Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

There’s a view Labour's small business policy would give owners more room to grow. 

The party wants to up the GST threshold, lift the asset write-off, and require big businesses to pay small suppliers faster.  

It'll cost $1.5 billion and will scrap the current Government's more expensive Investment Boost scheme.  

Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson told Ryan Bridge it's great starting point and would make g...

The Prime Minister's interest in an MMP referendum's being labelled as a potential blunder.

Christopher Luxon's revealed on Newstalk ZB he's open to another vote on the 1996 Mixed Member Proportional system, if re-elected. 

It provides a party and an electoral vote and was reaffirmed in a 2011 referendum.

Lawyer and political commentator Liam Hehir told Ryan Bridge no one's able to say if this is a policy announcement, or just...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday the 7th of August 2026, Christopher Luxon floats the idea of a referendum on MMP, Liam Heir Political commentator shares his thoughts on Luxon's bold statement. 

The All Blacks kick off their tour of South Africa Saturday when they take on the Stormers, NZ Herald rugby correspondent Liam Napier tells Ryan what we can expect. 

Labour wants to scrap National's i...

Christopher Luxon's going rogue. 

The risk when making constitutional policy pronouncements 92 days out from an election, blindsiding your colleagues and diverting attention from your key messaging, is that you look erratic.  

At best, voters might see this as a distraction play. They might see this as a means to regain the oxygen. 

But it's not something anyone's actually asking for. 

The top seven things' vote...

AI might be contributing to our rising unemployment rate. 

Stats NZ data shows unemployment jumped to 5.6% in the June quarter, up from 5.3% in March.  

It's the highest rate in 11 years and higher than most economists had been picking. 

ABC Business Sales’ Chris Small told Ryan Bridge when you compare the South Island’s rate of 3.7% to the North Island’s 6%, it seems like more of a white-collar pro...

The Ministry of Justice is being accused of turning a blind eye to some internal issues after a staffer facing money laundering charges stayed on its payroll for five years. 

Former Lotto host Russell Harrison was arrested days after starting at the ministry in 2021, admitting guilt in June. 

Documents obtained by the Taxpayers Union reveal four other ministry employees are on leave while facing charges or misconduct inve...

A couple of things on the unemployment number that came out yesterday. 

It looks worse than actually it is because a bunch of people decided they would start looking for work in the second quarter rather than the one before it.

So, there are a bunch of reasons for this happening, but basically you don't really know.

You don't know what you don't know. It's anyone's guess.

It could be that people go, oh, the job market is ...

There are concerns family violence victims are waiting too long for protection orders to be served.

Data released under the Official Information Act reveals nearly half of temporary protection orders served by Police in 2025 took four days or longer to reach respondents.

Northland recorded the longest average delay at 16 days.

Aviva's Gwenda Kendrew told Ryan Bridge their concern is the state of limbo the process leaves them in, un...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 6th of August 2026, unemployment's climbed to highest level in nearly 11 years, ABC Business Sales CEO Chris Small tells Ryan why the rate is so high currently. 

The Taxpayers Union has revealed four more employees at the Ministry of Justice are on leave while facing criminal charges or serious misconduct investigations, Executive Director Jordan Williams has...

More than 170 migrants have been rescued after a boat crossing the English Channel caught fire. 

The vessel left France on Monday night before bursting into flames on Tuesday morning. 

Eleven people suffered minor injuries, while an Egyptian national has been arrested. 

UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge the Government believes its measures are working, with crossings down on last year. 

But he says tw...

The red meat sector's celebrating its best June on record for exports.

The Meat Industry Association's found $1.37 billion worth of red meat was exported over the month – twice that of June last year.

Sheepmeat surged 40% in volume and more than doubled in value, while the value of beef climbed more than a fifth.

Chief executive Nick Beeby told Ryan Bridge the increased demand is a result of the period of tight supply from ma...

The job market is expected to remain tight for quite some time.  

Many economists are picking today's unemployment rate will increase from 5.3% to 5.5% for the June quarter.  

ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Ryan Bridge the war in Iran and the surrounding uncertainty has probably spooked many employers.  

He says they may even hold off making any hiring decisions until next year. 

Smith says manufacturing a...

There's scepticism from retailers that Police will turn up to a theft as shoplifting rises to a record high.

Official Information Act data shows Police laid the highest number of shoplifting charges in 15 years across the 2024/25 year.

This resulted in the highest number of convictions being dished out in the country’s courts.

Retail NZ Advocacy Manager Denise Garland told Ryan Bridge Police are stretched and says it's the lo...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 5th of August 2026, unemployment's expected to edge up from 5.3 to around 5.5%, ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith shares his thoughts.

June saw $1.37 billion worth of red meat exports, Meat Industry Association CEO Nick Beeby tells Ryan how significant this is for meat farmers. 

Shoplifting is at its highest rate in 15 years, Retail NZ Advocacy Manager Denise ...

I've been spending a bit of time in hardware stores lately.  

Which is great because most let you bring your dog along, and when it's raining you can basically walk the dog for half an hour indoors.  

Anyway, last week I was in the shop looking for a sealer for a limestone tile.  

Now, I have no idea about sealers and don’t know much about limestone tiles either.  

But this is why you go to Bunnings or to ...

A building material supplier wants to see the consents given to new homes turn into actual work. 

Stats NZ figures show approvals rose 19% annually to June – topping 40 thousand for the first time since 2023.  

Infometrics says Auckland and Canterbury continue to dominate, making up 80% of residential growth.  

Combined Building Supplies Co-operative CEO Carl Taylor told Ryan Bridge it's a positive sign to see ...

Signs of life in the economy as overall debt improves.  

Centrix data for June shows consumers' credit performance is continuing to improve, with arrears plunging to the lowest level since 2021.  

However, the results still show 84 thousand people with payments 90 or more days overdue. 

Independent economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge there seems to be a bit less stress on our economy. 

He acknowledges ther...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2026, The Government's keeping the extra $50 fuel relief for now, Waitomo Group CEO Simon Parham shares his thoughts on where we're at with fuel prices. 

Centrix's consumer credit shows arrears are at the lowest level since 2021, Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie tells Ryan why we're seeing a shift.

New home consents have topped 40,000 for the first time in three years...

There's support for continued fuel relief, with motorists still sensitive to price rises.

The Government's extending the in-work tax credit, higher mileage rates for health workers and eligible patients, and reimbursements for relievers.

That's despite average pump prices staying below $3 for four weeks.

Waitomo Group CEO Simon Parham told Ryan Bridge people change their behaviour once prices climb above that mark.

He says people t...