Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Wellington's globally renowned World of Wearable Arts show opens its doors today in its 20th year.  The event runs for three weeks at TSB Arena with more than 60-thousand people are expected to attend.  It brings in designers and creatives from around the world in a mix of fashion, music, and design.  Chief Executive Meg Williams says it embraces the capital's creativity and around 70% of visitors come from out of town.  She says WOW brings $30 million into the regional economy every year, because of visitor spend.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Opposition doesn't want the Government taking all the credit for a drop in youth offending.   The Government says the rate of serious and persistent offending from young people has dropped by more than 14% since June 2023.   Labour's Children Spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime says it is largely because of the Circuit Breaker programme – which they started.  She told Ryan Bridge that the Government is effectively saying the drop is due to the boot camp programmes, which have actually been an abject failure with seven of the nine youth reoffending.  Prime says they should be more transparent that it’s the continuation and expansion of things Labour began that is contributing.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An economist is predicting a gloomier number than the Reserve Bank from the latest GDP figure.  Stats NZ data on GDP for the year's second quarter will be released today.  The Reserve Bank's predicting a 0.3 percent drop.  BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones is a picking a 0.5 percent fall.  He told Ryan Bridge economic growth is probably going to be slow for a while.  Jones says it will probably be until next year that we see what can be classed as recovery.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 18th of September 2025, GDP is out today, BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones tells Ryan what he's expecting to see.  The World of wearable arts kicks off in Wellington today, CEO Meg Williams tells Ryan about the impact it has on the capital.  Labour's Willow-Jean Prime shares her thoughts on the latest youth crime data.  Plus, US Correspondent Toni Waterman has the latest on Donald Trump's state visit to the UK and the US Federal reserve decision.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you see the cops put out a handy warning for us all yesterday? Hide, tell, escape. The spooks in Wellington reckon extremist violence is a realistically possibility in this country.  Now, they’ve been saying this for some time.  Yesterday you may have got a news alert about this new campaign from police telling you what to do during an armed attack in a crowded place.  You could think, well, maybe they’re just being prepared, and better to know what to do than not. But isn’t there a part of you that also thinks, do they know something specific? Or are they following so many suspected terrorists that they’ve maxed capacity and feel now is the time to inform the last line of defence, or self-defence, us? It’s one of those things —I was thinking about it last night after watching the news— where you wonder if you’re being a bit paranoid or whether it’s so plain and obvious that everyone else assumes the same. On the news we had Luigi Mangione. A young guy who hated insurance companies and assassinated a CEO in cold blood, allegedly. Tyler Robinson was in there. Another young guy with strong views who allegedly took his granddad’s gun to university to shoot and kill a guest speaker. They reckon the risk here remains low but the threat is growing. The most likely scenario would involve a lone actor, radicalised online through dangerous ideology and grievances. The cops say all this is just one click away... Now, given all of this, think carefully about stuff that’s said on social media, about grievances and extreme language, and the need to ‘do something’ about it. A recent survey of business leaders found more were worried about extremism in NZ than interest rates. I think most reasonable Kiwis are, and if not, should be too. The cops' advice this week is an update on similar stuff released after the mosque shootings. You just hope like hell we can figure out a way to talk and reason with one another before something happens as bad, or worse, than that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Food price inflation is starting to stabilise.  Latest figures from Stats NZ show the food price inflation is 5% – unchanged on a month ago.  Butter prices have risen 32% in a year, cheese is up 26%, while milk has increased by 16%.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge that while households are still seeing high costs, the pressure is coming through in a more contained fashion.  He says that when inflation was running rampant a few years ago, just about everything was impacted, but now it’s not.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of convicted criminals being sent to prison is at an all-time high.  Ministry of Justice data shows more than seven thousand people were sent to prison following convictions in the year to June, up 14% on the previous year.  The proportion of people who received prison sentences is the highest on record, at 15%.  Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith told Ryan Bridge their focus is on reducing victims of crime, not sending people to jail.  But he says if it leads to a higher prison population in the short term, so be it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 17th of September 2025, you’re more likely to be sent to jail following a conviction than ever before, according to the latest Ministry of Justice statistics, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith tells Ryan why criminals are no longer getting a free ride from our courts.  The aviation sector is calling a new Government plan a major milestone, NZ Airports Association CEO Billie Moore shares her thoughts.  Food prices rose 5% in the year to August, Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen provides some analysis.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Donald Trump arriving in the UK for his historic second state visit.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like it or not, next year's big dance in politics will ultimately be decided by the few, not the many. Most MMP elections have been. Minnows hold the keys to the kingdom.  Be it Winston with his best result ever or Te Pati Māori with an overhang - 2026 won’t be a 2020 landslide. The difference this time is how extreme some of the smaller parties, more to the point, some of their MPs, have become - think Takuta on Indians and Simon Court on Palestine. It’s not just rhetoric, but policy, too. A separate Māori parliament, re-nationalising power companies, you name it, they'll go there. The temptation for the behemoths, the broad churches, is to emulate what’s getting traction. To dip your toe in the pool of radical ideas. To be establishment without looking or sounding like it. Trump and the MAGA movement are the best example of this. In the UK, parties that have been around since Moses was a linebacker are being absolutely whipped in the polls by newer upstarts with one thing on their pledge cards: radical change. The Conservatives have been around almost 200 years. Reform UK? Six. The big issues differ - our cost-of-living malaise is their immigration.  So the temptation must be to embrace a bit of that radical spirit. Labour might yet do that, we just don’t know what they’re cooking up. My prediction? Establishment parties will do what established parties do. Stick to the script, copy/paste their policies, hug the centre like a koala a tree, and hope their buddies grab enough from the fraying edges to get them across the line. Their bet is that crises come and go but establishments don’t, even though the Brits and Americans show us they can and do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes that the Government's aviation plan can help more pilots take off.   The Government released the first ever strategy for the sector.  Part of that is a commitment to look at pilot education and create a workforce plan.  Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore told Ryan Bridge it's something we can't afford to neglect.  She says there's already a pilot shortage, so we need to get a move on.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland businesses are keen to see what benefits more events at Eden Park could bring them.   The Government's looking at Eden Park's rules, including the number of concerts and sporting events that can be held, and a 2000 person limit for conferences.   It's exploring whether current rules are holding back economic growth.   Heart of the City Chief Executive Viv Beck told Ryan Bridge even a single added concert can do wonders.   She says a single P!nk concert brought in more than $6 million in spend.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forestry industry voices say keeping 100% of slash and wood debris inside forest boundaries is operationally impossible.   Gisborne District Council has obtained an enforcement order forcing two companies to properly manage the sediment risk.   Samnic Forest Management is appealing the order and says it would probably go bankrupt if it went ahead.   Eastland Wood Council Chairman Julian Kohn told Ryan Bridge they're trying to get a better deal.   He says the industry is trying to find an environmental, social, and economic balance.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest Rabobank survey's found farmers' faith in the broader agricultural economy is at its second highest level in the last decade, up to 46 percent. 51 percent expect it to improve in the year ahead - up three percent from the last quarter. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay told Ryan Bridge it's pleasing to see - as it's good for the country's economy. He says when the primary sector's doing well and prices are up, they start spending money. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve had it with people whinging about state of this county and people fleeing to Australia who then refuse to stop and ask why we got here and how we get out of it. Chucking up a post up on TikTok or waving a banner at a protest won't cut it.  Productivity (that’s how much we get out for what we put in) is crap. It's been getting worse or flat-lining for decades. Australia’s is better. Wages are 30% higher. We’re smaller, we have to be smarter.  And that means doing what the banner wavers of the world hate most - getting roadblocks and innovation-killers like government out of the way. Doing business needs to be as cheap and easy as possible. Let smart people be smart people and do what they do best: invent, optimise, invest, grow, thrive. We did this post-Muldoon with agriculture - subsidies and deregulation.  We’re now the most productive in world. It's proof. There of course are those who reckon the solution is to have a politician sign a piece of paper and artificially increase the minimum wage, or write a blank cheque to teachers, the question is: who's going to pay for it when our best and brightest are leaving NZ and businesses are closing? Who can afford that? Show me a democracy that got rich by increasing the size and influence of the government and I’ll give you a million bucks.  And not one of those Scandinavian ones that did it off the back of massive mineral deposits - which we're not allowed to touch, remember? We’ve fallen so far behind we can’t be 'managing' a 2% GDP economy. This country needs 7% for at least three years. New Zealand needs a growth spurt. We’ve fallen too far behind.  Please don’t be fooled by the false prophets, waving their banners and posting their nonsense, they have no idea what they’re talking about. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 16th of September 2025, the Government's investigating local rules that are holding Eden Park back from hosting more big events, Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck tells Ryan about the impact this could have on Auckland.  Agriculture Minister Todd McClay shares his thoughts on farmer confidence climbing.  Gisborne council’s forestry rules have company directors warning they could go bankrupt. Plus, Australia correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on a record fine for misconduct by one of Australia’s big four banks. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes a new events fund will make Auckland an attractive choice for international acts.  The Government is pumping $40million dollars to secure large scale events from next year - part of a bigger $70million dollar boost. Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner says his dream would be a Spice Girls reunion concert.  But he told Ryan Bridge any big name will be good for the city.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 15th of September 2025, The government's dropping $70 million to supercharge events and tourism, Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner shares his thoughts. Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  One in four of our schools need help to achieve the government's 2030 attendance target, NZ Principals Federation President Leanne Otene explains what help is needed.  Plus 26 police officers have been injured while policing a protest organised by a far-right activist, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A view that factors schools can't control are the reason school attendance is static. About 600 schools are struggling to reach the 2030 goal of having 80 percent of students attending more than 90 percent of the time. That's almost one in four schools. Principals' Federation President Leanne Otene told Ryan Bridge this data includes both unjustified and justified absences - as well as transience. She says this can be kids needing to move around for social housing, or those in families impacted by high unemployment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no doubt punters will like this new major events fund.  $70-million of new and old money.  Some for infrastructure like the cycleway network which needs an upgrade. $10-million for regional tourism.  And the showstopper is this $40 for "significant, high-impact events for New Zealand from 2026".  The PM and Minister Upston came out yesterday and said these big major events are money-makers.  Hospotality does well. Tourism operators do well. Retail does well.  They called it a bonanza.  But if you're a fan of ailing. If you like the America's, you might scratching your head.  It was only five months ago the PM say nah to backing the America's Cup.  Why? We're in a fiscal mess, we need to invest in "proper infrastructure" like hospitals and roads.  He said we need to be more responsible with taxpayers money.  And now we have new money for a pearl jam concert.  To be fair, the sums involved here are important. The Cup would have cost somewhere between 40 and 70 million on its own.  This entire fund, the bit for major events, is $40 million total.  But if you follow the reasoning and ask yourself the basic question, is there less demand for hospital or roading infrastructure now than there was then, you'd be right to feel a bit confused by all this. Either the cup was a crap investment, or these investments, more generally are simply not a priority. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a big weekend for rugby, with the Warriors final against the Panthers falling at the same time as the All Blacks second clash with South Africa.   It’s been ten years since the All Blacks claimed victory over the Springboks in Wellington – will they be able to pull off another win?  And the Warriors are entering the playoffs in 6th place after a season filled with ups and downs – how will they fare against the Panthers?  Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby Elliott Smith and sports journalist Nick Bewley joined Ryan Bridge to preview the weekend’s clashes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.