Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

I know, I know we're celebrating this morning, the OCR, the money back in your pockets that's coming, inflation coming down.  But MBIE has warned the government that electricity prices are likely to rise significantly over the next two years – this is a story from BusinessDesk.  See, we have all seen the spot prices market increase, skyrocket even, but we haven't felt that at home becaus...

An OCR cut could be behind an incoming boost in property market activity.  The Reserve Bank's cut the Official Cash Rate by 50-basis points to 4.75%.   Banks have lowered home rates in response to the cut.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis is celebrating the move as fantastic news and sees it as a sign inflation is under control.  LJ Hooker's Campbell Dunoon told Ryan Bridge this...

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are urging people in the path of Hurricane Milton to follow advice and evacuate.   The Category 4 Hurricane is expected to hit overnight in the state.   The core of the storm is expected to pass over west-central Florida, and storm surges of three to four and a half metres are possible.   Outer bands of the Hurricane are already impacting some areas. &nbs...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 10th of October, the Reserve Bank has dropped the Official Cash Rate to 4.75% - what does it mean for the property market and your mortgage rates?  Transpower has released a new resilience plan for Northland's power grid following the transmission tower collapse in June - will it make a difference? Northland MP Grant McCallu...

The main suspect in the Madeleine McCann case has been cleared of separate rape charges.   47-year-old Christian Brückner was acquitted of five offences of sexual abuse in Portugal between 2000 and 2017.   German investigators identified Brückner in 2020 as a suspect in the disappearance of McCann from Portugal in 2007.   But UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge the judge fo...

More interest rate cuts are on the horizon.  The Reserve Bank expected to cut the Official Cash Rate again this afternoon.  ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner is tipping a 50 basis point cut to 4.75%,.   She says it's what the market and most economists are predicting, and it’s become the default.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The marine life around Samoa is likely in danger in the wake of Manawanui sinking.  The $100 million naval ship struck a reef off the south coast of Upolu on Saturday, before sinking Sunday morning.   About 950 tonnes of oil is onboard.   Diesel leaked out of the vessel when it capsized and has coated the surface of the water.   Waikato University ecology expert Nick Ling told...

Health New Zealand's pointed to nursing recruitment to explain its ballooning deficit, but health experts aren't buying it.   Newly released documents show the agency went from expecting a half a billion dollar surplus to a $1.4 billion deficit in April.   That's now expected to blow out to $1.76 billion.   Patient Voice Aotearoa chair Malcolm Mulholland told Ryan Bridge there's no...

Complaints, backlash, outrage, divisive, sad, there's been strong reaction to the Tui billboards poking fun at old Polkinghorne – who’s not guilty of killing his wife, by the way.  The billboards read, if you haven't seen them: "Back to being a respectable meth smoking, sex worker loving doctor then. Yeah right.”  It's quite good. It's not breaking any rules, and I say good on them for g...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 9th of October, it's OCR day, and all of our big banks are forecasting a 50 basis points drop, bringing the rate down to 4.75%. ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner talks to Ryan about what to expect at today's announcement, and where to from here for the economy.  Te Whatu Ora has released over 400 pages of financial documen...

A media commentator says TVNZ appears to be doubling down on what it's good at.   The state broadcaster's latest business proposal will see its website shut down in February while more investment will be put towards news on its streaming platform TVNZ+.   The company is hoping to save $30 million.   Spinoff founder Duncan Grieve told Ryan Bridge it could work, but it’s not guarantee...

It's a tale of two islands when it comes to the economy.   The Westpac Regional Roundup shows many businesses and households are suffering from the slow economy.   Westpac Senior Economist Satish Ranchhod says feedback from the North Island was more downbeat, with Wellington being the worst off because of a shrinking public service.   He says there was a rosier picture in the South...

Inflation is still the dominant force in global politics, no doubt about it.  We've got the United States election next month, the Aussies are going to the polls by midway through next year, so are the Canadians, we just had the UK, we've just had France, and inflation rules the roost.  Bad news for ol' Albanese in Australia. There's a new poll out this morning that has him neck and neck...

The chief executive of Ngati Toa agrees a robust debate is needed on the Treaty of Waitangi.  Helmut Modlik will debate ACT leader David Seymour tonight, two months after Modlik called him out.  A draft of Seymour's Treaty Principles Bill will be ready for public release and discussion next month, but National says it will support the bill no further than the first reading only.  Mo...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 8th of October, Ngati Toa's Helmut Modlik is set to face David Seymour in a much anticipated debate on the Treaty of Waitangi. Modlik speaks to Ryan ahead of the debate.  A mixed bag in Westpac's Regional Roundup, but things are looking good heading towards the New Year and Wednesday's OCR decision. Westpac Senior Economist S...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the French President's demands for a halt on arms deliveries to Israel for use in Gaza is a "disgrace". He says "Israel will win with or without their support".  UK and Europe correspondent Gavin Grey says it came as a surprise since France is known to be a supporter of Israel.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

Why? It's the question we all want answered this morning. But what we'll get is a bunch of speculation. The first most important question has been answered. Is the crew safe? Yes. Thankfully. And by the sounds of it, it's thanks in large part to help from others, the decision to abandon ship and a dose of good luck. Some of the crew spent five hours in life rafts battling the conditions to ma...

Belief the Government's fast-track list will reap more benefits than environmental problems. The Government's listed 149 projects for its Fast Track Approvals Bill - including nine mining projects. The Bill still needs to go before the Environment Committee, then each project will be assessed by an expert panel. Straterra chief executive Josie Vidal told Ryan Bridge the previous system fixated on...

Cameron Munster has vehemently denied biting Penrith’s Paul Alamoti as the Melbourne five-eighth nervously awaits the outcome of the NRL’s match review committee. Munster will find out on Monday morning if he has been charged by the NRL after he was accused of biting Alamoti in the final 10 minutes of the Storm’s 14-6 grand final defeat on Sunday. The Melbourne five-eighth was tackled by...

A search for answers over the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui - off Samoa's southern coast. The $100 million naval ship was running a survey off the area when it hit a reef on Saturday night. All 75 people onboard were rescued - it caught fire and sank yesterday morning Former Defence Minister Ron Mark told Ryan Bridge he's gutted as his team fought hard to bring the refurbished...

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

The British government announced it will hand sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, in a settlement that ends decades of disputes over Britain’s last African colony, while maintaining a key US-British military base in the archipelago. Europe correspondent Vincent McAviney says the UK keeping its military base for another 99 years marks a landmark deal for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's...

There's several possible reasons behind a rise in the number of homes empty on Census night.  The latest data shows just more than 110 thousand homes were empty, up from just under 100 thousand in 2018.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says part of that could be due to Cyclone Gabrielle flood levels, and high levels of construction.   He told Ryan Bridge that some of the...

Flooding and landslips are keeping officials busy in Otago.   The area is in a State of Emergency due to heavy rain, with downpours expected to continue into the afternoon.  Fire and Emergency NZ have responded to 31 calls between 6pm last night and 5.30am, with around 70 people evacuating to welfare centres.  Dunedin Civil Defence Manager Scott MacLean told Ryan Bridge their advice...

Kudos to Qantas for introducing a wellbeing zone on the cattle class of the aircraft.  Airlines are cramming us in like sardines, anyone who's travelled will know this.  They serve you booze, you recline your seat, the planes dry you out and then as a natural consequence, people go nuts.  Unruly passengers ripping open the emergency doors, running up and down the aisles screaming li...