Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

There’s a Dominos and a Subway, but there will be no McDonald’s in Wānaka - at least at the currently proposed site. Yesterday, Commissioners declined to grant consent for a McDonalds restaurant, largely due to the location.  The proposed location was at the edge of town - where urban meets rural living. It is regarded as outside the urban growth boundary for Wānaka, at one of the town’s entr...

On the Early Edition Full Show Podcast for Thursday 13th February 2025, The fishing industry is welcoming a proposed major shake up of the Fisheries Act.  Local media may soon be on a more level playing field with proposed changes suggesting global streamers could be required to invest in local kiwi content, NZ's Screen Producers guild President Irene Gardiner told Francesca Rudkin the indust...

One of New Zealand Rugby's major sponsors has found itself offside with the national body.  NZR has confirmed they're launching legal action against petrochemical company INEOS for breaching a deal worth $8 million a year.  The petrochemical company hasn't paid its first 2025 instalment to have its logo on various All Blacks attire, making NZR believe they have exited their arrangement e...

A group fighting youth homelessness says Kainga Ora's crackdown on rent debt will exacerbate housing insecurity.   The housing provider's announced it will terminate tenancies with people who skip rent and don't attempt to get back on track.   It says the new policy will also help it engage with tenants when rent debt is beginning to mount.   Manaaki Rangatahi Spokesperson Brooke St...

An Australian football player is walking away from jail time after being accused of racially harassing a Metropolitan police officer.   Sam Kerr was found not guilty by a British jury over an incident two years ago where she called an officer stupid and white.   UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Francesca Rudkin the charge could have lead to two years in prison.  He says the 31-year-...

The Whangārei Mayor believes more people will accept a decision around water fluoridation - if it comes from councils. New Zealand First's new Members Bill seeks to remove the Director General of Health's central authority on fluoridation - and mandate binding local referendums. It comes as Whangārei District Council's under fire - as the only council refusing to fluoridate under current mandates....

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 12 February. 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.

Kainga Ora is taking a step in the right direction. They have announced a tougher approach to rental debt, but they’re doing it in a fair way which hopefully gives people who intend to pay their rent, but have hit a hurdle, a chance to get back on track.   The debt was kinda crazy. Between 2017 and 2023 the total debt owed to Kainga Ora by its tenants increased from $1million to $21 million....

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to speak with Donald Trump as tariffs loom.  The US President has said he will announce a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the country, on top of already existing metal duties.  He implemented a similar policy in his first term, but later granted partners like Australia duty-free quotas.  Australia Correspondent Do...

A greater push for foreign investment in national infrastructure is being warmly received by the sector.   The Government's unveiled plans for a two-day international summit next month where it's inviting 100 global investment leaders.   It plans to highlight investment opportunities, hint at policy changes, and market growing industries.   Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive...

A banking expert believes New Zealand First's move to fine banks for withdrawing services on environmental or social grounds misunderstands the situation.  MP Andy Foster has introduced a bill to the members' ballot in a bid to ensure banks make withdrawal decisions on a purely commercial basis, with fines of up to half a million.   Massey University banking expert Claire Matthews told A...

The economy has set the mood for the latest political polling.  Both the Taxpayers' Union Curia poll and the 1 News Verian poll show the left bloc has the numbers to form a government if an election was held today.  Both also have Chris Luxon losing support in the preferred Prime Minister stakes.  Political commentator Brigitte Morten told Andrew Dickens some of the Government's ann...

It only took nearly twenty years to address, but high school rowing teams will no longer be able to have year 14 students in their crews. These were young people in their 6th year of secondary school.  They gave their crews an advantage because they’d had an extra year of training and development.  It's been a bugbear of many schools wanting a level playing field. Many of the year 14s we...

On the Early Edition Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 11th February 2025, Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Nick Leggett tells Andrew Dickens wants he wants to see come out of the Government's two-day Foreign Investment summit.  Claire Matthews, Associate Professor at the Massey University Business school shares her thoughts on an New Zealand First members bill which intends to stop banks withdrawi...

England played France in a good 'good old rugby' showdown over the weekend, beating the French side by just one point. Fans are bringing into question Warren Gatland's coaching abilities after a 14th straight defeat for Wales.  Newstalk ZB's Andrew Alderson joins the show for a rundown of the weekend's sport.  LISTEN ABOVE.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is replacing the current visa settings with two new categories that will see visa settings relaxed.  In a bid to encourage more foreign investment, the Government is introducing the balanced category and the growth category, the latter requiring a minimum a $5 million invested for a minimum of three years.  Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges explains t...

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have begun to unplug from Russia's electricity grid and join the EU's network, more than three decades after leaving the Soviet Union.  The three nations will officially transition away from the grid that has connected them to Russia since the years after World War Two and integrate with the European supplied via Poland. UK Correspondent Gavin Gray talks to Andr...

It is officially Super Bowl Sunday in the US! The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Louisiana's Superdome in New Orleans in what is to be a star studded night in sport.  Taking the stage in the half time show performance is rapper Kendrick Lamar.  Sirius XM Radio host Ben Harlum joins the show live from the Super Bowl.  LISTEN ABOVE.  See omnystudio.com...

I’d like to applaud the outbreak of common sense exhibited by the new Minister of Transport, Chris Bishop. He has decided to revisit some of the blanket speed limits imposed by central Government in the wake of concerns by locals. Let me first say it is the new Government that has imposed blanket speed limits not the last. This new Government has determined that all speed limits should be either 5...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast for Monday 10th February 2025, Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Bridges shares his thoughts on the Government relaxing Visa settings to encourage more foreign investment. We head to the US where Superbowl Sunday is underway, Ben Harlum a Radio host at Sirus XM paints a picture of the big day. We get an update on the weekend's sport -...

US allies are broadly rejecting Donald Trump's plans for a US takeover of the Gaza strip.  The US President has again doubled down on the idea, posting on social media that Israel will turn over Gaza to the US when fighting has "concluded".  He's also reiterating his plan to resettle Palestinians in new housing elsewhere in the Middle East.  Correspondent Vincent McAviney says US al...

Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to double its funding of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust.  The trust was established to encourage protection of natural and cultural features on private land, without selling or donating it.  But its base government funding runs out in June and is warning it will have to scale back the new covenants it can support.  Vice-president...

More details have been revealed about a potential deal between the Cook Islands and China.  It's being reported that Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown will travel to Beijing today, where he's expected to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership with China.  MFAT says it would have expected our Government to be consulted by the Pacific nation before such an arrangement is struck, u...

One of the country's most iconic multi-sport events returns today.  The first day of the South Islands' Coast to Coast kicks off from Kumara Beach, with athletes biking, kayaking, and running to Christchurch's New Brighton Beach.  Around 1,700 participants are competing in the 43rd edition of the event.  Race director Glen Currie told Andrew Dickens Klondyke Corner will be an unusua...

The last thing I did before the Waitangi day holiday was talk to Kieran McAnulty about the financial strife surrounding Kainga Ora, and it's bugged me ever since.  The Labour Housing Spokesperson denied the agency was in financial difficulty.  He told me that Housing New Zealand's asset base was so large there was no problem borrowing more money to keep its construction schedule on track...