Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Consistency is key to the success of crucial roads, which are next on the Government's construction hit list.  It's funnelling nearly 1.2 billion into 17 highway projects countrywide,  as part of the Roads of National Significance programme.  National Road Carriers Policy manager James Smith told Ryan Bridge newly built roads of significance such as the Kapiti Expressway have seen significant benefits.  He says not only do they lead to slightly faster travel times, but the route is now more reliable and dependable.  Smith says in his industry, drivers need to know what time they will arrive. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belief that small businesses are the backbone of New Zealand but are under-served in current Government schemes.  Labour has pledged to launch a Future Fund - that re-invests dividends from specified Crown assets into businesses and infrastructure projects. Prospa Managing Director Adrienne Begbie told Ryan Bridge her company helps small businesses get off the ground, and it's great Labour is taking steps forward for these Kiwis.  She says hopefully this fund gives some different kinds of investment to help businesses grow and spark up New Zealand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rates cap is one of those policies that immediately sounds appealing.  Look no further than yesterday’s CPI number. It’s one of your top three inflation feeders. So, throw a cap on them. Tie their hands behind their backs. Reign 'em in! Get rid of the hundred-thousand-dollar bike rack here, the million-dollar disco toilets there, the coffee machines for staff over there. But in practice, how do actually make it work without starving these councils of revenue they actual need to fix the pipes? I spoke to Ben Bell from Gore yesterday. He said almost 90% of council spending there goes on basics - pipes and roads.  The rest is "nice to haves". Libraries and swimming pools etc.  There’s no club sandwiches as council meetings. They're drinking instant coffee. And yet, Gore’s rate increases have been double digit or close to it for several years. They’ll be close to double digits again this year.  Despite that, the good people of Gore have re-elected Bell for a second term. So, we say we want lower rates, of course we do, but the question is what will it cost to us?  Will capping them actually hurt us? Our local economies, productivity, efficiency.  Last week, Wayne Brown told me on Herald Now that Auckland could have a ZERO increase next year if it wasn’t for the City Rail Link spending coming online. It’s a major transport project. It'll, in theory, benefit Auckland and the country. It was paid for by both Jaffas and taxpayers. If we want lower rates, we could just not run any trains on the tracks.  But is that sensible. Don’t get me wrong, I’m the first to criticise the big spending bozos who chuck money at dumb stuff. But most council spending isn’t that. Most of it is stuff we need.  D-day is looming for the government’s plan to cap rates, and it needs to be a measured response. We need spending on pipes and roads to continue and waste on disco loos flushed down the dunny.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 21st of October 2025, the Government's set aside a combined total of $1.2 billion to get key projects moving in the roads of national significance programme, National Road Carriers General Manager of Policy and Advocacy, James Smith shares his thoughts.  Inflation’s hit 3% for the year to September -- up from 2.7%, but still within the reserve bank’s target. Adrienne Begbie Managing Director of Prospa NZ shares her thoughts on Labour's Future Fund idea.  Plus, Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Trump's meeting with Albanese at the White house.  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.

Shane Jones is determined to use his voice to attract mining investors to our shores - no matter the next election outcome.  The Resources Minister and self-proclaimed 'mining champion' is heading to the International Mining and Resources Conference in Sydney, to promote our supply of rare earth minerals.  Jones told Ryan Bridge regardless of the risk of the opposition taking power, if there is no strong advocate for mining, then we surrender to woke-ism. He says investors are warming to the fact New Zealand has a voice that is pushing back the tide, and without it, we'd be poorer.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hunt continues for the thieves who stole priceless jewels in a heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The world's most famous art gallery is closed after a group of thieves used a ladder and small chainsaws to enter the Apollo Gallery, and escaped on scooters with items of 'incalculable' value. UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 20th of October 2025, inflation data comes out this morning, ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley shares his thoughts.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  Resources Minister Shane Jones is on a mission to sell our minerals on the global stage, he tells Ryan how he's going to do it. Plus UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Police in Paris hunt a gang of thieves who broke in to the Louvre museum and the media reports Prince Andrew tried to get a police officer to dig up dirt for a smear campaign against his sexual assault accuser Virginia Giuffre. 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.

Don’t expect a handout. That’s basically the message to homeowners hoping the Government will swoop in and buyout houses after the next big cyclone. Watts is the climate Minister. He took a paper to cabinet. I had a read in the weekend. They haven’t immediately turned the tap off to buyouts, but they’re making it pretty clear it won’t e long before they do. How long? Doesn’t say, specifically. Just sometime in the medium to long term. If you’re buying a house or land, you’re going to want to check flood zones very carefully. After the Auckland floods - you know which parts of suburb are more prone to flooding. That’s, generally, where you don’t want to buy. Mor you can and manage the risk and mitigate. Council and government spent $2 billion on buyouts. That may not happen next time. Guess how many homes are sitting in flood prone areas right now? Hundreds of thousands. They’re worth $180 billion. It means insurance will be more expensive or non-existent for some areas and properties. The government basically wants to take itself out of the risk equation. Cause it’s cheaper for them.  Buying out flood prone land distorts the market. If you know a buyout will happen, you’ll be less worried about flooding and pay more than you should for it The scientists tell damage from cyclones and flooding will get more intense and frequent. Consider this a warning from the government that it doesn’t want the same thing happening g to the state of its books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.