Early Edition with Ryan Bridge
A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.
Episodes
The United Kingdom isn't facing as many financial troubles as predicted, after the latest data shows their GDP holding steady.
The past few months in the UK have been dominated by challenges to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, and many believed the issues in Parliament would damage the country's financial stability.
Business Correspondent Vicky Price told Ryan Bridge that, 'what we did see here was in the U...
On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 18th of May 2026, National's campaigning on scrapping good character assessments at sentencing for all sexual offenders, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith tells Ryan what a difference this will make.
Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on UK GDP, UK Labour leadership uncertainty affecting bond markets and the latest inflation data in Europe for April up.&nbs...
Concern that NCEA's revamp could be a little old fashioned.
The Education Minister has announced more detail on what's replacing NCEA.
Year 11 students will need a foundational literacy and numeracy award under the new system, while senior students face compulsory exams in every subject, and must pass at least three.
Canterbury's Darfield School Principal Andy England told Ryan Bridge there's no doubt NCEA needed a reva...
In education, old school is the best kind of school.
Secondary students will be forced to learn science, as well as maths and English, in the fifth form.
They'll be graded, not on merit or achieved or whatever, but A+ to E.
So far so uncontroversial, I would have thought.
On top of that, exams will be compulsory in every subject.
Gone are the days of handing in pre-prepared essays drafted with the assistance...
Donald Trump is vowing to maintain a "friendship" with China, despite apparent tensions over Taiwan and Iran.
The US President has met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Trump claims Xi is offering to help in some way with America's war in Iran without providing military assistance, while Xi says it's vital both countries are on the same page about Taiwan.
Former Washington Post Asia-Pacific Edito...
Natural gas reserves have plummeted to the lowest level in two decades.
Latest MBIE annual petroleum reserves data shows a 23% decline in the country's natural gas reserves.
Energy Minister Simeon Brown says many of our gas fields are coming to the end of their life, with our largest gas field, off the coast of Taranaki, set to close this year.
He told Ryan Bridge new gas fields haven't been discovered in a long ...
Rising international tourism numbers are helping airlines weather the storm of rising jet fuel prices.
Air New Zealand's revealed its looking at staff redundancies and even more flight reductions due to the surging cost of jet fuel.
It's now forecasting a full-year pre-tax loss of between $340 and $390 million.
Board of Airline Representatives Executive Director Cath O'Brien told Ryan Bridge the rising jet fuel costs are being part...
On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 15th of May 2026, the bilateral talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have been underway in Beijing, Anna Field, Asia-Pacific Expert and Former Washington Post Asia-Pacific Editor shares the latest.
New Zealand’s gas reserves are now at their lowest level in twenty years, since records began Energy Minister Simeon Brown tells Ryan what we can do to keep the li...
It's Friday huddle, pep talk time.
New Zealand, we're going to need our number-8 wire, positive, can-do, problem solver attitude now more than ever.
Air New Zealand's in the doldrums, Trump's at war in the Middle East, oil's chocked up, Xi's talking about Taiwan again.
And for some perspective, if Taiwan kicks off, which some in the intelligence community reckon could happen as early as next year, then things will chang...
Most New Zealanders think the tobacco industry is influencing government policy.
A Talbot Mills survey —commissioned by public health group Health Coalition Aotearoa— has found more than two thirds of respondents think the industry is influencing policy.
55% of respondents support reintroducing low-nicotine cigarettes.
Health Coalition Aotearoa Spokesperson Chris Bullen told Ryan Bridge that while all industries w...
An economist says New Zealand is different from Europe and our views on immigration aren't the same.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has used a pre-Budget speech in Auckland to promise a "careful" immigration policy that prioritises social cohesion over profit.
He says failed immigration policies in Europe and North America have stoked a politics of division.
Eric Crampton —the Chief Economist at the New Zealand...
There's a belief China has the upper hand in the highly anticipated talks with the United States.
Trump's in Beijing, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the Iran war, trade, and US arms sales to Taiwan.
Foreign Policy Analyst and Former US Navy Senior Chief Malcom Nance told Ryan Bridge the United States is behind the eight ball with China having the opportunity to eat America's economic lunch.
He says...
On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 14th of May 2026, Trump’s touched down in Beijing ahead of his meeting with Xi Jinping, US Intelligence, Foreign Policy Analyst & Former United States Navy Senior Chief shares his thoughts on how the meeting's going to go.
A new survey has found, more than two thirds of Kiwis believe our smoking laws are influenced by big tobacco, Health Coalition Aotearoa S...
You can't escape bureaucrats in Wellington; it's an occupational hazard.
Despite the bad press they get, they're not all useless. But it depends on how you use them, and how often.
Take the Golden Mile disaster in Wellington, as just one example.
The council agrees to a project it can't afford. Expensive. Crazy. Ratepayers revolt. The cost blows out from $160m to $220m. The blowout is $60m - or 30 disco toilets in ...
The Australian Government has unveiled its Budget, with the Iran war continuing to loom large.
Gross debt is expected to hit $1 trillion for the first time this year, and the federal government isn't expected to be back in surplus until 2036.
The Australian Treasury is forecasting inflation will peak about 5%.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says they're dealing with the fifth economic shock in less than 20 years.
We...
Federated Farmers says New Zealand's sheep meat exports to the US are a win-win for both countries.
Trade Minister Todd McClay has revealed he expects the US Government to announce a trade investigation into our lamb imports in the coming weeks, as a means to impose more tariffs.
New Zealand exported more than $600 million of sheep meat to the US last year.
Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Richard Dawkins to...
On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2026, Jim Chalmers 4th Australian Federal Budget is out, Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold shares his thoughts.
According to Cotality Kiwis are holding on to their homes longer than ever, Property Investors Federation Advocacy Manager Matt Ball shares his thoughts.
Trump tariff woes are back for Kiwi lamb exporters, Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Richard...
A changing property market could start shifting landlord trends.
Fresh March quarter data from property information firm Cotality shows almost nine in ten residential properties are being sold for a profit, but it remains below the peak of more than 99% in late 2021.
Property Investor Federation Manager Matt Ball told Ryan Bridge there's likely to be a rise in corporate style landlords as rules and regulation changes don't fa...
Give them an inch and they'll take a mile.
That's basically the message to anyone worried about a capital gains tax in New Zealand.
In Canberra last night Jim Chalmers' budget was pitched as a 're-balancing' of 'intergenerational inequality'.
Fewer young people own homes in Australia, so they've pit grandkids against grandparents and made tax changes to negative gearing and capital gains.
Negative gearing is where landl...
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer may survive in the job, for now.
More than 60 Labour MPs are now publicly calling on the Labour leader to resign or set a timetable for departure following Labour's disastrous performance in local elections last week.
Four MPs have quit as ministerial aides, calling for fresh leadership.
But UK correspondent Enda Brady told Ryan Bridge Labour doesn't yet have another option....
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