Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

I’ve had it with people whinging about state of this county and people fleeing to Australia who then refuse to stop and ask why we got here and how we get out of it.

Chucking up a post up on TikTok or waving a banner at a protest won't cut it. 

Productivity, (that’s how much we get out for what we put in) is crap. 

It's been getting worse or flat-lining for decades.

Australia’s is better. Wages are 30% higher.

We’re small...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 16th of September 2025, the Government's investigating local rules that are holding Eden Park back from hosting more big events, Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck tells Ryan about the impact this could have on Auckland. 

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay shares his thoughts on farmer confidence climbing. 

Gisborne council’s forestry rules have company directors w...

Hopes a new events fund will make Auckland an attractive choice for international acts. 

The Government is pumping $40million dollars to secure large scale events from next year - part of a bigger $70million dollar boost.

Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner says his dream would be a Spice Girls reunion concert. 

But he told Ryan Bridge any big name will be good for the city. 

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 15th of September 2025, The government's dropping $70 million to supercharge events and tourism, Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner shares his thoughts.

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

One in four of our schools need help to achieve the government's 2030 attendance target, NZ Principals Federation President Leanne Otene explains what help is needed....

A view that factors schools can't control are the reason school attendance is static.

About 600 schools are struggling to reach the 2030 goal of having 80 percent of students attending more than 90 percent of the time.

That's almost one in four schools.

Principals' Federation President Leanne Otene told Ryan Bridge this data includes both unjustified and justified absences - as well as transience.

She says this can be kids needing ...

There's no doubt punters will like this new major events fund. 

$70-million of new and old money. 

Some for infrastructure like the cycleway network which needs an upgrade.

$10-million for regional tourism. 

And the showstopper is this $40 for "significant, high-impact events for New Zealand from 2026". 

The PM and Minister Upston came out yesterday and said these big major events are money-makers. 

Hospota...

It’s a big weekend for rugby, with the Warriors final against the Panthers falling at the same time as the All Blacks second clash with South Africa.  

It’s been ten years since the All Blacks claimed victory over the Springboks in Wellington – will they be able to pull off another win? 

And the Warriors are entering the playoffs in 6th place after a season filled with ups and downs – how will they fare against the Panthe...

There's concern there's a creep towards privatisation in a refreshed curriculum. 

The Government's overhauling senior secondary school subjects, with new options to be phased in from 2028. 

Vocational subjects including engineering, building, and construction will be industry-led. 

Principal of Auckland's Albany Senior High School Claire Amos told Ryan Bridge it could mean losing the benefits of a school-led approach...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 12th of September 2025, Erica Stanford's revealed the new subjects which will be included in the replacement of NCEA, Albany Senior High School Principal Claire Amos shares her thoughts.

Newstalk ZB's Elliot Smith and Nick Bewley provide some analysis ahead of the All Blacks and Warriors games this weekend. 

A manhunt is still underway in the us to search for the k...

The FBI is releasing images of the latest person of interest following the shooting of Charlie Kirk. 

The highly influential conservative activist was shot at an event at Utah Valley University yesterday morning and later died in hospital. 

The manhunt continues for the person responsible after two people were questioned but later released from custody. 

Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian David Smith has the la...

This week NASA found the clearest sign yet of ancient life on Mars.

We learned that for the first time in human history, there more obese children on earth than underweight children.

In the Middle East, missiles bomb peace talks.

Over the skies of Europe we’ve got drones and fighter jets.

In the US, supposedly the first among free nations, another political assassination.

It’s times like this you think, what a strange species. ...

New Zealand appears to be a gateway for migration to other countries. 

Latest Stats NZ data shows there were 14 thousand migrant arrivals and nearly 10 thousand departures in the year to July. 

Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley told Ryan Bridge we're seeing more people migrate to New Zealand, who then move on to Australia. 

He says the Australians have been actively recruiting here for a number of years, of...

Calls for swift intervention to keep our young people healthy.  

A United Nations report suggests 9.4% of those aged five to 19-years-old are obese, and 9.2% are underweight. 

In the year 2000, 12% were underweight and just 3% were obese.  

Save the Children Advocacy Director Jacqui Southey told Ryan Bridge there needs to be better education around what is and isn't healthy.  

She says some products may appear h...

A big commitment from Jetstar and its parent Qantas as both airlines make big moves to expand routes.

Jetstar's adding new routes from Brisbane to Queenstown and Hamilton to Christchurch and increasing capacity on five domestic and trans-Tasman routes.

Qantas is also expanding routes and will begin flying state-of-the-art A220 aircraft between Wellington and Brisbane from February.

Aviation Commentator Irene King shares her thought...

Remember it was only a month ago Trump was parading around an Alaskan Air Force base, talking up peace for Ukraine.

Within weeks, Putin sends 800 drones across the border - the biggest attack of the war so far.

He’s targeted EU and British government buildings in Kyiv. He’s now entered NATO airspace. The fighter jets were scrambled. The alarm bells rang in Brussels. 

Does any of this sound like progress?

Does any of this sound...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 11th of September 2025, more New Zealand citizens are leaving the country than ever before, Massey University Sociologist Paul Spoonley tells Ryan about the impact it'll have on the country's growth. 

Jet Star's announced it's biggest ever expansion here with over 600,000 extra seats, Airline Commentator Irene King tells Ryan about the impact it'll have on Air Ne...

There’s a concern the Government’s school shakeup could drive more students to drop out early.  

New data shows that over 1,300 students were granted an early leaving exemption last year – the highest since 2007. 

The Government is proposing to remove subjects from senior school general subject list, reclassifying them as a limited vocational option – one being Outdoor Education. 

Whenua Iti Outdoors CEO Mark Bruce-M...

A children's advocate says Tom Phillips' children are not "public property" and the public don't have a right to know and debate their lives. 

Authorities say the children are safe and healthy and continuing to receive support. 

Their father died on Monday morning after being shot by police near Marokopa in western Waikato. 

Child Matters Chief Executive Jane Searle told Ryan Bridge we don't need to know everything w...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 10th of September 2025, the missing Marokopa kids have been found, but how can we make sure we don't traumatise them further? Child Matters CEO Jane Searle shares her thoughts. 

There's concern the Government's change up of the school curriculum could drive more students to drop out early, Mark Bruce-Miller CEO of Whenua Iti Outdoors explains why it's import...