Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

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.

There's concern there's a creep towards privatisation in a refreshed curriculum.  The Government's overhauling senior secondary school subjects, with new options to be phased in from 2028.  Vocational subjects including engineering, building, and construction will be industry-led.  Principal of Auckland's Albany Senior High School Claire Amos told Ryan Bridge it could mean losing the benefits of a school-led approach.  She says some of the most powerful vocational learning is happening in the context of schools meeting the needs of their distinct communities.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 12th of September 2025, Erica Stanford's revealed the new subjects which will be included in the replacement of NCEA, Albany Senior High School Principal Claire Amos shares her thoughts. Newstalk ZB's Elliot Smith and Nick Bewley provide some analysis ahead of the All Blacks and Warriors games this weekend.  A manhunt is still underway in the us to search for the killer of conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian David Smith has the latest out of the US.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Peter Mandelson's sacking. 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.

The FBI is releasing images of the latest person of interest following the shooting of Charlie Kirk.  The highly influential conservative activist was shot at an event at Utah Valley University yesterday morning and later died in hospital.  The manhunt continues for the person responsible after two people were questioned but later released from custody.  Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian David Smith has the latest out of the US.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week NASA found the clearest sign yet of ancient life on Mars. We learned that for the first time in human history, there more obese children on earth than underweight children. In the Middle East, missiles bomb peace talks. Over the skies of Europe we’ve got drones and fighter jets. In the US, supposedly the first among free nations, another political assassination. It’s times like this you think, what a strange species.  If those Martian aliens turned up here, what would they think of us? How would we explain ourselves? Religion is about loving thy neighbour, but we fight in the name of it. Food is scarce but some have too much and others too little. Democracy means freedom until you’re shot in the head for speaking your mind. Of course none of this is unusual. We’ve done this since the beginning of time. Fight, kill, war, rinse and repeat. Animals fight for territory, food and survival. We do that to, but we also fight just because we can't agree with each other.  I think what it all boils down to is the fact we’re social beings. It can work for us but it can work against us - arguably, social media is making this all worse. So what are we to conclude? How are we to explain ourselves to an alien?  What if they landed tomorrow in some big spacecraft, who would you take them to meet? Donald Trump? Xi Jinping? The Pope? The King? Honestly I don’t know. Maybe we’d be better off asking a question: have you got any room for me up there? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand appears to be a gateway for migration to other countries.  Latest Stats NZ data shows there were 14 thousand migrant arrivals and nearly 10 thousand departures in the year to July.  Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley told Ryan Bridge we're seeing more people migrate to New Zealand, who then move on to Australia.  He says the Australians have been actively recruiting here for a number of years, offering better salaries and pension conditions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls for swift intervention to keep our young people healthy.   A United Nations report suggests 9.4% of those aged five to 19-years-old are obese, and 9.2% are underweight.  In the year 2000, 12% were underweight and just 3% were obese.   Save the Children Advocacy Director Jacqui Southey told Ryan Bridge there needs to be better education around what is and isn't healthy.   She says some products may appear healthy but are actually packed with sugars, salts, and fats.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big commitment from Jetstar and its parent Qantas as both airlines make big moves to expand routes. Jetstar's adding new routes from Brisbane to Queenstown and Hamilton to Christchurch and increasing capacity on five domestic and trans-Tasman routes. Qantas is also expanding routes and will begin flying state-of-the-art A220 aircraft between Wellington and Brisbane from February. Aviation Commentator Irene King shares her thoughts with Ryan.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember it was only a month ago Trump was parading around an Alaskan Air Force base, talking up peace for Ukraine. Within weeks, Putin sends 800 drones across the border - the biggest attack of the war so far. He’s targeted EU and British government buildings in Kyiv. He’s now entered NATO airspace. The fighter jets were scrambled. The alarm bells rang in Brussels.  Does any of this sound like progress? Does any of this sound like diplomacy is doing a god damn thing to stop regular folk being slaughtered in the crossfire? No, of course not. Meanwhile Netanyahu’s firing missiles into Doha.  And who was he aiming for? The Hamas lead negotiator. The same guy who, as recently as last week, was being given ceasefire details from the Americans via the Egyptians and Qataris.   If you really want peace, you don’t fire missiles at the guy you’re negotiating with. Now if you’re Hamas, what are you going to do now the place you thought was safe to have talks no longer feels safe? Some in Hamas believe the whole thing was a set-up, according to the BBC.  The American ceasefire proposal was all a trick to get them in one place at time, then bang. Bomb them. Blow them up.  Can’t blame them for thinking that.  It doesn’t matter where you look, which continent, which war, diplomacy is not working.  The Americans look weak. Trump looks weak. Netanyahu’s taking him for a ride. Putin couldn’t care less. And one guy in the world sitting back watching, smiling, biding his time, and growing a military empire is Xi Jinping of China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 11th of September 2025, more New Zealand citizens are leaving the country than ever before, Massey University Sociologist Paul Spoonley tells Ryan about the impact it'll have on the country's growth.  Jet Star's announced it's biggest ever expansion here with over 600,000 extra seats, Airline Commentator Irene King tells Ryan about the impact it'll have on Air New Zealand. More children are now obese than they are underweight, Jacqui Southey from Save the Children shares her thoughts. Plus could there be life on Mars? US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest from a NASA press conference about a rock showing potential of ancient life.  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.

There’s a concern the Government’s school shakeup could drive more students to drop out early.   New data shows that over 1,300 students were granted an early leaving exemption last year – the highest since 2007.  The Government is proposing to remove subjects from senior school general subject list, reclassifying them as a limited vocational option – one being Outdoor Education.  Whenua Iti Outdoors CEO Mark Bruce-Miller told Ryan Bridge that outdoor education allows all students flourish in areas that are difficult to work on within a classroom environment, such as teamwork, leadership, communication, resilience, and initiative.   He says students need to be as well-rounded as possible when leaving school, and removing outdoor education from the list means some students won’t get those benefits.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A children's advocate says Tom Phillips' children are not "public property" and the public don't have a right to know and debate their lives.  Authorities say the children are safe and healthy and continuing to receive support.  Their father died on Monday morning after being shot by police near Marokopa in western Waikato.  Child Matters Chief Executive Jane Searle told Ryan Bridge we don't need to know everything we want to know about the children.  She says they have a lengthy process of reintegrating into society and rebuilding their lives, and for that to be a public story wouldn't be healthy for those children.  The Police officer injured in Monday's altercation is still in hospital.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 10th of September 2025, the missing Marokopa kids have been found, but how can we make sure we don't traumatise them further? Child Matters CEO Jane Searle shares her thoughts.  There's concern the Government's change up of the school curriculum could drive more students to drop out early, Mark Bruce-Miller CEO of Whenua Iti Outdoors explains why it's important to focus on more than just the core subjects.  A report on organised crime says we need a dedicated minister to be responsible for transnational crime and bring agencies together, Customs Minister Casey Costello shares her thoughts. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on French President Emmanuel Macron urgently seeking a new Prime Minister after his government collapses.  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.

Organised crime is being described as the number one threat to New Zealand's national security. The Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime see it as such a significant issue, it's recommending the government should give one minister the responsibility of tackling the problem. A new report says police and customs regularly encounter drug shipments which were once thought unthinkable.  Customs Minister Casey Costello told Ryan Bridge she sees merit in the recommendation. She says it's been done before, in the 80s when the Serious Fraud Office was set up to respond to a specific type of criminal offending. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I watched a movie Sunday with a group of friends. Here are 12 things I learnt: 1. You probably aren’t hungover on the couch at home uber-eatsing Maccas from the sofa. 2. You have taken the extraordinary measure of walking, using your perfectly capable legs even though you're still a bit stiff and sore from the gym. 3. This means you have visited the gym four times this week to ensure your ass will squeeze into the ever-shrinking vice of a seat provided these days. 4. You chat amongst yourselves loudly while the shorts are playing because you just do not give a flying shite about that level of decorum any longer. Nobody paid for the shorts, they paid for the film - the rest is marketing. 5. The short you do watch has Leonardo DiCaprio (heartthrob of youth) playing the cantankerous father figure to group of young actors you wouldn’t know from a bar of soap. 6. You feel nostalgia that the movie is set in the early 2000s. 7. You find the young actors replicating that style —the clothes, the hair, the style— immediately lame for copying what we clearly wore better. 8. One of your friend has a moon boot on after a ‘fall’ he took while out walking with this same group of friends the weekend prior. 9. You love the movie 'Caught Stealing' with Austin Butler. Not just because it’s a good simple hearty action thriller but because it’s only an hour and half long. 10. That means only one toilet break because it’s impossible to sit on 660mls of fizzy water without the feeling you bladder may explode into a thousand pieces.  11. The timeframe is just enough before you need to rearrange to alleviate back pain. 12. You laugh, you’re enthralled, you feel content sitting there in the dark with your buddies. Happy in the knowledge any worries you had going in are a world away from the grungy lower east side of Manhattan where the film is set.  It’s the little things you notice that paint a picture of where your life is at, how old you are and how you fit into a world of ever changing demographics. It’s a reminder to enjoy the good moments in life with the people that make you happy. Because one day we’ll either have dementia or be dead.   Here's to middle age. Halfway dead and fine with it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data shows rents are down to the lowest point since 2023.  They’ve dropped 3% in the last year to $628 per week according to realestate.co.nz.  Urban centres had the biggest decline, with Wellington leading with 11.8% drops and Auckland following with 2.3%.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge its very much an economics lesson in basic supply and demand.  He says that we not only have more listings coming onto the market, but also net immigration has fallen over the past few years, so there’s less demand for rentals.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.