Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The newly-established UK Government is set to unveil at least 35 new bills as part of the first King's speech of its tenure. The raft of bills will likely include promises impacting housing, transport, jobs and clean energy - in line with Keir Starmer's mission for Britain. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says it's likely more will be revealed during Wednesday's announcement.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystu...

The All Blacks managed to hold on to their record at Eden Park, largely thanks to Beauden Barrett's performance. The veteran fullback's 125th test match offered a game-changing 29 minutes of tactical kicking as well as setting up the go-ahead try by Mark Tele'a - leading to a 24-17 win over England. ZB sports reporter Andrew Alderson explains further, LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

The Government's stronger approach towards unruly Kainga Ora tenants has resulted in more being evicted. Housing Minister Chris Bishop ordered the public housing agency to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework in March this year, and strengthen management of disruptive tenants. Since then, 14 tenancies have been terminated, compared to only 8 last year. Community Housing Aotearoa chief executive...

After a nail bitingly close match last week, the All Blacks are facing England in their second test of the season.   Both squads have been named with almost no changes except Finlay Christie replacing TJ Perenara following his injury.   England’s Joe Marler is also out of commission, being replaced with Fin Baxter.   They’ll be facing off at a packed out Eden Park on Saturday.   ZB Rugby Commentat...

Joe Biden's mental capacity hasn't been a consideration for Christopher Luxon in his meeting with the US President.   He's had a chance to discuss Indo-Pacific issues with Biden at the NATO summit in Washington DC.   The Prime Minister says Biden was sharp and "on top of his brief".   He says Biden wanted to discuss US engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, and their interactions were positive and...

Ever tried to buy a pair of shoes online recently? What about a book? Or even book a haircut? You would have been asked a billion questions. It starts with what day and time you want your haircut. Yep, fine, but then they want your; name, address, birthdate, postal address, how did you hear about us? What shampoo do you use? I didn't ask for all that. At this point I'd rather pull my hair out in c...

Retailers are hopeful, but wary, of the government's latest move to tackle retail crime.  It's announced a Ministerial Advisory Group for the victims of the continuing problem.  The group will speak with victims, workers and business owners over the next two years - before putting forward proposals to address offending. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young told Ryan Bridge it's a positive move...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday the 12th of July. The Government has a new Ministerial Advisory Group on retail crime, but is it actually going to make a difference? It looks like the Prime Minister has had a "pull aside" meeting with US President Joe Biden. And the All Blacks face England again this weekend, one week on from the nail biting finish in Dunedin, Ry...

Economists' Official Cash Rate expectations have proven correct.   It's staying at 5.5% for the eight consecutive time.   But the Reserve Bank's tone has softened, and they’re hinting that inflation will return to its 1-3% target by the year's end.   ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Ryan Bridge that the Reserve Bank was pretty careful to leave all their options open regarding a rate cut.  ...

An activist group is calling the Government's new climate change plan meaningless.   Minister Simon Watts has unveiled a five-point strategy for dealing with climate change which focuses on preparedness, clean energy, tech and nature-based solutions, and market support.   350 Aotearoa Co-Director Lisa McLaren told Ryan Bridge the announcement doesn't mean anything when the Government plans on maki...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 11th of July the OCR is out and the Reserve Bank's outlook is looking better than expected.   A five-point strategy for climate change has been released by the Government, but is there actually a strategy behind it or is it just words? Ryan finds out.   Building costs have dropped for the first time in 12 years, but so have the n...

Actor and Democratic donor George Clooney has urged Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race.   All eyes have been on Biden at the NATO summit in Washington DC.   Nancy Pelosi says time is running short for him to make a decision.   US correspondent Katherine Firkin told Ryan Bridge Clooney has written an essay in the New York Times saying they need a new nominee.   He says the Joe Biden he...

Now could be the best time to build a house after costs fall for the first time in more than a decade.   Corelogic's Construction Cost Index shows building costs have dropped 1.1% in the three months to June.   It looks at the price of labour, material, plant hire, and subcontract services.   Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Ryan Bridge that global supply chains are no longe...

Nancy Pelosi's just dropped the equivalent of a NATO bomb on her old buddy Joe Biden.   The former house speaker is well connected and respected in the Democrat party.   Appearing on cable TV, she had this to say when asked about Biden's critics attacking his mental capacity during the NATO summit:   "I want him to do whatever he decides to do."   "Let's just hold off, whatever you're thinking eit...

The Reserve Bank is expected to make a “short and sweet” announcement today.   Economists are expecting the OCR to remain untouched at 5.5%, as it has the last six times.   Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold told Ryan Bridge that the Reserve Bank said in May that interest rates would have to remain restrictive for a protracted period to get inflation down, so not much has changed for them. Whil...

An EV advocacy group isn’t in favour of the changes to the clean car standards.   Transport Minister Simeon Brown's announced he's scaling back the previous Government's emissions standards, which charged importers for higher emitting vehicles.   Pollution targets for imported vehicles have been reduced, loosening penalties for importers of dirty cars.   Drive Electric Chair Kirstin Corson told Ry...

The run at Wimbledon of New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun has come to an end.   UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge the 23-year-old has been beaten in three sets by 28-year-old Croatian Donna Vekic.   After winning the first set, and looking composed throughout much of the second in a classic back-and-forth slugfest, Sun looked on the edge of advancing further at just her second grand slam....

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday the 10th of July it's OCR day, and Ryan speaks to Westpac's chief economist who isn't expecting a change any time soon.   A change to our clean car standards is on the way, but Drive Electric aren't in favour.   SailGP is on the way to Auckland next year , are dolphins going to be an issue? Ryan finds out.   The UK is talking ab...

Auckland's leg of SailGP will bring the boats to the spectators.   The event will hold its first ever leg in Auckland in January.   Auckland was supposed to hold an event last year, but that was cancelled after land use issues with Wynyard Quarter.   Sail World Editor Richard Gladwell says Wynyard Point will probably be the main spectator base with necessary infrastructure already in place.   He t...

I'm always a little bit paranoid about what governments are planning and what kind of taxes that they're scheming up.  Look at the UK, which recently elected Labour and Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. They are talking about the potential of fiddling with their inheritance tax.  They have one, we don't. On Heather's show yesterday we heard about the Labour Party in New Zealand weighing up wheth...

Alice Springs is under another curfew.   Australia’s Northern Territory Police Commissioner has declared another curfew, lasting three nights, following a string of violent incidents in the outback town.   Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge that this time the curfew applies to both children and adults, unlike the one in March that only applied to youth.   She said that the NT Po...

The changes to New Zealand’s medical cannabis export regulations are being called a ‘game changer’.   Exports will now only have to meet the standards of the importing jurisdiction, rather than New Zealand’s standards.   It will also streamline the licensing process for growers, and update testing and laboratory requirements.   Sally King, Director of the New Zealand Medical Cannabis Council, told...

An aviation expert says Boeing's management would be in jail if it were subject to New Zealand law.   The company's agreed to a guilty plea around defrauding American regulators.   It could pay up to half-a-billion US dollars to avoid prosecution.   The lawsuit relates to two Boeing 737 Max jets that crashed in Indonesia in 2018 —and Ethiopia the year later— leaving hundreds dead.   Irene King tol...

Darlene Tana doesn't think natural justice has been followed.   The Green Party's requested the MP resign from Parliament after receiving the investigation into alleged migrant exploitation at her husband's business.   Tana's been suspended on full pay for 115-days, earning over $40 thousand in that time.   The former Green MP doesn't accept the findings and claims it substantially misrepresents h...

Question: how do the greens save money on marketing photoshoot costs for the next election?   Answer: just use their candidates' mugshots.   Now that's obviously a joke... they're not all criminals.   But there were a few criminally absurd things that happened during yesterday's press conference about Darleen Tana.   Chloe got a bit grumpy when a reporter asked, repeatedly, why the Greens are aski...