Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

A view the Government's proposed changes to alcohol laws is a needed re-balance for licence-holders. 

The Bill would only let people object to a premise's licence application, if they live or work in the same council area or live within one kilometre.  

It also gives applicants a right of reply to objections.   

Hospitality New Zealand Head of Advocacy told Ryan Bridge the current licensing process has led to so...

Treasury has released numbers on the potential fallout for the New Zealand economy from the Iran war.

It estimates that under a worst‑case scenario — a conflict lasting until the end of the year with elevated oil prices — inflation would rise from 3.1 percent to 3.7 percent.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says that number is too high - but is lower than Australia's current inflation - which is sitting at 3.8 percent. 

ASB Chie...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 17th of March 2025, ASB's Chief Economist Nick Tuffley talks the "worst case scenario" for the New Zealand economy from the Iran war. 

And Ryan explains why he agrees with Nicola Willis' call to not splash the cash in response to the Iran crisis. 

Hospitality NZ want the government's liquor law changes to go further - they tell Ryan what exactly they want...

A 1pm presser and Covid‑style alert levels.

This fuel price spike is bringing back bad memories from those dark days of lockdown.

But a few facts help put things in perspective.

There are a lot of scenarios and best guesses floating around, but the reality is we’re not yet short on fuel. That’s at least weeks away, we’re told.

The economy is in recovery, and even the worst‑case scenarios still have us growing at a little under 3% —...

In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump called on the UK, China, France, Japan, South Korea and others to send ships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open - but his request has been met with little response. 

Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian, David Smith, told Ryan Bridge, "there's been some reporting suggesting that Donald Trump was warned this is a possibility by his military planners, and his response was it'll be ...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 16th of March 2025, we get the latest on the Iran War as it enters its third week.

Donald Trump has requested allies help open the Strait of Hormuz - UK Correspondent Gavin Grey tells Ryan whether Europe is likely to help. 

Ryan has some advice for the Labour Party - don't automatically agree with the unions. 

And Andrew Alderson celebrates Liam Lawson's b...

Last week ended with a bizarre situation where Labour effectively came out against a pay rise for teachers.

They did this because that’s what the unions wanted. And what the unions want, the unions usually get.

Union strategy 101 is getting everyone who’s not a member to become one.

The tactic is peer pressure.

If you can deprive non‑union members of a pay rise while dragging out pay negotiations, that’s leverage.

Labour last week ...

Concerns the Middle East conflict will make rising grocery prices worse.

The Infometrics-Foodstuffs New Zealand Grocery Supplier Cost Index finds suppliers charged 2.3 percent more on average in February, compared to a year earlier.

Annual average produce department costs rose 2.9 percent, the fastest in two years.

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge this doesn't capture rising fuel prices.

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Hamilton's welcoming the Homegrown Music Festival back to the city where it all began. 

Organisers announced last year the festival would leave Wellington after being held on the capital's waterfront for 18 years. 

Homegrown Chief Executive Andrew Tuck says Hamilton's Claudelands Oval will offer two-and-a-half times as much space, with acts like SIX60 and LAB set to take the stage. 

He says the lineup for this year’s...

An electrification advocate says the rising price and falling supply of gas may not be a bad thing in the long-term. 

PwC research —commissioned by Gas Industry Co— has found New Zealand's gas market will need to shrink sharply as domestic supply declines.  

It warns this could mean business closures, job losses, and higher energy costs. 

Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey told Ryan Bridge it's going to be a tough tran...

New Zealand is still a long way off from car-less days, AA fuel spokesman Terry Collins predicts. 

Government ministers yesterday were receiving advice on emergency fuel measures that could be taken if fuel stocks got too low as a knock-on effect of Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. 

But Collins told Ryan Bridge Early Edition the Petroleum Demand Restraint Act, which allows for carless days and other options like fu...

We're learning a few hard truths this week and the old saying rings true - you don't know what you've got 'til its gone.

Parties on the left and the right all crying out for more oil. Turns out, it's actually still quite important.

A decent supply of it at a stable price.

And we're a long way off from that strait opening and running at full capacity again.

Trump's talking victory. Winston told me this week the war will be over...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 13th of March 2025, the Government could consider car-less days to help with fuel security, AA Fuel Spokesperson, Terry Collins shares his thoughts. 

Homegrown Festival is back, but this time in Hamilton, Homegrown Festival Founder Andrew Tuck shares his thoughts. 

According to a new report the Maui gas field could run dry by 2027, Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike C...

Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga is a contender to be named as one of Dave Rennie’s assistant coaches, possibly on defence. 

The Moana Pasifika mentor would replace Tamati Ellison. 

Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby, Elliott Smith told Ryan Bridge it’s not really a surprise.  

He says he’s got a strong connection to Rennie, having played under him for Wellington and the NPC going back 25 years. 

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Labour's new education spokesperson says giving non-unionised educators pay increases will divide teachers further.

Boards can now make individual employment offers to non-NZEI primary teachers after the union rejected three recent deals.

Ginny Andersen told Ryan Bridge it undermines existing bargaining and teachers would get more under the collective if it kept being negotiated.

She says this is a short-cut that gives them less mo...

The impact of the Heinz Wattie's restructure won't be felt by growers straight away. 

The company plans to shut three manufacturing facilitates in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and packing operations in Hastings. 

It's because of a planned move away from selling frozen vegetables, Gregg's Coffee, and several dips, which means 350 jobs are on the line. 

Process Vegetables New Zealand Chair David Hadfield t...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Labour's new education spokesperson Ginny Anderson shares her thoughts on non-union teachers offered a pay rise from the Public Service Commission. 

Watties is looking to axe production of its frozen vegetables, Chair of Process Vegetables NZ David Hadfield explains how it will impact growers. 

All Blacks legend Tana Umaga has reportedly been picked by Dave Renn...

I can't see what the problem is with teachers getting a pay rise.

If that sounds weird, it's because it's the union complaining. 

The union that's always saying teachers are undervalued and underpaid doesn't want the pay rise. They're actually going to take legal action to try and stop it happening. 

It's upside down day today folks. 

The primary teachers' union is dragging out their collective bargaining (9 months a...

The Government's under pressure to act to ensure airlines can continue operating. 

Air New Zealand's raised fares due to rising jet fuel costs, increasing domestic fares by $10, short-haul fares by $20, and long-haul fares by $90. 

Air Chathams has also raised its standard fare by $20. 

Chief Executive Duane Emeny told Ryan Bridge the Government could be playing a role in helping the industry out. 

He says they ...