Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 21st August 2024. How can Kiwibank become a better competitor for the big Aussie Banks? Banking expert David Tripe takes us through the options.   AA has found our learner driver licensing system is much more relaxed than Australia's - what improvements can we make to keep young drivers safer? Road safety campaigner Clive Matthe...

A coordinated response between the Police and Auckland Council is being credited for a steep drop in retail crime in the CBD.   The number of thefts and burglaries has fallen 50% since January last year.   Heart of the City Chief Executive Viv Beck says while some haven't seen it yet, there's been a noticeable decrease.   She told Ryan Bridge the next step is tackling anti-social behaviour.   Beck...

Christchurch Hato Hone St John ambulance workers are kicking off a day of nationwide rallies following pay negotiation breakdowns.   More than two and a half thousand officers are taking part in staggered four-hour withdrawals of labour until 4am tomorrow.   Christchurch staff will march from 8am.   Ambulance Association Division Chairman Mark Quin told Ryan Bridge that St John will be operating a...

US President Joe Biden's expected to dominate the first day of the Democratic National Convention.   It starts in Chicago today and is where Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Governor Tim Walz will accept their presidential and vice presidential nominations.   Biden's expected to give an address and make a symbolic handover to Harris.   FSN Correspondent Simon Marks told Ryan Bridg...

Ever wondered what the funniest joke in the world is?   Well, I can tell you because the Edinburgh Fringe Festival has declared the funniest joke.   It's a ship gag, a gag about a ship, as in like a vessel that goes in the ocean. To be honest, it's not that funny and maybe I'm just getting older and mingy about life.   I don't know, maybe I don't find things as funny anymore.   Have you tried to f...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 20th August 2024, it's day one of the Democratic National Convention. We cross live to Chicago to get an insight into what’s going down.   Crime numbers are down in our biggest city, but are businesses on the ground actually seeing any difference? Heart of the City's Viv Beck speaks to Ryan.   St John ambulance workers are on thei...

ASB's quarterly report reveals economic pressure and inflation showing signs of easing. We're seeing early signs of a turnaround for the economy... ASB's quarterly forecast shows signs inflation will fall below 3% over the second half of this year and remain well contained beyond 2024. They're also expecting GDP to remain flat-to-down over the rest of the year. ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley tol...

Outrage at the weekend over the Human Rights Commission.   The Chief Human Rights Commissioner has been announced as Dr Steven Rainbow and he was once accused of being transphobic or anti trans.   And it's one of those terms that can quickly change the tone or the perception of an article that you're reading.   I remember this from the university college campus protests over in the States.   You w...

Details of the government's $1.3 billion dollar road policing investment programme have been revealed. It includes new targets for roadside breath and drug tests. Police are expected to carry out 3.3 million breath tests per year. 65% of those have to be done in high risk areas or during high risk times. $72 million of the funding will be put aside as a performance incentive. Police won't receive...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 19th August 2024. New cash for police, but they have to meet targets for roadside breath and alcohol tests - are the targets achievable? Police Association President Chris Cahill joins Ryan.   ASB say economic relief is on the way. Chief Economist Nick Tufley has the latest from their quarterly report.   The All Blacks have recover...

Will the All Blacks redeem themselves after last week’s loss?   This Saturday they’ll be facing Argentina in a rematch at Eden Park, a week on from losing to 30-38 in Wellington.   Scott Robertson has made some major changes to the Kiwi side, including the return of former captain Sam Cane.   Newstalk ZB Rugby Commentator Elliott Smith told Ryan Bridge the All Blacks need to bounce back, which the...

501s will be the hot button topic in Christopher Luxon's meeting in Canberra today with the Australian Prime Minister.   Anthony Albanese's government has pulled a recent u-turn on the common-sense approach he'd agreed to with former Prime Minister Jacinda Arden in 2022.   Australia is no longer considering a person's ties to the country before deporting them, making the safety of Australians the...

Kim Dotcom could have his fate sealed by early next year.   The tech mogul may soon find himself on trial in the US after Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed he'd signed his extradition.   Former Auckland University Professor of Law Bill Hodge told Ryan Bridge Dotcom's penultimate step is a judicial review, but he can't precisely predict how long this would take.   He says if it's a typical...

There's a reason politicians can't agree on much of anything.   Luxon is in Australia at the moment, he's on an infrastructure whistle stop tour.   The question - why are we so bad, and the Aussies seemingly so much better at it?   There are many reasons like public, private partnerships and user pays. In New South Wales, they've used asset sales to fund this stuff, but it's also crucially biparti...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday the 16th of August, Kim Dotcom's extradition order has been signed by the Justice Minister, can he fight it? Former law professor Bill Hodge joins the show to give his thoughts.   Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is meeting with his Australian counterpart today. Geoffrey Miller talks to Ryan about what could be on the agenda.   Is...

The Kamala swing continues. New polling out today shows Harris is leading slightly or tied in six of the seven swing states. Back in May, Former President Donald Trump was leading in almost all swing states. US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Ryan Bridge it illustrates just how much this race has changed.  He says Trump is trying to take back the narrative.    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/list...

There’s a chance your home-reno could keep you from selling your house.   A couple in the UK was recently unable to sell their home after installing spray foam insulation.   The way the foam is installed and how much ventilation it has could cause damage to roofing timber, particularly in colder climates, and New Zealand installers have to produce a statement saying the work complies with the buil...

Questions remain over how blocks of methamphetamine in lolly wrappers made their way to the Auckland City Mission.   The mission distributed the Rinda pineapple lollies in food parcels over several weeks.   The hand-outs could affect up to 400 people, and at least three people, including a child and teenager, have received medical treatment.   Drug Detection Agency chief executive Glenn Dobson tol...

Nicola Willis won't be drawn on the Reserve Bank's sudden change of tune on the Official Cash Rate.   It's lowered the rate to 5.25% due to further signs of falling inflation.   Economist Brad Olsen says the central bank needs to take accountability for radically changing its forecast without a radical change in circumstances.   Nicola Willis told Ryan Bridge it isn't appropriate for her to get in...

You've got to ask yourself who's running the show. There's been another example of bureaucracy seemingly undermining the government on its cost cutting plan which, remember, from outset they said wouldn't impact the front line.   A Health New Zealand manager has done a PowerPoint to 90 staff about upcoming changes, and they indicated that jobs could be cut including 470 doctors and 1400 nurses.  ...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday the 15th of August, the Reserve Bank has cut New Zealand's Official Cash Rate. Ryan gets the thoughts of Finance Minister Nicola Willis.   Spray foam insulation - could it installing it incorrectly prevent you from selling your house?   Meth has been found in lollies given out by the Auckland City Mission - Glenn Dobson from the...

A thirteen-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to threatening unlawful violence during a protest in the UK.   The event took place during a week of unrest over asylum seekers and illegal migrants, and follows two twelve-year-old boys pleading guilty to other offences in a similar riot.   UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge the girl was among a crowd gathered outside a hotel used to house asy...

It’s an important call today for the Reserve Bank as they decide whether to drop the Official Cash Rate.   Bank economists are divided, Westpac, ANZ and Kiwibank anticipate the Reserve Bank to hold the OCR at 5.5%.   BNZ is expecting it to go down, as is ASB, who predicts it'll fall by 25-basis points to 5.25% , which would be the first drop since 2020.   John Carran, Jarden Economist and Investme...

Scientists believe there are great applications for taking gene-editing research outside - under new regulations.   The Government's planning to introduce legislation this year to let researchers develop and commercialise gene tech products outside laboratories.   Genetics expert Michael Bunce at Australia's Curtin University says under current laws, useful research for New Zealand has been hamper...

New Zealand's tourism recovery has seemingly hit a snag.   Overseas visitor arrivals reached 3.2 million in the year to June.   That's up 27% from 2023, but still down 17% on pre-pandemic peaks.   It comes as visa charges rise and hikes to the International Visitor Levy debated.   Board of Airline Representatives Executive Director, Cath O'Brien told Ryan Bridge while other countries continue to r...