Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

There’s a belief the economic climate is to blame for more youths fronting court over criminal charges. 

The Ministry of Justice's annual criminal convictions and sentencing statistics reveal more than 1,700 youths between 10 and 17 years of age had charges finalised in court. 

It found theft was the most common offence type. 

Youth Development worker Aaron Hendry told Ryan Bridge a key ...

A new report has found Government vastly overestimated the cost of new home insulation standards. 

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk is considering rolling back the H1 insulation requirements brought in last year amid reports they add up to $40 thousand to build costs. 

But research by New Zealand Certified Builders and others, shows the requirements can add as little as $2,200 to the cos...

Here's why we should care about what sounds like a bit of an obscure trip from some U.S. officials to Beijing this week. 

They are going to meet to talk to their counterparts about a wave of Chinese goods flooding world markets. 

China, obviously, has enormous manufacturing capacity and enormous machine behind it, and the output has gotten too large for the world to absorb. 

The strategy...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 18th of September, Kiwi youth are facing more criminal charges according to the latest justice figures. Youth development worker Aaron Hendry joins the show to discuss the findings. 

New insulation standards could cost as little as $2,200 extra for a new build 3-bedroom house, but why is that so much lower than the $40,000 to $50,000 the buildi...

It’s not just New Zealand who’s been experiencing an icy start to Spring. 

Australia has seen record low temperatures across the southeast, with an icy blast catching several states unaware.  

Canberra marked its coldest September morning on record, with Monday hitting –6.9C, and many regions were hitting below 0. 

Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge that the system has...

More children in this country are being hospitalised for preventable diseases.  

A new Cure Kids report reveals hospital admissions for respiratory, skin and rheumatic conditions, mental health issues and dental diseases, remain unacceptably high.  

It identifies social factors —like child poverty, housing conditions and inequitable access to care— as key drivers, and notes Māori and Pasifika childre...

More profit appears to be on the horizon for dairy farmers, with conditions faring better than expected.

Dairy NZ's lifted its revenue forecast to $8.84 per kilogram of milk solids, with a break even of $8.09.

Head of Economics Mark Storey says the combination of improved farmgate milk prices and declining interest rates show a healthier situation for the sector.

But he says the costs of...

Labour says the Government's achieving nothing with its reforms to sentencing laws. 

The Government's first quarterly report on public service targets shows rates of people victimised had risen by June, by 30 thousand people. 

It aims to reduce that by 20 thousand within the next six years.  

It's bringing sentencing law reforms to Parliament this week to reduce discounts and add aggrava...

Christopher Luxon has reason to smile this morning – there are two sets of data to cheer about. 

First, the poll. He's shaking off that slightly cringe CEO moniker and cementing himself as a man with a plan, in charge, across most of the issues, and not allowing himself to become too distracted by the inevitable noise that comes with running the ninth floor. 

The latest taxpayer's union curia poll is...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 17th of August, the Government's first quarterly target check is out, and it's not looking too good. The target to reduce crime is at risk, and Luxon's blaming the previous government for making it harder to achieve. Labour's Duncan Webb speaks to Ryan about the results. 

Cure Kids’ State of Child Health report paints a grim picture – Stuart Dalz...

Over in the UK, Labour's leader was using private donations to pay for his wife's wardrobe.

She had personal shoppers, clothes and alterations for campaign events and after the campaign as well. Keir Starmer's wife, Victoria, was dressed to the nines, apparently.

It wasn't declared as a donation, but has now been declared as a donation.

David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has been wheeled out to explain it.

"In our country, ...

There's hopes worrying new figures can help the health sector improve the outcomes of respiratory disease.

A report has found more people suffer from respiratory diseases than previously known, going from one in seven to one in five Kiwis each year.

Asthma and Respiratory Foundation Medical Director Bob Hancox says while it shows New Zealand's not doing well, the new research is important.

He says it gives experts a better understa...

A union's labelling the Education Minister's changes for reliever teachers a knee-jerk reaction to the current shortage.

Erica Stanford's changing who can gain a Limited Authority to Teach - allowing about 200 teachers who no longer hold registration to work as relief teachers.

It means both experts who aren’t qualified teachers and previously registered teachers, can come into classrooms as relievers.

PPTA President Chris Abercrom...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday the 16th of September. The PPTA aren't happy with short term changes the Education Minister has made to the sector. President Chris Abercrombie speaks to Ryan.

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation say more Kiwis are being diagnosed with respiratory diseases, so what's causing the rise? The foundation's Medical Director Professor Bob Hancox joins the show.

Oscar Pia...

The use of coal and gas to generate energy has increased sharply due to falling hydro lake levels. 

Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment data from April to June shows that coal produced 883 gigawatt hours of electricity.  

That's a more than a 500% increase on the same time last year, and it’s the first time since 2021 that coal produced more electricity than wind.  

Low hydr...

Space milestones are only going to keep on coming, with the first ever commercial space walk mission. 

Billionaire Jared Isaacman and engineer Sarah Gillis have become the first civilians to walk in space.  

The Space X mission also put the total number of people currently in space to 19, tying the record set in 2021. 

Auckland University's Spacecraft Missions Director Chris Jackson told...

Kamala Harris was wearing audio earrings during the debate this week. 

Did you hear about this? Yeah, she was cheating. 

They looked like pearl earrings, but they also look like audio earrings. You can buy them, and you can have your staff feed you information in real time during a debate, they can coach you live. 

Yeah, it's real, I read it on the internet. 

That's the prob...