Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Economic consultancy Infometrics says the impacts of the latest OCR cut probably won't be felt until mid to late next year - by which point the economy will be growing.  It could mean greater inflation - with predictions the OCR will rise again as early as late next year.  Independent economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge that caution is needed. He says if the economy does kick into gear, there could be capacity issues, and inflation could rear its ugly head again.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's suppression laws are back in the spotlight. This comes after the Mowbray family called out those on TikTok who placed Mat Mowbray at the centre of a child abuse material case.The man who was jailed in this particular case has permanent name suppression and has been identified only as a member of a wealthy Kiwi family.But that didn’t stop people on social media from pointing the finger at Mowbray—and now the family are calling for a review of our suppression laws.Retired law professor Bill Hodge joined Ryan Bridge to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's hard listening to all the tributes for Jim Bolger and not feeling like we're being short-changed by our current crop of leaders.A few short generations ago, this country was a different place.Before the internet. Before the phones. Before the anxiety.Before career politicians—those who go straight from school to university, into the student union, and then directly into politics.Jim Bolger was in Parliament a long time. But he had a productive life before that. He left school at 15 and went straight into work. Hard work. Manual work. On the farm in Taranaki, and later in Te Kuiti.Now it's straight from school, into a student union at university, and then into Parliament.Have you watched Parliament TV lately? There are MPs who literally don't know how to ask a question.It's like watching a video buffer.No idea about standing orders. No idea about the rules that govern the place. And no apparent desire to learn, either.Just walk in. Full of entitlement. Sit down. And start yelling.One of the most important tools in the modern MP’s toolbox seems to be an unwavering ability to take offence.At anything and everything.Intolerance for another's point of view—the antithesis of Jim Bolger—is now commonplace.Where once there was decency, there's mistrust.Wisdom has been usurped by incompetence.And decorum has been thrown out the window and replaced with petulance.People aren't recognised for their standing in the community and voted into Parliament.They're there because politics is now an industry—and more importantly—because nobody else would hire them or pay the going rate we do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 17th of October 2025, retired law professor Bill Hodge tells Ryan the Mowbray family has a point over their complaints about name suppression in our justice system.  Former Silver Fern Margaret Foster previews the opening Constellation Cup test against Australia with Dame Noeline Taurua still stood down.  Ryan reckons Jim Bolger's death has put a spotlight on how our current crop of polticians aren't up to much.  And Cameron Bagrie joins the show and agrees with Infometrics' warning that the OCR cuts are risking actually overcooking the economy. 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 Texas biotech firm is forging ahead with plans to bring the South Island giant moa back from extinction.  The Colossal Bioscience team is working on the project alongside Ngai Tahu researchers.  Chief executive Ben Lamm told Ryan Bridge that they'll use ancient DNA and gene editing to bring back the giant bird — the same way they've recreated dire wolves and mammoths. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Airports Association is defending itself after airlines blame their charges,  for spikes in airfares.  An international airport group says New Zealand’s domestic airfares have shot up more quickly than any other country by 63-percent in six years.  But Air New Zealand says its fares are only up 35-percent. Association chief executive, Billie Moore told Ryan Bridge the biggest driver is air capacity reduction, so smaller numbers of passengers are footing bigger bills.  She says criticising airport charges has long been a strategy for major airlines but they're not the reason.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 16 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.

Kainga Ora's large-scale ownership of state houses may not be the most effective way to provide housing help to Kiwis. A report by The New Zealand Initiative lists several reasons why government ownership can be problematic and wasteful. Its cost structure appears to be approaching double the usual private landlord benchmark, based on indicative calculations. NZ Initiative Senior Fellow Dr Bryce Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge the Government has a poor track record and seemingly can't manage all 77-thousand housing units. He says tenants are often getting into large rent arrears and causing problems for their neighbours - and Kainga Ora don't respond quickly enough.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This idea that our trading partners will somehow punish us for lacking ambition in climate change doesn’t pass the sniff test. Yes, there are some provisions in some agreements, but they’re vaguely worded enough to get around. If the UK or the EU or even the Aussies really wanted to punish us, they could. But the question is whether they would, nor could. And why would they? We’re a fraction of global emissions so what difference would it make anyway? It’s methane we’re talking about, cow’s burping milk which helps feed 40 million humans. But, most importantly, our trading buddies would have to call pot kettle black. The Aussies set a target of 62-70% reduction target on 2005 levels last month. That was lower than forecast, criticised by green groups and contrary to advice from their equivalent of the climate change commission. In the UK Starmer’s being told to prepare government buildings for temperatures 2 degrees higher than normal, rather than the 1.5 limit everyone’s hoping but failing to achieve. The big four aren't exactly doing their bit either.  Just this morning... another new climate report... guess what? A record amount of CO2. The largest increase since modern measurements began in the 1950s.  So, it’s not like the rest of the world is covered in glory.  It’s a dog-eat-dog world. Everyone’s out for themselves. And New Zealand’s no exception. Does this mean the government’s made the right call? Can stand saddle up on its high horse? No. But it also doesn’t mean we’re about to get sued or blocked by our trading partners. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support for a crackdown on dress codes and behaviour in Parliament.   Speaker Gerry Brownlee's cracking down on rules in the House following what he sees as multiple disruptive incidents.   The latest saw Te Pati Māori MP Oriini Kaipara's maiden speech go well over time.   He will look at attendance records, dress standards, and leave provisions.   Political commentator Liam Hehir told Ryan Bridge dressing for particular environments reminds you you're there for an occasion.  He asks what occasion is more important than doing the people's business, and says it's not wrong for the Speaker to insist on standards.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Improved relationships between teachers and students are being credited as just as important as the Government's curriculum changes.  New Education Review Office research shows teachers are seeing more engaged students in maths and English, and three-quarters of parents say their child is making progress.   Principal of Rotorua's Kaitao Intermediate, Phil Palfrey told Ryan Bridge it's also that more people are realising the importance of school.   He says teachers have been working hard to build relationships with their students, which is equally as important as any curriculum changes.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cafes are continuing to see their profits squeezed. Sales in the hospitality sector have increased 1.4% in the past year according to just-released figures from the Restaurant Association. But sales for cafes and restaurants only rose 0.3%. Coffee Club Director Brad Jacobs told Ryan Bridge they're having to absorb rising costs to remain competitive. He says the minimum wage has gone up much faster than the price of coffee over the past decade. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 15th of October 2025, The speaker's set out plans to crack down on standards after Oriini Kaipara's maiden speech, political commentator, Liam Hehir shares his thoughts.  The hospitality sector's hit record sales of $15.9 billion, Franchise NZ Chairperson and Coffee Club co-owner Brad Jacobs tells Ryan revenue doesn't always mean profit.  A report by the Education Review Office shows primary-aged kids are not only getting better at English and Maths, but they're more excited about doing it, Kaitao Intermediate School Principal Phil Palfrey tells Ryan how big of a change he's seen in his school.  Plus, UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on an Afghan man who came to the UK on a small boat and threatened to kill Nigel Farage, being jailed for five years. 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.

There’s a warning for Hipkins as he plots higher taxes for Kiwi businesses, investors, and savers - it comes from across the ditch. Albanese’s been having problems getting his super tax plan across the line, despite having a majority in Parliament. The Opposition to it has come not just from the usual suspects, but also former PM and Labor stalwart Paul Keating - even the Unions cried boohoo. So he’s had to U-turn on unrealised gains, which have always been a stupid thing to try and tax. How can you pay tax on money you haven’t earned?  The Greens want to do this. David Parker wanted to it. Te Pati Māori wants it. And Debbie said at the weekend that she and Chippy are on the same page when it comes to a wealth tax.  He denies this, but does anyone believe a guy who won’t tell you what he’s really thinking or what he really stands for?  Until he rules something in or out, he looks like a guy plotting in secret. He and Barbara are squirrelled away with an abacus and a calculator quietly conjuring up a new and inventive revenue streams. We’re left wondering whose business, whose property is ripe for the picking. The warning from Australia is pretty night and day, if you’re going to tax something, and that’s a big "if" here at home, but if you’re going to do it, you’d better make sure it’s a realised gain and not a tax on imaginary, on-paper earnings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A peace summit is now underway in Egypt following the release of Israeli and Palestinian hostages.  The summit was attended by US President Donald Trump, who said that ‘the sun rises on a holy land that is finally at peace.’  Former Chief of Staff for Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign Matt Terrill told Ryan Bridge that there is still a lot of work to do before peace can finally be declared.  ‘You have a great opportunity here to forge lasting peace, but this is a peace deal. More work needs to be done.’  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A growing range of international visitor markets means New Zealand's on track to beat pre-Covid tourism numbers.  Overseas arrivals reached 92% of pre-pandemic numbers in August. That's up from 87% in July. Board of Airline Representatives Executive Director Cath O'Brien told Ryan Bridge increased airline capacity from the Americas, Singapore, Hong Kong markets means we're seeing more than just Aussies.  She hopes this is meaningful for tourism businesses who have waited a long time to see this recovery.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've got some numbers for this morning. QV House Price Index for September quarter: guess what? Going backwards. Auckland leading the fall.  Homes are worth an average of 1.1% less. Auckland's 2.5% less.  And how does that make you feel, really?  Most homeowners won't care because they're not trying to sell. But for those who are, it's depressing.  Now first home buyers are cranking - a quarter of new mortgages went to first home buyers in the first half of the year.  So we've got to ask ourselves: is this really what we want?  When the numbers are bad for owners they're good for would-be-owners.  We're forever complaining about the price of property, until we need to sell.  So if this is the new normal, we'd better get used to it.  It's interesting to look at what's selling. We had another developer —apartments— go bust in Auckland yesterday.  Have a look at the apartments, even the nice ones, they were building - is that really somewhere you'd want to live? Guess what's not selling? These buildings without carparks.  This idea that somebody will want to buy a Shoebox and catch a bus is clearly not working out - they're taking the longest to sell.  Turns out people also like privacy. Who would have thought?  The bigger story here is that prices are lower and deep down, even though we say we want to fix the housing crisis, most people aren't happy about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 14th of October 2025, Donald Trump has arrived in Egypt for a peace summit, Matt Terrill, former Chief of staff for Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential campaign, tells Ryan what Trump will need to do next to keep the peace deal successful.  Australia is helping push us towards out first pre-covid tourism summer, Cath O'Brien the Board of Airline Representatives Executive Director shares her thoughts.  Kids are reading better and the Government’s taking credit, Kaiapoi North School Principal Jason Miles, tells Ryan whether or not he's seen a difference in students learning.  Plus Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Qantas customers still fuming over data breach that led to dark web leak and record car thefts making Victoria the crime capital of Australia.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roughly 70% of Kiwis did not vote in the recent local elections.  It's shaping up to be the worst voter turnout in 36 years, with only 23% of Aucklanders voting in the local elections.  Senior fellow at the New Zealand Initiative Nick Clark told Ryan Bridge that making local elections in larger cities even more local would encourage more people to vote.  "It might be a bit of an out there solution to make councils more local rather than less local." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beef and Lamb's declaring methane target cuts, great news for New Zealand.  The Government's reducing targets to 14 to 24-percent below 2017 levels.  That's between 24 to 47-percent lower than previous targets.  Beef & Lamb Chair Kate Acland told Ryan Bridge the Government's right to say a number of farmers would have been put out of business without this change.  She says the new targets are in line with what the rest of the world is doing, with most countries also looking to incentivise not penalise. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.