Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 2nd of July 2025, the government introduces tougher penalties for crime, Woolworths director of retail Jason Stockill shares his thoughts. 

Quite a few of New Zealand's libraries either already have or are open to stocking books written by AI authors, Laura Marshall from the library and information association tells Ryan Bridge what this means.

We’ve got fre...

Woolworths says it takes a community effort to curb retail crime. 

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has unveiled the plan for Police to issue infringement fines for people stealing - similar to speeding tickets. 

It is based on suggestions from the Retail Crime Ministerial Advisory Group. 

Woolworths Retail and Franchise Director Jason Stockill told Ryan Bridge the announcement is an example of collaboration across th...

You know immediately when something makes good political sense. 

You can usually tell, not by listening to the Minister announce it, but by listening to the Opposition oppose it. 

Crime is topic du jour as the Government's rolling maul of thundercloud announcements continue. 

It's one of the party's strongest, biggest levers to pull - it's one of the few election issues on which the Nats outpoll Labour.

So it's no wo...

Businesses still seem to be doing it tough. 

The latest Centrix data for June shows the number of people behind on payments is down on last year, for the fifth consecutive month in a row. 

At the same time, company liquidations have risen 27% year-on-year. 

BWA Insolvency’s Bryan Williams told Ryan Bridge he expects it to start falling again later this year. 

He says people will have a more enlightened view of t...

Business NZ's Advocacy Director says Invest New Zealand is looking to hire people with an array of international connections. 

The government organisation's been given $85 million over four years to work with global investors to create jobs, boost innovation, and lift productivity. 

Catherine Beard told Ryan Bridge potential employees should be well-connected around the world. 

She says they should be looking at wher...

The Government's introduction of new sentences for coward punches is being described as merely cosmetic. 

It's announced specific offences for striking a distracted victim - which could carry a sentence of life imprisonment, if fatal. 

But Law Association Vice President Julie-Anne Kincade told Ryan Bridge she understands people have been looking for reform in this area. 

She doesn't think it will make a huge impact, ...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 1st of July 2025, the Government's announced coward punches will now be a specific offence, Vice President of the Law Associaiton Julie-Anne Kincade KC tells Ryan Bridge the difference it will make.  

Bryan Williams, Principal at BWA Insolvency, shares his thoughts on new data from Centrix around business liquidations. 

From today we officially have a new reg...

The robots are coming, and they reckon they'll be better than us humans at doing difficult, complex stuff - like being a doctor. 

Microsoft announced overnight "an artificial intelligence system that performs better than human doctors at complex health diagnoses". 

That's according to the Guardian, who say the company's AI unit is creating a “path to medical super-intelligence”.

So, Microsoft reckons their robot system “s...

From tomorrow, all rental properties in New Zealand will have to meet the healthy home standards. 

The Healthy Homes Act brought in stricter rules around heating, insulation, ventilation and draft stopping.  

Despite the long notice period and extensions, Advocacy manager at the Property Investors Federation Matt Ball says some homes are still not up to standard.  

In a recent sample of 1000 homes, only 23% were foun...

Shoplifting and trespassing laws are expected to get a revamp this week. 

Newstalk ZB understands policy changes relating to Retail Crime Ministerial Advisory Group recommendations are imminent.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith's previously labelled current trespassing laws as not fit for purpose. 

Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young told Ryan Bridge the changes should deal with recidivist offending.

See omnystudio.com/...

The government's so-called crackdown on crime is more than just tough talk but that doesn't mean it'll make much difference to crime. 

That's not for want of trying. It's because the Courts are a law unto themselves. 

They apply sentencing discounts like they're Briscoes Sales - 90% off for remorse. 10% of for your family report. You're free to leave the dock with time served on that murder charge! We look forward to welc...

Auckland's City Rail Link is expecting 19 thousand peak passengers after opening day, a sharp drop compared to earlier forecasts.  

In 2022, it was reported 27 thousand passengers an hour would be using the rail link at peak times when it opens next year. 

Auckland Transport says it's increasing the train fleet by about 30% to make 19 thousand passengers possible. 

Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck told Ryan Bridge the ...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 27th of June 2025, Ozempic style weightloss drug, Wegovy is coming to New Zealand, Sarah Kennedy CEO of Calocurb tells Ryan Bridge about the benefits it'll bring. 

The number of commuters using Auckland's new city rail link could be much lower than first thought Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck shares her thoughts. 

Tributes flow following the death of Te Pati M...

There'll be a by-election in Auckland in the coming weeks, following the death of Te Pati Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp early yesterday. 

She was 50 and had been battling kidney disease. 

Kemp's body has arrived at Hoani Waititi Marae this morning, where she will lie in state for mourners to visit, before her tangi on Tuesday. 

Newstalk ZB’s Jason Walls told Ryan Bridge it’s almost certain Labour’s Peeni Henare will ru...

Access is opening up for Kiwis to a weight loss drug described as a game changer.  

Wegovy, made by pharma-co Novo Nordisk, will arrive in pharmacies next week.  

It's not funded by Pharmac, so users will have to pay and get a prescription for the weekly injectable. 

Calocurb CEO Sarah Kennedy told Ryan Bridge that people need to be aware of both the cost of the drug and the side effect.  

She says that over 70%...

If you've got a health problem, if you've got a mental problem, if you can't sleep, if you're fat, enormous, obese, don't worry. 

All your problems can be solved with a pill, an injection. a prescription - or even no prescription. 

That's the clear message we've been getting from regulators. 

From Tuesday, the Hollywood weight-loss drug Weygovey, like Ozempic, will be available here, not for diabetes, but to shift we...

Some in the Auckland real estate sector are giving the Government's move to require taller apartments near key rail stations the tick of approval.  

The Resource Management Bill will be amended to force Auckland Council to allow apartments at least 10 or 15 storeys tall around City Rail Link stops. 

LJ Hooker Head of Network Campbell Dunoon hopes locals get behind what he believes is a good idea.  

He says everyone's...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 26th of 2025, the government announces it will be forcing Auckland Council to allow new developments of at least 15 storeys next to City Rail Link train stations, LJ Hooker Head of Network Campbell Dunoon shares his thoughts. 

Trouble could be brewing for super rugby's Moana Pasifika, Weekend Sport host Jason Pine explains.

A report from the Infrastructure Commis...