of farming practices.  Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chair Kate Acland told Ryan Bridge the Government's addressi...

British Police are still asking the public not to speculate as to why a 53-year-old businessman drove his car into a massive crowd of people in Liverpool. Seventy nine people - among those celebrating Liverpool Football Club's league title - were hurt; seven remain in hospital. Paul Doyle faces six charges related to grievous bodily harm, and one of dangerous driving. He'll first appear in court t...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, Friday the 30th of May Full Show Podcast 2025, the Ministry of Education's been ordered to prosecute parents who who don't regularly send their children to school, Darfield school Principal Andy England shares his thoughts.  Beef and Lamb NZ are praising the government's RMA announcement Chairperson Kate Acland explains it's benefits.  New data on p...

The price of butter's shot up 65% over the past year - you might have noticed nana's cookie jar's a bit empty lately.  Bakers are buying in bulk from the Aussies, where it's cheaper. Online discussion blames our dairy farmers, the co-op that buys their milk, and the producers who sell it.  But, there are a couple of reason its cheaper there than here.  1) We export a hell of a lot m...

A lack of consensus at the Reserve Bank on yesterday’s cut to the OCR reflects the global economic uncertainty.  The Monetary Policy Committee has dropped the cash rate 25-basis points to 3.25%, and now expects to reach a 2.9% low-point in December.  However, further cuts are uncertain, with the bank adopting a watch and wait approach.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bri...

The Grocery Action Group is unconvinced by a proposal to rapidly add competition to the grocery sector.  The New Zealand Initiative wants the Government to introduce a "fast track pathway" to allow new entrants to enter the market, rather than forcing any break-up of the existing supermarket companies.  It includes streamlining rezoning, consenting and investment clearance processes.&nbs...

There's an expectation it will take two years to get the number of international students in vocational education back to pre-Covid levels. There were about 75-thousand international students in New Zealand last year - 40% less than a peak in 2016. Vocational Minister Penny Simmonds says told Ryan Bridge centralising Polytech's into Te Pukenga is a big factor, as it caused a financial mess. She sa...