Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Tamatha Paul: a woman mocked for her views on Police.  

Chris Hipkins says her views on beat Police were unwise, and then he went further and said they were stupid.  

The Prime Minister says she’s in lala land. 

Yesterday I commented that life must be really sweet on her planet - pity it’s not ours. 

But that didn’t stop her doubling down yesterday on her views, because they are not untrue. 

She pointe...

The just revealed Australian Federal Budget is being criticised as an election sweetener. 

The Treasurer's announced tax relief for households.  

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to call the election, but it's expected in coming months. 

Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans says they’ve tried to give people a little bit of everything in this budget, with tax cuts, more energy bill relief, wage increases and c...

Neither of two options for Auckland's main stadium are entirely feasible.  

Auckland Council staff say feasibility studies for either an upgraded Eden Park or a new stadium at Quay Park found both lacking.  

The report says the Eden Park option would not be financially feasible without council or central Government funding, and Quay Park has optimistic assumptions around infrastructure and construction costs.  

Auckl...

Caveats to the new Russia-Ukraine Black Sea ceasefire deal are causing uncertainty. 

The United States says both countries have agreed to stop military strikes in the Black Sea and develop measures to implement a ban on energy facility strikes.  

But Newstalk ZB European Correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens Ukraine's warned any Russian naval movement would be a violation. 

He says in return, Russia's demandin...

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Wednesday 26th of March 2025, officials warn neither options for an Auckland stadium are feasible, Auckland Councilor Maurice Williamson explains why.  

Australia's Federal budget is out and tax cuts are on the way, Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans shares the latest.  

Employment confidence is down across the country, Employment Expert Tom O'Neil says employers can sense t...

A blow for Kiwi business confidence, which has slumped to its lowest level since the post-2020 Covid lockdown lows. 

The Westpac-McDermott Miller index shows despite the weaker overall result, confidence has only fallen in four of 11 regions. 

That includes the biggest job market -- Auckland -- which dominated the national average. 

CV.co.nz Managing Director, Tom O'Neil told Andrew Dickens he reckons it's partially ...

So, Auckland looks like it’s doing it again: dilly dallying in decision making about big stuff.  

A council advisory group has informed us that neither the fancy waterfront stadium nor an upgrade of Eden Park is considered feasible.  

The full council still must vote on it on Thursday, so we’ll see if anyone has some balls.   

Now by "not feasible" they mean not viable without public funding. We don’t seem to ha...

Great news for football fans – the All Whites are heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

Their 3-0 win over the New Caledonia side was enough to book their trip next year to the US, Canada, and Mexico. 

Weekend Sport host Jason Pine told Andrew Dickens that quite a few people probably expected the game to be fairly straight forward, but it didn’t take long for those illusions to be dispelled. 

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Farmers are keeping an eye on how some aspects of Resource Management Act reforms will work in practice. 

The Government's new framework for planning includes new acts around development of land and on protection of the natural environment. 

It also includes greater property rights – including allowing landowners to seek compensation against unjustified restrictions on their land. 

But Federated Farmers RMA spokesper...

A sizable boost to defence spending's expected in Australia's budget. 

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers will hand down his fourth federal budget for Labor tonight. 

The Defence Minister says it will include bringing forward a billion dollar spend on defence. 

It comes as New Zealand ministers hint at more spending in defence here too. 

Australia correspondent Donna Demaio told Andrew Dickens it's a significant spe...

Save the Children says Oranga Tamariki needs to step up communication in the name of trust, so they can do their job.  

A newly released review has highlighted nine representative privacy breaches, with at least one leading to a mother being abused after her address was shared to her child's father.  

Save the Children Advocacy Director Jacqui Southey told Andrew Dickens if the public don't trust the agency, they'll ...

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Tuesday 25th of March 2025, The Government's finally scrapping the Resource Management Act, Federated Farmers RMA Reform Spokesperson Mark Hooper tells Andrew Dickens what he thinks of the new plan.  

The All Whites won 3-0 to New Caledonia, Newstalk ZB Weekend Sport Host Jason Pine was on the sidelines at the game.  

Oranga Tamariki has still not fixed systems that led to priva...

It’s no secret to anyone that we do not have enough doctors in New Zealand.

Recent policy moves to attract more qualified overseas doctors have been eagerly received. As have directives to increase the number of doctors we train locally - the Government's decision to fund another 50 medical school places from next year, increasing the cap to 639 first-year students.

But what is the point of training more doctors if we don’t have jo...

A tax expert says changes to the tax system must not stand in the way of economic growth. 

A UN committee is calling on countries to ensure tax policies are being applied proportionally to the wealthier individuals. 

It says regressive and ineffective policies can disproportionately affect already disadvantaged groups. 

But PWC partner Sandy Lau told Andrew Dickens while fairness is important, it's a complex issue.&n...

Public servants appear unconcerned by the Government's recent request to help identify further cost cuts. 

Thousands of public servants across all agencies have been asked in a census to identify taxpayer value in their work, and any changes needed.  

PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons told Andrew Dickens the survey was expected as it comes around every five years.  

She says they don't think it's going to lead ...

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Monday 24th of March 2025, The Public service has been asked by the Government to find areas for cost cutting, PSA  Assistant Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons shares the reaction of Public Servants. 

A United Nations Committee has questioned the fairness of world tax systems and GST, PWC Partner Sandy Lau shares the issues around fairness in our tax system. 

Andrew Alderson share...

Positive steps for Pope Francis, following his five-week battle with double pneumonia. 

The 88-year-old's been discharged from hospital back to his Vatican residence -- thanking onlookers from his balcony. 

UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens further details of The Pope's hospital condition have emerged upon his release. 

He says it's been confirmed Pope Francis suffered two significant medical ep...