Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

“Enormous” swings in the price of oil are making it very difficult to gauge the severity of the shock to markets from the Iran war, ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner says.

Oil hit $120 per barrel yesterday but dropped back below $100 after the G7 nations signalled they could release strategic oil reserves.

Zollner told Ryan Bridge she agreed with Finance Minister Nicola Willis' assertion that the duration of the shock was just as ...

Little is known about Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, but he’s likely to continue his father’s “hardline, hostile attitude” toward the US, Israel and the West more generally, one expert says.

Andrew England, the Financial Times’ Middle East editor, told Newstalk ZB’s Ryan Bridge that hostility would be compounded because Khamenei's father, mother, wife and sister have all been killed.

Khamenei has not given any statemen...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner shares her thoughts on how the New Zealand economy will react to the war in Iran. 

A new Westpac report says we need to send more public health procedures to the private system, NZ Private Surgical Hospitals Association CEO Chris Roberts shares his thoughts.

Iran has appointed a new supreme leader, Financial Times Middle East edito...

The war in Iran is not a shocking event in the sense that we knew it was coming.

Trump has been not so much hinting, but sounding a fog horn for months. As we’ve been covering on this show, he’s been amassing military assets in the region since the end of January. 

So not surprising. What has surprised is Iran hitting their neighbours, the Gulf states, so hard, including oil fields and refineries. This has surprised markets. H...

Israel is launching a new wave of strikes in Tehran, which has been choked by smoke following attacks on its energy resources. 

Iran state-media says a new supreme leader has been chosen but they're yet to be named. 

Israel is also claiming its first military deaths of the war with two soldiers dead in southern Lebanon. 

Iran continues to lash out at US allies with Saudi Arabia authorities saying two have been killed...

A shake-up to GP trainee employment could make the pathway into general practice more appealing.

Health New Zealand will now directly employ all first-year trainees not already in private practice - with applications opening today for next year.

Currently, doctors must switch to being employed by the College of GPs.

Health Minister Simeon Brown told Ryan Bridge it’s been one of the barriers discouraging doctors from specialising as...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday the 9th of March 2025, Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian David Smith shares the latest on the conflict in the Middle East. 

Health New Zealand will now become the direct employer for all first-year GP trainees, Health Minister Simeon Brown tells Ryan how this will benefit new trainees.

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

Plus, UK/Eur...

This country's fines make no sense. 

you can get$70 for parking a few minutes over in the wrong spot, $150 for driving in a bus lane at the wrong time, which is the same texting while driving, an act that could, in theory, distract you enough to kill somebody on the road.

So what gives? 

You get $30 for going a few Kms over 100 on a main road. 

Anyone who's been to Australia knows things are different. Way harsher. P...

The 2026 Formula 1 season is kicking off in Melbourne today. 

Homegrown racer Liam Lawson will be facing the Albert Park street circuit once again – the race that saw him fail to finish last year. 

NZ Herald Sports Reporter Alex Powell told Ryan Bridge it’s been a tricky start to the year for everyone, with new cars and new regulations, so everyone’s waiting with bated breath to see how they’ll go. 

He says today wil...

There are claims a Parliamentary inquiry into online safety is rushing toward regulation without fully considering the consequences. 

A Select Committee is backing a social media ban for under 16s and calling for an online regulator and tougher controls on harmful apps and algorithms. 

ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar initiated the inquiry last year but says the recommendations don't have adequate analysis. 

She told Ryan Brid...

Other countries are using our medicinal cannabis products more than we are.  

ACT leader David Seymour says he's looking at further improvements to speed up processing for exports of the plant, which he believes could one day rival the wine industry.  

He is open to improving regulation domestically as well. 

Cannabis Clinic CEO Waseem Alzaher told Ryan Bridge there's are a lot of companies growing the plant locally....

The UK Prime Minister has an uphill battle to convince the public his response to the war in Iran is the right one.

Sir Keir Starmer has announced four extra Typhoon jets are being sent to join the squadron in Qatar, while helicopters with anti-drone capabilities will shortly arrive in Cyprus and the HMS Dragon is being deployed to the Mediterranean. The move follows a strike from an Iranian-made drone at the UK’s Akrotiri air base...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 6th of March 2025, a parliamentary committee’s final report in online youth harm recommends a social media ban for under 16 year olds, Dr Parmjeet Parmar who represents Act on the committee says she was hoping for a different outcome. 

The Formula One 2026 season kicks off in Melbourne today, NZ Herald sports reporter Alex Powell joins Ryan from Melbourne.

David Se...

I don't mind paying the train tax in Auckland, even though I won't be using it. 

Rates are going up 7.9% next year. Which let's be honest, is like Woolworths selling butter for $7.99. 

It's 8%. Wayne Brown is the 8% man. 

Mr Fix it is hitting us in the pocket, and it will hurt. 

An extra $320 for your average ratepayer. The average goes from $4,055 to $4,375. 

If we didn't have to subside the City Rail Link...

The Dave Rennie era is upon the All Blacks. 

New Zealand Rugby announced his appointment as Head Coach yesterday, succeeding Scott Robertson in the role. 

His assistants have yet to be determined, but it’s a focus of Rennie’s.  

Sports Commentator Sam Ackerman told Ryan Bridge that there should be something resembling continuity, and Jason Ryan could be one to stay in the mix. 

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Whanau Ora's Chair believes there's more focus on removing children from their families, rather than their safety further down the track. 

A critical report from the Independent Children's Monitor argues that little progress has been made in living up to National Care Standards introduced six years ago. 

It finds the percentage of young people suffering abuse or neglect in care has risen from 8% to 10% in the year to July...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 5th of March 2025, Dave Rennie has been named the new All Blacks head coach, sports commentator Sam Ackerman shares his thoughts. 

Does the conflict in the Middle East risk knocking out our export gains? Trade Minister Todd McClay explains.
 
The Independent Children’s Monitor says abuse in state care is rising Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency Chair...

New Zealand’s export boom is accelerating.

New international trade figures show exports climbed to $29.2 billion in the December quarter - up $2.2 billion on a year earlier.

Two-way trade also jumped to just over $61 billion.

Trade Minister Todd McClay told Ryan Bridge dairy is performing strongly, with meat exports up a remarkable 21%.

He says growth has soared with countries we have free trade agreements with, like the EU, UK, an...

You know how they say cranes in the sky is a good sign of growth? 

Well, not in Auckland. Not at Seascape.

It’s meant to be this city, this country, tallest tower. 187 metres tall. Beautiful expansive views of the water. 52 stories. A statement building for a city on the move.

But for two years we’ve had this… construction stopped, half finished, beams and nuts and bolts exposed.

Then yesterday the Chi...