Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Franchises could soon have the ability to trespass someone across multiple sites. 

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is beefing up the current laws, calling them no longer fit for purpose. 

He's also proposing doubling the maximum fines for trespassing on businesses, and increasing the maximum period to three years. 

Franchise New Zealand Chairman and Coffee Club Director Brad Jacobs told Ryan Bridge there's currently ...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Friday 4th of July, the Government's given businesses the power to trespass people from multiple locations, Franchise NZ Chairperson Brad Jacobs tells Ryan about the difference this will make. 

It's the first All Blacks test of the year, Newstalk ZB voice of rugby Elliot Smith joins Ryan from Dunedin ahead of Saturdays game. 

It's thought changes to insulation r...

Changes to rigid insulation standards are predicted to cut new-build costs by an average of $15 thousand.

They'll give more flex to requirements in the building code by the end of the year, in a bid to cut down rising construction costs. 

The Government's also looking to make the Far North a separate 'climate zone', stating the region’s warmer climate allows for a more tailored approach.

Far North District Councillor Felicity ...

The award for most press releases and announcements on a single issue must got to National this week.

Law and Order was front and centre - announcements about everything from first responders to coward punches. It was an assault of announcements. 

Now, announcements don't make streets safer. Announcements don't fix problems on their own. 

This was a targeted campaign to reinforce the idea their tough on crime. That they'r...

The Government's one step closer to reaching long-term agreements on the future of some of our fastest-growing areas. 

It's agreed to negotiate with councils in Auckland, Western Bay of Plenty, and Central Otago, on 10-year deals to boost economic growth, housing and infrastructure. 

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says "small decisions" should be kept with councils. 

Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley told Ryan Bridge the a...

A former Finance Minister believes there's a need for a publicly funded body to find out what election promises would cost. 

Act and New Zealand First have shot down current Finance Minister Nicola Willis' proposal, which would have allowed resources from the public sector to cost policies of political parties up to 10 months before an election. 

Ruth Richardson was the Finance Minister in the 1990s and told Ryan Bridge W...

The Minister for Children's $41 million workforce investment is expected to train and retain youth care staff. 

Karen Chhour says her new funding follows a 2023 Oranga Tamariki review, which found many workers weren't equipped to deal with the high needs of some kids in care. 

The boost will qualify more staff, recruit capable workers to vacant positions, and establish clinical roles in each residence. 

Child Matters...

People are swarming outside a New York courthouse following Sean “Diddy” Combs' conviction.

The 55-year-old hip hop mogul's been found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.

But he's been acquitted of his more serious charges, of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking.

US Correspondent Mitch McCann is outside the courthouse and told Ryan Bridge social media influencers are everywhere, streaming live ...

Yesterday was a bad day for some of my pet peeves. 

I couldn't find a carpark in town, I had to visit a supermarket, and Qantas suffered a data hack. 

Nothing drives me more crazy than a business —big or small, although in this case very big— asking too many personal questions and getting too many personal details abo...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 3rd of July 2025, the government's ready to start negotiating with councils on regional city deals, Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley shares her thoughts. 

Minister for children Karen Chhour yesterday announced more money for Oranga Tamariki staff's professionalism training, Child Matters CEO Jane Searle tells Ryan Bridge how big of a difference it will make. 

Books written by artificial intelligence have been finding their way onto local library shelves, and they could become more common in the future. 

Newstalk ZB can reveal most libraries avoid buying AI-written books, but don't ban them, and some have added them to their collections by accident. 

Laura Marshall, Library and Information Association of New Zealand Executive Director, told Ryan Bridge there’s not that many AI ...

The Defence Force is keeping details of its cost cuts secret. 

But Newstalk ZB can reveal NZDF admitted, in internal communications, that it would have to scale back or cut programmes that impact how people view the force, and New Zealand's reputation. 

The defence force also noted the sinking of the Manawanui added to its financial struggles. 

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Hayden Ricketts told Ryan Bridge that since th...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 2nd of July 2025, the government introduces tougher penalties for crime, Woolworths director of retail Jason Stockill shares his thoughts. 

Quite a few of New Zealand's libraries either already have or are open to stocking books written by AI authors, Laura Marshall from the library and information association tells Ryan Bridge what this means.

We’ve got fre...

Woolworths says it takes a community effort to curb retail crime. 

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has unveiled the plan for Police to issue infringement fines for people stealing - similar to speeding tickets. 

It is based on suggestions from the Retail Crime Ministerial Advisory Group. 

Woolworths Retail and Franchise Director Jason Stockill told Ryan Bridge the announcement is an example of collaboration across th...

You know immediately when something makes good political sense. 

You can usually tell, not by listening to the Minister announce it, but by listening to the Opposition oppose it. 

Crime is topic du jour as the Government's rolling maul of thundercloud announcements continue. 

It's one of the party's strongest, biggest levers to pull - it's one of the few election issues on which the Nats outpoll Labour.

So it's no wo...

Businesses still seem to be doing it tough. 

The latest Centrix data for June shows the number of people behind on payments is down on last year, for the fifth consecutive month in a row. 

At the same time, company liquidations have risen 27% year-on-year. 

BWA Insolvency’s Bryan Williams told Ryan Bridge he expects it to start falling again later this year. 

He says people will have a more enlightened view of t...

Business NZ's Advocacy Director says Invest New Zealand is looking to hire people with an array of international connections. 

The government organisation's been given $85 million over four years to work with global investors to create jobs, boost innovation, and lift productivity. 

Catherine Beard told Ryan Bridge potential employees should be well-connected around the world. 

She says they should be looking at wher...

The Government's introduction of new sentences for coward punches is being described as merely cosmetic. 

It's announced specific offences for striking a distracted victim - which could carry a sentence of life imprisonment, if fatal. 

But Law Association Vice President Julie-Anne Kincade told Ryan Bridge she understands people have been looking for reform in this area. 

She doesn't think it will make a huge impact, ...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 1st of July 2025, the Government's announced coward punches will now be a specific offence, Vice President of the Law Associaiton Julie-Anne Kincade KC tells Ryan Bridge the difference it will make.  

Bryan Williams, Principal at BWA Insolvency, shares his thoughts on new data from Centrix around business liquidations. 

From today we officially have a new reg...