Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Pharmacists appear ready for an increased workload under a proposed expansion of services.

The Government's considering letting pharmacists prescribe funded medicines for common conditions like scabies and head lice, as well as for UTIs and the emergency contraceptive pill.

Until now, people have needed a GP prescription or had to pay the medication's full pharmacy price.

Mangawhai Pharmacy Director Lanny Wong told Ryan Bridge phar...

A special good morning to all the redheads listening. 

There's some new Harvard research come out about human evolution and it mentions you. I'll get to you in a sec.

Conventional wisdom says that homo sapiens (us) basically stopped evolving when we emerged 300,000 years ago. We reached peak human.

It took us about seven million years to evolve from looking more like Apes. 

It took us 4 million years to walk on two legs -...

Economists are divided over how fast the Reserve Bank should raise the Official Cash Rate. 

ANZ has already picked three consecutive hikes in July, September, and October, while Westpac says it’s becoming more of a possibility next month, but is more likely in September.  

On the hand, Kiwibank believes raising the rate multiple times before the election would be reckless. 

Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie told R...

An industry expert is welcoming changes to medicinal cannabis licences, but wants the industry given a greater push. 

Cannabis flower exports increased from 49 kilograms in 2021 to more than 2300 last year. 

Medsafe is now exploring changes to its regime, potentially allowing more permanent licenses. 

Cannabis Clinic CEO Waseem Alzaher told Ryan Bridge New Zealand holds itself to a particularly high standard, applyin...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 15th of April 2025, tourism’s roaring back now sitting at 92% of pre-covid levels, Mat Woods CEO of Destination Queenstown & Lake Wanaka Tourism, tells Ryan what we can do to keep tourism booming. 

David Seymour’s pushing to turn New Zealand into a cannabis export powerhouse, Cannabis Clinic CEO Dr Waseem Alazaher tells Ryan if new changes will be a big help...

Queenstown's asking for a bed-tax as tourist numbers roar back. 

Stats NZ data shows the country's now at 92% of pre-Covid levels, with February visits up more than 53 thousand annually. 

Chinese tourist numbers jumped the most in February, followed by Australia and Taiwan. 

Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism Chief Executive Mat Woods told Ryan Bridge a bed-tax for tourists would come in handy country-wid...

Tourism Minister Louise Upston is getting advice from officials on a bed tax. Christopher Luxon told us that last week.

They're not being explicit about it yet, but the idea is a no-brainer and will eventually happen.

In the Auckland deal Luxon did with Wayne Brown last week, they promised to investigate one. Wayne took this to mean the thing would be introduced by 2027, though we have an election before then obviously. 

...

The Cancer Society says widening access to cancer infusion treatment is a win for rural communities.   

The Health Minister announced $210 million from Budget 2024 will go into 14 new sites and expanding 14 existing ones.  

Small towns including Dargaville and Te Kuiti will get new facilities by 2028.  

Cancer Society Chief Executive Nicola Coom told Ryan Bridge that with the price of fuel at the moment, anythin...

Retail NZ is warning time's running out to counter a tobacco black market crisis. 

The group's released a new report detailing the rise in illicit tobacco, including reports from retailers of sales happening near their premises.  

The group wants an Illicit Tobacco Taskforce setup to bring Customs, Police and Health officials together to fight the growing problem.  

CEO Carolyn Young told Ryan Bridge that when organi...

United States President Donald Trump may have to resort to bombing Iran again, according to an American columnist and pollster. 

Henry Olsen told Ryan Bridge that Trump will not be satisfied until Iran ends its nuclear programme. 

"I think Trump may eventually have to go back to bombing. 

"Trump has already committed American prestige and his personal prestige to the ending of the nuclear programme." 

The Presid...

Trump's at war with the Pope again, this time over Iran. Last time it was over Gaza. 

Usually the pontiff is a bit more low-key, just praying and kissing babies and cruising round in the white robe in the Pope-mobile, like Batman but less cool. 

Not Leo. Leo has spoken out, telling Trump to end the war and saying he does not fear the President.

This is a humanitarian appeal, but its delivery its a little more political th...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 14th of April 2025, A US blockade of Iran's ports is underway in the strait of Hormuz, American pollster and Washington Post columnist Henry Olsen shares his thoughts. 

More access to cancer treatment is on the way, with a big nationwide expansion of infusion services Nicola Coom Chief Executive Cancer Society, tells Ryan how big of an impact this will have.

Retai...

Emergency Management Minister, Mark Mitchell, says Cyclone Vaianu could've been much worse - and Kiwis prepared well. 

Gisborne and some other East Coast communities are still cut off with sections of State Highways 2 and 35 closed, due to fallen trees, flooding and slips. 

The last of MetService's strong wind warnings and watches for Wairarapa and the Tararua District are set to ease at 7 this morning.

Mark Mitchell told...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 13th of April 2025, Former CIA Intelligence Officer Glenn Carle shares his thoughts on the US failing to make a peace deal with Iran. 

Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell tells Ryan whether or not we dodged a bullet with Cyclone Vaianu. 

Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport. 

Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest ...

The storm for the most of the North Island was a fizzer.

The TV news struggled to find pictures of anything actually happening other than a few trees down and reporters breathlessly doing pieces to camera in the wind.

In Auckland where I live most shops were closed and they didn’t need to be.

There is a risk of the boy who cried wolf.

But I also don’t think need to have an existential national conversation about whether this was ov...

The UK wants to know why three Russian submarines have apparently been examining the country's vital underwater cables and pipelines. 

British Defence Secretary John Healey says the subs were tracked over several weeks operating in the north Atlantic. 

Russia denies the claims. 

More than 90% of the UK's day-to-day internet traffic travels via undersea cables. 

Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Ryan Bri...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered officials to hold talks with Lebanon, but rejects any reports of a ceasefire there. 

He says Israel's military will continue to strike Hezbollah with force and won't stop until security is restored, but a Lebanese official says it won't negotiate under fire. 

Reuters senior Middle East correspondent Alexander Cornwell told Ryan Bridge if the talks between Israel and Le...

Early childhood centres are lifting their game, with fewer falling below quality standards.

Education Review Office monitoring shows 47% of standalone services didn’t meet the quality threshold, down from 64% a year earlier.

Early Childhood Council Chief Executive Simon Laube says the reviews are just snapshots and even the best centres go through staff changes and have to rebuild quality.

He told Ryan Bridge that the reviews ...