Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 16th of July 2026, Bird flu has landed in New Zealand, University of Otago Professor, Evolutionary Virologist, Jemma Geoghegan tells Ryan how concerned we should be. 

Official Stats NZ Spending data shows a seasonally adjusted decrease of 1.4% card spending in June compared with May, First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson shares his thoughts. 

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Is banning smart phones for kids a dumb idea? 

That would leave them with dumb phones, sans apps and the internet, just texts and phone calls. 

Remember the old Nokia? Or Alcatels? They came in that weird light orangey-peachy colour and a purpley-blue. 

David Seymour's talking about this after a blog post suggesting it'd be easier, and less restrictive for ev...

This autumn's been positive for farmers, with less debt and an improved relationship with banks.  

Agricultural lending dropped $1.4 billion to $61.2 billion in the year to April. 

A Federated Farmers survey also reveals record satisfaction with bank communication, with fewer farmers feeling undue pressure.  

Banking Spokesperson Mark Hooper told Ryan Bridge that banks are currently competing quite strongly for a sha...

Paul Henry's profile is expected to provide ACT with the exposure it may need going into the election.  

The former broadcaster's running as a party list candidate but is gunning for a ministerial role if elected.  

He's best known for hosting TVNZ's Breakfast in the early 2000s, where he famously mocked an Indian politician's name on air. 

Political commentator Brigitte Morten told Ryan Bridge people like Henry can ...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 15th of July 2026, former broadcaster Paul Henry's the next big name making the jump to parliament, Political Commentator Brigitte Morten tells Ryan what this will mean for the Act Party. 

The Reserve Bank says farmer lending dropped nearly one and a half billion in the year to April, Federated Farmers Banking Spokesperson Mark Hooper shares his thoughts. 

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Good signals in the construction sector with costs much lower than the industry expected. 

The latest Cordell Construction Cost Index shows a 1.1% rise in the three months to June. 

Annual growth is at 3.5% - below the long-term average of around 4%. 

Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Ryan Bridge with the backdrop of the Iran war, they're surprised by the minimal rise. 

He says there is ent...

Swearing. Most of us do it.

Unless you're a Bishop (or maybe they do it in private, too?).

Especially in New Zealand. 

We all know what a GC is and it's nothing to do with the white sandy beaches of Queensland. 

You don't say them in front of mum, and you shouldn't shout them in anger at people, unless they really deserve it. 

But have you noticed the media's obsession with calling out people for swearing, lately?&nb...

Cabinet's being warned its window for a decision around replacing our two ageing warships is rapidly closing.  

An NZ Initiative research note says the frigates are set to retire within a decade and the complex geopolitical environment adds another layer of urgency. 

Retired Major General John Howard says we're seeing more volatility both in our region and at home.  

He told Ryan Bridge the country now has the option...

A sign the economy is getting back on track. 

The latest BNZ-BusinessNZ Performance of Services Index shows the sector's grown in June – only the fifth month of growth in the last two and a half years. 

The hospitality industry is continuing to contract, but it’s offset by the good results in transport and storage. 

Economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge the car is moving in the right direction –...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 14th of July 2026 the services sector is just barely creeping back into growth, founder of Bagrie Economics Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts. 

Retired Major General and New Zealand Initiative Senior Fellow John G. Howard, tells Ryan why he's sounding the alarm about the state of the New Zealand's Navy fleet.

Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the lat...

We're cruising towards 2% growth off the back of these two bits of good news on the economy. 

2% is not rocketing along, but it's not stuck in a ditch either. 

And given the war, and diesel, and Trump, some (i.e. the Government) might even say it's fantastic. 

As you know, we follow the data quite closely on this show – many of you are businesspeople, farmer...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 13th of July 2026, New Zealand and India have now agreed to a strategic partnership, India Business Council Chair, Edwin Paul shares his thoughts. 

The Employers and Manufacturers Association wants more certainty for businesses ahead of the election, Employment Expert, Max Whitehead tells Ryan what the Government needs to do to improve this. 

Business Correspo...

Narendra Modi's visit has added further impetus to the excitement surrounding the Indian market. 

India's Prime Minister attended a series of business, political and community events in Auckland on Saturday.

He's agreed to a roadmap with Chris Luxon - aiming to double two-way trade by 2030. 

India Business Council Chair Edwin Paul told Ryan Bridge why he isn't concerned about the $20-billion-dollar investment question.&nb...

TMI and TMO 

Dave Rennie had a bit of a crack at the TMO over the weekend. 

A FIFA ball hit a spidercam in the USA and Norway went nuts because the TMO didn't do anything about it. Apparently it should be an automatic drop-ball.

Both of these these games, different sports, played half way round the world from each other, tell you all you need know about TMO's.

When you're up and winning, they're always butting in where th...

The Reserve Bank says more OCR hikes are "likely", but it doesn't know how many more will be needed, or when they're likely to happen. 

The central bank's raised the cash rate to 2.5% – the first hike in more than three years. 

It wants to get the OCR back to a "neutral" level that doesn't contribute to inflation. 

ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge they believe the bank will steadily lift intere...

The Hurricanes' rampaging success in this year's Super Rugby championship may have helped the All Blacks sell out the Cake Tin. 

Around 34 thousand people are expected at Hnry Stadium on Saturday as the All Blacks take on Italy. 

The game had initially struggled to sell out, with four thousand tickets still available at the end of last week. 

Hurricanes Chairman Malcolm Gillies told Ryan Bridge there are 11 Wellingto...

There's a suggestion a level playing field between gentailers and retailers is needed before homes switch to solar.  

Election policies of National and Labour would both let homeowners pay back low interest loans for solar through their rates. 

Labour's plan would also let local line companies provide loans, repaid through power bills. 

Director of solar company Lightforce John Harman told Ryan Bridge fair prices are...

The problem with bashing the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in real time is that nobody really knows how badly they might have cocked something until well after the cocking's happened. 

There weren't many —though not none— chiding Orr for low rates until it was bleedingly obvious in actual data, and what Prince Ha...