Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

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...

While I was away tramping all over the top of the Coromandel Peninsula, we had some good and bad news. 

GDP came out better than we expected with a rise of 0.7% in the fourth quarter, which should signal the start of green shoots and recovery and confidence.  

But at the same time, the consumer confidence figure came out and it was the worst we’ve seen since the 90s.  

And then Paul Bloxham, the Australian economist ...

While I was away tramping all over the top of the Coromandel Peninsula we had some good and bad news. 

GDP Came out better than we expected with a rise of 0.7 per cent in the fourth quarter.  

Which should signal the start of green shoots and recovery and confidence.  

But at the same time the consumer confidence figure came out and it was the worst we’ve seen since the 90s.  

And then Paul Bloxham the Australia...

Fonterra farmers are in line for a large payout on interim results. 

The co-op’s lifting its dividend to 22 cents a share, from 15 in the previous comparable period. 

It's reporting its first-half profit increased 8% to $729 million. 

Federated Farmers’ Richard McIntyre told Francesca Rudkin that for the first time in quite a while, he’s hearing farmers starting to talk about what they could or should invest in for t...

New Zealand's out of recession, but many Kiwis could take a while to feel better off. 

Our economy grew by 0.7% in the December quarter – surpassing all economists' expectations. 

But unemployment's expected to keep rising this year, and many households are still doing it tough. 

Council of Trade Unions Economist Craig Renney told Francesca Rudkin that confidence in the New Zealand economy is still lacking. 

He ...

The Napier community feels underwhelmed despite retaining its overnight urgent care. 

The Government’s back tracking on a leaked proposal to cut the service due to low demand, which sparked community backlash. 

It will remain nurse-led, but with no doctors on-site. 

Patient Voice Aotearoa Chair Malcolm Mulholland told Francesca Rudkin the community deserves a robust urgent care service, including a GP. 

He says ...

Did the news yesterday that the economy had grown more than expected, by a whopping 0.7%, put you in a good mood for the week?   

Maybe the news that Fonterra has reported an 8% lift in first-half net profit to $729 million put a spring in your step. 

Or the opportunity to grab a bargain in the Afterpay Sales this weekend is putting a smile on your face. 

Or maybe none of these things had an impact on your happi...

There are fears public health doctors are losing their ability to speak freely. 

They're being told they need permission before speaking out on regional issues which could impact public health. 

Health Minister Simeon Brown says he's fed up with them giving advice on things like fast-food. 

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Francesca Rudkin Brown is overstepping. 

S...

There's anticipation more homeowners will change their borrowing behaviour this years.

90% of home loans were floating or fixed for less than a year in January. 

But CoreLogic forecasts borrowers will fix for longer as interest rates come down. 

Chief Property Economist, Kelvin Davidson told Francesca Rudkin it's anecdotal at this point, but believes February data will prove it's happening. 

He says there was intense...

New Zealand is believed to be crawling to economic recovery. 

Figures —due out from Stats NZ this morning— are expected to show the economy grew between 0.3 and 0.5% in the three months to December. 

That would lift New Zealand out of technical recession, but further growth will be slow. 

ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley told Francesca Rudkin an uplift in agriculture in quarter four will have helped. 

He says th...

Gee, we’ve gone stadium mad here in Auckland. We already have seven pretty substantial stadiums ranging from 4000-person capacity to 50,000, spread across the city from the North Shore to Mt Eden, Penrose to Manukau, not including other sporting and event spaces. 

But we can’t stop suggesting we build more.   

While we wait for Auckland’s Councilors to ponder feasibility studies done by Eden Park and the proposed new...

The Kremlin appears to have emerged victorious from a call with US President Donald Trump.  

Russia's agreed to pause firing on energy and critical infrastructure and continue discussions about a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea. 

It's a clear deviation from Trump's goal going into talks – of Russia agreeing to a full 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine. 

Otago University International Relations Professor Robert Patman ...

A property investor advocate says landlords should consider lowering their rents, rather than offering incentives. 

Changes in the market have seen landlords offer prospective tenants sweeteners like grocery vouchers and free weeks of rent to try to lure them in. 

But Sarina Gibbon from the Auckland Property Investors' Association told Andrew Dickens she's not sure incentives work. 

She says if you put lipstick on a ...

After nine months stranded in space, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will be back on Earth today.

Their stay on the International Space Station was only supposed to last eight days but their mission had to be extended after the spacecraft they arrived on experienced technical issues. 

They are coming home this morning - and are expected to splashdown just before 11am New Zealand time. 

Retired NASA astrona...

Cops will stay on the beat in the Auckland CBD. 

The government will boost anti-crime measures across central Auckland with $1.3 million of funding as a result of the Proceeds of Crime Fund. 

The Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 enables New Zealand Police to seize money and assets that have been obtained directly or indirectly from the proceeds of crime. Once all legal matters are addressed, the recovered money is pl...

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Wednesday 19th of March 2025, Otago University International Relations Professor Robert Patman breaks down what might come out of Donald Trump's call with Vladimir Putin to try and secure a ceasefire deal in Ukraine. 

Andrew Dickens praises the renewed focus on getting police officers on the beat.

After 9 months at the International Space Station, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are ...

Christopher Luxon and the Indian Prime Minister have agreed on several priorities while in a private meeting yesterday, including on security.  

Luxon is leading a delegation in India this week and announced negotiations for a free trade agreement will kick off next month. 

The Herald's Adam Pearse is with Luxon and Narendra Modi, and told Andrew Dickens it's been a very cordial meeting. 

He says the pair have been g...