Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Here we go again. 

The polytechs that were centralised by the last government are going to be de-centralised by the current mob. 

It's not quite back to the future because it won't be the same as we had before the politicians started tinkering.

There will now be ten polytechs run locally, six others will have to prove their financial viability, but it still feels like we're going back to where we started from.

And this id...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday 15th of July 2025, Secondary Principals Council Chair and Aotea College Principal Kate Gainsford joins Andrew Dickens to discuss the number of students passing the NCEA literacy and numeracy co-requisite tests slowly on the rise.

Dr Sandra Grey, National Secretary of the Tertiary Education Union, shares her thoughts on the Government’s plan to replace Te Pūkenga and...

Concerns we're narrowing the focus too much in the push to improve literacy and numeracy rates.

Small improvements were seen on last year with 57% of NCEA students achieving the numeracy standard, 61% achieving the reading standard and 55% achieving the writing standard.

Secondary Principals Council Chair, Kate Gainsford told Andrew Dickens the focus hasn't been spread across other important subjects like science or languages. ...

Over the weekend, a group of well-known organizations published an open letter to the Prime Minister. 

Organizations like the EMA, 2degrees and Consumer New Zealand all signed the letter calling for the government to reform the energy sector. 

Chief Executive of Consumer New Zealand John Duffy said that the government needs to have a fast, but measured response. 

He said, ‘[We don’t] want the minister to rush into a ...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday 14th of July 2025, Act's Tertiary Education Spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar shares her thoughts on a new plan from the government to double the amount international students contribute to our economy to $7.2 billion by 2034. 

A group of well-known organisations have written an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for immediate reform to our energy sector, C...

The Government's unveiling new initiatives in hopes of doubling the international education sector. 

Education Minister Erica Stanford wants it to contribute 7.2 billion dollars to the economy by 2034. 

The Government's plan begins with expanding work rights to all tertiary students in approved exchange programmes. 

It's also allowing eligible students to work 25-hours per week - up from the current 20. 

It will...

I find it ironic that the government and the electorate are once a gain keen on getting rid of some of the layers of our council bureaucracy.

First NZ First’s Shane Jones publicly questioned the role of regional councils, pondering whether “there’s going to be a compelling case for regional government to continue to exist”.

Then Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that the Government was looking at local government r...

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson is determined to have more success in the air against France during Saturday's second test in Wellington. 

The French aerial assault often caught the ABs on the hop in the narrow first test win, an area Robertson says the All Blacks have been tidying up in practice. 

Weekend Sport Host Jason Pine told Andew Dickens that defusing their ariel game is essential, and Caleb Clarke, who is comin...

A belief all sectors will need to step up to deal with online scammers. 

The new Anti-Scam Alliance brings together government agencies, banks, telcos, digital platforms, and consumer groups. 

The task force will share data about scams to shut them down in real time. 

Banking Association chief executive Roger Beaumont says it will make a difference if all participants play their part. 

He says particularly socia...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Friday 11th of July 2025, the Government's going to address the country's scamming issues head on with a anti-scam alliance, NZ Banking Association Chief Executive Roger Beaumont, tells Andrew Dickens the difference it will make. 

The All Blacks are taking on France this weekend in Wellington, Newstalk ZB's Jason Pine shares his thoughts ahead of the game. 

Just u...

New migration numbers may be painting a bleak picture of our economy. 

New Zealand saw it's highest net migration loss to Australia in the year to December in more than a decade - with 30 thousand leaving.

Overall net migration for the May 2025 year levelled out at a gain of just under 15 thousand. 

But ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Andrew Dickens net migration is normally about a 30 thousand person inflow. 

H...

Another poll. Another rush of fevered opinion, and yet still so far away from an election. 

The poll business is booming. Once upon a time we had just the two TV networks in the game, but now they’ve been joined by others. 

Keeping the opinion writers in business and politics as the leading news driver in this country. 

So this one was paid for by the Taxpayers Union and it breathlessly reports that New Zealand First...

Mortgage-holders will be holding their breath in after yesterday's OCR announcement.

The Reserve Bank's opted to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 3.25% while signalling the possibility of further cuts. 

But new ASB research suggests interest rates remain volatile, with several opposing forces at play. 

Finance and Mortgage Association Country Manager Leigh Hodgetts told Andrew Dickens that they’re holding out hope...

A tax rebate scheme's helped boost the number of people employed in the video game sector by more than 20%. 

The four-year, $160 million Game Development Sector Rebate allows eligible studios to claim back 20% of their spend.  

Forty studios will receive a share of $22.4 million this year, for its second year. 

Game Development Association Executive Director Joy Keene told Andrew Dickens the sector's booming compared...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Thursday 10th of July 2025, the Reserve Bank kept the OCR at 3.25%, Finance and Mortgages Association country Manager Leigh Hodgetts tells Andrew Dickens what this means for mortgages. 

Our video game sector is having a major boom due to a government tax rebate, NZ Game Developers Association Executive Director Joy Keene shares his thoughts. 

Some Jobseeker benefi...

The Rural Support Trust believes beneficiaries will make a difference to the flooding clean-up in the upper South Island.

The Government's activated a beneficiary task force in Tasman and Marlborough, to support those affected by severe weather.

Tasman has 600 work-ready beneficiaries.

Rural Support's Top of the South chair, Richard Kempthorne told Andrew Dickens the initiative's worked well before.

He doesn't know what happens if ...

For a while now I’ve been thinking that the Reserve bank and the Government are working at cross purposes for the country. 

Yesterday the Reserve Bank kept the OCR at the same rate it’s at. The reason: increasing inflation and little or no growth in GDP.

Now the Government has an agenda of growth, growth, growth. 

So reduced interest rates could help stimulate the economy that has some very flat spots in between primary p...

Chris Hipkins was on with Kerre Woodham yesterday, as well as with Ryan Bridge on Herald NOW, and he talked about the Covid inquiry – insinuating it was slanted against Labour because New Zealand First is now part of a National government and had drawn up the scope of the inquiry to benefit them.  

It also came out that he has drafted written responses to the questions the Commission might ask of him, but he is non-committal a...

Hopes a move to boost New Zealand's use of AI will get small businesses on board.  

Science Minister Shane Reti's announced the Government's first strategy for using Artificial Intelligence to reduce barriers to adoption and promote responsible use.  

He says it could lift our GDP $76 billion by 2038.  

BusinessNZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard told Andrew Dickens AI use for Kiwi small businesses is currently well...