Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The Reserve Bank will be keeping a close eye on this morning's employment data as it mulls over next week's Official Cash Rate decision.   Most economists expect the unemployment rate will rise.   But they're now divided on whether the central bank will cut the OCR next week, next month, or in November.   ASB senior economist Mark Smith told Ryan Bridge this morning's data should give them a steer...

The UK Prime Minister is in a war of words with Elon Musk as far-right protests continue across the country.   Almost 400 people have been arrested following last week's stabbings at a dance class that killed three girls and left several wounded.   The tech billionaire posted on his social media platform X saying civil war is inevitable, to which the Prime Minister's spokesperson says there's no j...

Smith and Caughey's has found a way to stay afloat.   The long-running Auckland department store has revealed new measures to remain open, despite announcing a closure in May.   It plans to reduce staff and pull back its operations to the Queen Street ground level store and online offering only.   Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck says it's a real sign of confidence in the future of Auckl...

The power was cut to my place last night.   Don't worry, it was expected. It was a maintenance thing from one in the morning or midnight through till 5 a.m. The heating was off, it was chilly. I think it was six degrees in Auckland last night, not as bad as your zero in Christchurch, granted.   But boy, does it make you think how important electricity is.   You don't know what you've got till it's...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 7th of August 2024, labour market data is out today. All of our major banks are expecting a rise, but by how much? ASB's Mark Smith joins Ryan.   The Motor Trade Association thinks they have a plan to help the Government to reduce retail crime - but are they asking for too much? Ryan speaks to First Retail Group.   Iconic Kiwi b...

The US Presidential Election is less than 100 days away.   Kamala Harris is expected to announce her pick for Vice President today ahead of their first public appearance together in Pennsylvania tomorrow.   Presidential Historian Allan Lichtman has correctly predicted almost every US Election since the 1980s through a process called ‘The 13 Keys to the White House’.   He told Ryan Bridge that whil...

A lift in the terror threat level in Australia is in response to an increase in extremism, fuelled by conspiracy theories and anti-authority ideologies.   Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed the level is lifting from ‘possible’ to ‘probable’ - meaning there's now a greater than 50% chance of an onshore attack in the next twelve months.   Australian correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Br...

U.S. stock markets had a bit of a panic attack overnight, I think that's the best way to describe it.   Investors have been selling off, especially in tech stocks.   The U.S. job data that came out on Friday seems to have freaked the horses. Losses are being clawed back slightly this morning, but everyone is on edge.   Why? Well, it's the largest economy in the world. It affects us all, and it fee...

An education expert says we should be worried about low maths results.   Prime Minister Christopher Luxon revealed data which he says shows that four out of five Year 8 students aren't at the expected level.   He's bringing forward a new math curriculum to Term 1 next year, assessing twice yearly, and a $20 million boost for teachers' professional development.   New Zealand Initiative researcher M...

Ambulance workers say the call to strike boils down to ensuring their voices are heard.   2,500 members from First Union and the Ambulance Association have voted on industrial action.   Labour will be withdrawn for four hours across two days —August 20 and 24— amid calls for the Government to fulfil an election promise to renegotiate funding.   First Union spokesperson Faye McCann told Ryan Bridge...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 6th August 2024, more changes are on the way for our education system, but what's the thinking behind the policy decisions? NZ Initiative's Dr Michael Johnston joins Ryan to discuss.   The U.S. Presidential Election is less than 100 days out, and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is expected to announce her running mate by tomorrow...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday the 5th of August - the Government has unveiled their maths action plan, a new curriculum for primary and intermediate school students from next year. Ryan speaks to a principal about the changes. Kidscan have the longest waitlist in their 19-year history. Chief Executive Julie Chapman is on the show. It's been another busy weekend...

An Auckland principal isn't hopeful a new maths action plan will address the root problem. The Government is bringing forward a new curriculum to Term 1 next year, assessing twice yearly and establishing a $20 million boost for teachers' professional development. Laingholm Primary School principal Martyn Weatherill believes this isn't going to fix decades of under-funding. "Political interference...

There's calls for the army to be deployed in the UK, where violent demonstrations are escalating for a seventh day. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has labelled the outbreaks as 'far-right thuggery'. They've continued to escalate since last week's stabbing rampage at a dance class left three children dead and several injured. This morning, 10 police officers have been injured trying to stop a group st...

Novak Djokovic has won an elusive Olympic tennis singles gold medal. A 7-6, 7-6 win over Carlos Alcaraz in nearly three hours has seen him become the fifth player after Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams to win the four majors and a Games individual title. ZB sports reporter Andrew Alderson explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demand for help from KidsCan has sky-rocketed in the last year. The charity is urgently appealing for donations as more than 10,000 children in 260 schools await help with food, shoes and clothing. Many don't qualify for the Government's free lunch scheme. KidsCan Chief Executive Julie Chapman says the wait-list has grown by more than 150 schools in the last 12 months. She says securing funding's...

What are councils, local councils, regional councils? It should be a simple question. What is their purpose? I've always believed it's to take away my rubbish, put the street lights on. When I go to the toilet, you can take that away too. That's part of your job. Roads, rubbish, sewerage, swimming pools, maybe a library. Although we've got the internet now, so why do we need libraries? But that's...

New Zealand's medal haul at the Paris Olympics has increased by a rowing trifecta of gold, silver and bronze.   Lucy Spoors and Brooke Francis took the gold in the double sculls, the men’s four of Logan Ullrich, Tom Murray, Matt Macdonald, and Ollie Maclean dipped their oars in the spoils with silver.   And their female counterparts Jackie Gowler, Kerri Williams, Davina Waddy, and Phoebe Spoors co...

Northland businesses say Transpower needs to take responsibility for a fallen pylon and show face in Northland.   Transpower's found contractor Omexom's team leader was distracted sandblasting, as unsupervised inexperienced workers removed the bolts from three legs at once.   It says residents can contact their retailer for compensation, but they can't do anything for businesses.   North Chamber C...

The 17-year-old accused of the fatal Southport stabbings at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class has been named.   Axel Rudakubana has made his first court appearance in the UK.   British newspapers successfully argued the minor should be named, given public interest.   Three children died and five more were critically injured in the attack earlier this week.   UK Correspondent, Vincent McAviney told...

A children's rights advocate says calls for changes to New Zealand's child safety systems go well beyond the 2021 death of Tauranga five-year-old Malachi Subecz.   The Independent Children's Monitor has found recommendations made following Malachi's death haven't happened, and tamariki are no safer today than when he died.   But, Save the Children's Child Rights Advocacy Director Jacqui Southey to...

Did you see the reaction to Donald Trump's comments yesterday?   This is what he said about Kamala Harris' race: "She was Indian all the way and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she became a black person."   What?   The media rightly ran the story, and it was a big deal.   Isn't questioning someone's race exactly what Rawiri Waititi did to Karen Chhour?   Isn't that exactly what he did the...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 2nd of August, Gold, Silver, and Bronze for our rowers in Paris! Ryan speaks to medallist Keri Williams.   Transpower says compensation is off the table for those impacted the major outage, which was caused by workers removing too many nuts of an Auckland power pylon. How are Northland businesses feeling about the news?   Our child...

Kamala Harris is set to reveal her running mate in the coming days.   The current Vice President will be holding her first rally with her new vice presidential nominee on Tuesday, August 6 th US time.   The rally will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the campaign saying it will launch a four day “battleground tour”.   US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Ryan Bridge that the top contenders in...

There’s confidence the new regional roles at Health New Zealand will offer something new.   The Government's appointed four Deputy Chief Executives to run different regions from next month.   It comes after its board was sacked and replaced by a sole commissioner.   Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Ryan Bridge that these appointments will replace exi...