Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Whanau Ora's Chair believes there's more focus on removing children from their families, rather than their safety further down the track. 

A critical report from the Independent Children's Monitor argues that little progress has been made in living up to National Care Standards introduced six years ago. 

It finds the percentage of young people suffering abuse or neglect in care has risen from 8% to 10% in the year to July...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 5th of March 2025, Dave Rennie has been named the new All Blacks head coach, sports commentator Sam Ackerman shares his thoughts. 

Does the conflict in the Middle East risk knocking out our export gains? Trade Minister Todd McClay explains.
 
The Independent Children’s Monitor says abuse in state care is rising Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency Chair...

New Zealand’s export boom is accelerating.

New international trade figures show exports climbed to $29.2 billion in the December quarter - up $2.2 billion on a year earlier.

Two-way trade also jumped to just over $61 billion.

Trade Minister Todd McClay told Ryan Bridge dairy is performing strongly, with meat exports up a remarkable 21%.

He says growth has soared with countries we have free trade agreements with, like the EU, UK, an...

You know how they say cranes in the sky is a good sign of growth? 

Well, not in Auckland. Not at Seascape.

It’s meant to be this city, this country, tallest tower. 187 metres tall. Beautiful expansive views of the water. 52 stories. A statement building for a city on the move.

But for two years we’ve had this… construction stopped, half finished, beams and nuts and bolts exposed.

Then yesterday the Chi...

The Utilities Dispute service is welcoming changes to power rules.  

The Electricity Authority's new rules, which kick in from October 30, will force power companies to simplify their bills and tell customers if they're on the best plan they provide.  

It will also mean power companies could only send backdated bills once every six months.  

Utilities Dispute Commissioner Neil Mallon told Ryan Bridge it won't just be...

There’s concern youth offending boot camps don't cater to the issues impacting children the most. 

Newstalk ZB understands the programme for young offenders is starting in Palmerston North on Monday, for 10 youths.  

They'll spend more time in the residential facility than in the pilot, and this iteration will have more input from local iwi. 

Kickback co-founder and youth worker Aaron Hendry told Ryan Bridge these ar...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, tourism total spend hit $46.6 billion in the year to March Tourism Minister Louise Upston shares her thoughts. 

New changes to your power bill could mean money back in your pocket, Utilities Disputes Commissioner and CEO, Neil Mallon explains.

Youth social workers are warning the Government bootcamps won’t fix youth crime, Aaron Hendry, youth development worker and ...

There’s confidence tourism spending will soar even more. 

Stats NZ data shows tourism spending hit $46.6 billion in the year to March 2025, up 3.3%. 

International visitors spent $18.1 billion – a 7% jump. 

Tourism Minister Louise Upston told Ryan Bridge Chinese arrivals remain below pre-Covid levels but have surged recently, driven by last year’s policy changes. 

She says one is allowing visitors with an Austra...

If this is still going on in two or three weeks, lots of countries, including ours, will start to feel the pinch. 

Brent Crude Futures topped out at $85 a barrel overnight, the highest price since 2024.

JP Morgan says it could hit, worst-case, $120. 

The Iraqis are now pulling back production because of the Hormuz logjam. 

Refineries in Asia are, according to Bloomberg, thinking about cutting production by 20-30% for...

Stability is continuing to erode across the Middle East with another day of large-scale combat.  

The White House advises its military attacks on Iran could last weeks. 

The strikes have killed Iran's Supreme Leader and numerous officials and more than 1250 targets have already been struck.  

Tehran's been retaliating, sending strikes over surrounding countries, with six US servicemen among the dead. 

National S...

The commander of naval vessel HMNZS Manawanui is facing a court martial —alongside two other officers— over its sinking off Samoa's coast in 2024. 

Charges laid under the Armed Forces Discipline Act allege errors on the bridge meant the vessel grounded on a known navigational hazard. 

Commander Yvonne Gray, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Gajzago, and a third unnamed officer are facing charges. 

John Battersby, Senior F...

The Prime Minister’s being accused of playing politics over Iran. 

Christopher Luxon says the Government will make a decision very shortly on whether to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity. 

Former Foreign Minister Phil Goff told Ryan Bridge if Luxon wanted to take a stand, he should have done it already, as moving now would look opportunistic. 

He's questioning why the Government...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 3rd of March 2025, New Haven University Director of International Affairs and National Security Expert Matthew Schmidt shares the reaction from the US following the latest developments with Iran. 

The captain of the Manawanui Commander Yvonne Gray, is among three navy officers being charged over its sinking in Samoa last year, Massey University Centre for Defence ...

There’s been a lot of chat about AI replacing jobs lately.

And I get it, there are signs it’s happening. For certain roles, especially more junior ones, the threat is real.

But there are some things a computer will never know and never be able to do.

Like reading somebody’s emotions.

Burger King in the US, this is a story out this week, is trialling AI software to judge how courteous and friendly its staff are. They’ve got an ...

A barrier stopping rural workers from using KiwiSaver is being lifted.

Farm workers, rural teachers, police and defence staff have been unable to make first-home withdrawals, because they’re required to live in employer housing.

The Government’s now allowing them to use their savings, including towards buying a farm.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Ryan Bridge that these workers have been locked out of the KiwiSaver first-home ...

The Israeli Prime Minister says bombing in Iran could continue for days. 

Coordinated strikes with the US have killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and multiple senior officials - resulting in Iran launching counter strikes across the Middle East. 

Three US service members have been killed in the military operations while nine people in Israel have been killed in Iran's retaliatory attacks. 

Iranian of...

We have a new issues poll out this morning. 

It's from IPSOS. 1000 people. Was taken after Waitangi weekend. 

The numbers are bad for National, because they should be winning on more issues. 

But Luxon won't hate the numbers because they're going in the right direction of a few key issues. 

A significant increase on Cost of Living - after a period of trending in the wrong direction. 

Another 'significant' i...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian David Smith, has the latest on US/Israel strikes on Iran. 

The Government will allow farmers to use their KiwiSaver to buy their first home or farm, Finance Minister Nicola Willis tells Ryan about the impact this will have. 

Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport. 

Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin G...

The Danish Prime Minister has called a snap election, hailing it a decisive next four years for her country. 

Mette Frederiksen says the election will be held on March 24 instead of the original end of October date.  

It comes after months of politics dominated by Donald Trump's threats to annex Greenland – the semi-autonomous Danish territory.  

UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge before that, polls had bee...