Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Concern that NCEA's revamp could be a little old fashioned.  The Education Minister has announced more detail on what's replacing NCEA.  Year 11 students will need a foundational literacy and numeracy award under the new system, while senior students face compulsory exams in every subject, and must pass at least three. Canterbury's Darfield School Principal Andy England told Ryan Bridge...

In education, old school is the best kind of school.  Secondary students will be forced to learn science, as well as maths and English, in the fifth form.  They'll be graded, not on merit or achieved or whatever, but A+ to E. So far so uncontroversial, I would have thought.  On top of that, exams will be compulsory in every subject.  Gone are the days of handing in pre-prepared...

Donald Trump is vowing to maintain a "friendship" with China, despite apparent tensions over Taiwan and Iran.  The US President has met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing.  Trump claims Xi is offering to help in some way with America's war in Iran without providing military assistance, while Xi says it's vital both countries are on the same page about Taiwan.  Former...

Natural gas reserves have plummeted to the lowest level in two decades.  Latest MBIE annual petroleum reserves data shows a 23% decline in the country's natural gas reserves.   Energy Minister Simeon Brown says many of our gas fields are coming to the end of their life, with our largest gas field, off the coast of Taranaki, set to close this year.  He told Ryan Bridge new gas fields...

Rising international tourism numbers are helping airlines weather the storm of rising jet fuel prices. Air New Zealand's revealed its looking at staff redundancies and even more flight reductions due to the surging cost of jet fuel. It's now forecasting a full-year pre-tax loss of between $340 and $390 million. Board of Airline Representatives Executive Director Cath O'Brien told Ryan Bridge the r...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 15th of May 2026, the bilateral talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have been underway in Beijing, Anna Field, Asia-Pacific Expert and Former Washington Post Asia-Pacific Editor shares the latest.  New Zealand’s gas reserves are now at their lowest level in twenty years, since records began Energy Minister Simeon Brown tells...

It's Friday huddle, pep talk time.  New Zealand, we're going to need our number-8 wire, positive, can-do, problem solver attitude now more than ever. Air New Zealand's in the doldrums, Trump's at war in the Middle East, oil's chocked up, Xi's talking about Taiwan again.  And for some perspective, if Taiwan kicks off, which some in the intelligence community reckon could happen as early a...

Most New Zealanders think the tobacco industry is influencing government policy.  A Talbot Mills survey —commissioned by public health group Health Coalition Aotearoa— has found more than two thirds of respondents think the industry is influencing policy.  55% of respondents support reintroducing low-nicotine cigarettes.  Health Coalition Aotearoa Spokesperson Chris Bullen told Ryan...

An economist says New Zealand is different from Europe and our views on immigration aren't the same.  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has used a pre-Budget speech in Auckland to promise a "careful" immigration policy that prioritises social cohesion over profit.  He says failed immigration policies in Europe and North America have stoked a politics of division.   Eric Crampton —the...

There's a belief China has the upper hand in the highly anticipated talks with the United States.  Trump's in Beijing, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the Iran war, trade, and US arms sales to Taiwan. Foreign Policy Analyst and Former US Navy Senior Chief Malcom Nance told Ryan Bridge the United States is behind the eight ball with China having the opportunity to eat Amer...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 14th of May 2026, Trump’s touched down in Beijing ahead of his meeting with Xi Jinping, US Intelligence, Foreign Policy Analyst & Former United States Navy Senior Chief shares his thoughts on how the meeting's going to go.  A new survey has found, more than two thirds of Kiwis believe our smoking laws are influenced by big t...

You can't escape bureaucrats in Wellington; it's an occupational hazard. Despite the bad press they get, they're not all useless. But it depends on how you use them, and how often.  Take the Golden Mile disaster in Wellington, as just one example.  The council agrees to a project it can't afford. Expensive. Crazy. Ratepayers revolt. The cost blows out from $160m to $220m. The blowou...

The Australian Government has unveiled its Budget, with the Iran war continuing to loom large.  Gross debt is expected to hit $1 trillion for the first time this year, and the federal government isn't expected to be back in surplus until 2036.  The Australian Treasury is forecasting inflation will peak about 5%.  Treasurer Jim Chalmers says they're dealing with the fifth economic sh...

Federated Farmers says New Zealand's sheep meat exports to the US are a win-win for both countries.   Trade Minister Todd McClay has revealed he expects the US Government to announce a trade investigation into our lamb imports in the coming weeks, as a means to impose more tariffs.  New Zealand exported more than $600 million of sheep meat to the US last year.  Federated Farmers Mea...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2026, Jim Chalmers 4th Australian Federal Budget is out, Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold shares his thoughts.  According to Cotality Kiwis are holding on to their homes longer than ever, Property Investors Federation Advocacy Manager Matt Ball shares his thoughts.  Trump tariff woes are back for Kiwi lamb exporters, Federated...

A changing property market could start shifting landlord trends.  Fresh March quarter data from property information firm Cotality shows almost nine in ten residential properties are being sold for a profit, but it remains below the peak of more than 99% in late 2021. Property Investor Federation Manager Matt Ball told Ryan Bridge there's likely to be a rise in corporate style landlords as ru...

Give them an inch and they'll take a mile.  That's basically the message to anyone worried about a capital gains tax in New Zealand. In Canberra last night Jim Chalmers' budget was pitched as a 're-balancing' of 'intergenerational inequality'. Fewer young people own homes in Australia, so they've pit grandkids against grandparents and made tax changes to negative gearing and capital gains.&nb...

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer may survive in the job, for now.  More than 60 Labour MPs are now publicly calling on the Labour leader to resign or set a timetable for departure following Labour's disastrous performance in local elections last week.  Four MPs have quit as ministerial aides, calling for fresh leadership.  But UK correspondent Enda Brady told Ryan Bridge Labo...

Many first-home buyers are still turning to family for financial assistance to get on the property ladder.  A new survey —commissioned by insurance company OneChoice— has found almost half of respondents are getting help from the Bank of Mum and Dad.  Those who are renting say they feel trapped trying to save for a deposit.  Renters United President Luke Somervell told Ryan Bridge t...

An election law expert says it could work in Labour's favour for it to not win many Māori electorate seats.  Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi has announced she is splitting from Te Pāti Māori and forming her own party.  Otago University Law Professor Andrew Geddis says there could be overhang seats if either party wins electorates with a relatively small party vote.   He says...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 12th of May 2026, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi will run as an independent under the banner of Te Tai Tokerau, Otago University Law Professor Andrew Geddis tells Ryan what this will mean for the Māori party.  New housing data out this morning shows, half of all first home buyers expect help from the bank of Mum and Dad, Renters Unite...

The most interesting thing about the fuel ration plan has nothing to do with fuel rationing.  Read the Q&A script the Minister's office provided and you quickly realise this thing will probably never see the light of day in any practical sense.  Trump would probably need to drop a nuke for us to get there.  And there's no prioritisation until 'Level 4'. It's all very high trust...

Labour says a mix of push and pull factors are responsible for Australia poaching New Zealand cops.  1News reports 144 New Zealand police officers left for Australia in the past year.   Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says we can't realistically keep up with the pay and incentives being offered.  Labour's Police spokesperson Ginny Andersen told Ryan Bridge a major push factor i...

It'd be easy to draw comparisons and parallels between our upcoming election and the local and federal upsets in Australia and the UK at the weekend.  But New Zealand is a totally different kettle of fish. In part, because, unlike the Brits and the Aussies, we run an MMP system.  The smaller parties that have traditionally been overlooked, like One Nation and Reform, are doing well becau...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 11th of May 2026, Police are admitting they just can’t compete with the money on offered across the ditch, Labour Police spokesperson Ginny Andersen. Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on political uncertainty in the UK likely to affect sentiment after elections, P&O ferries hits holidaymakers with Iran war fuel surc...