Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

A lifetime Black Power member is warning of a larger threat on the anniversary of the gang patch ban.  

Today marks one year since the law was changed to give Police increased powers to go after gangs, including banning gang insignia in public.  

Since then, officers have seized 182 patches, more than 600 insignia items, and 178 firearms. 

But Community Advocate Denis O'Reilly told Ryan Bridge international cartels a...

Hopes that those responsible for the Pike River mine disaster will finally be held accountable. 

Police believe they have sufficient evidence to prosecute certain people for manslaughter. 

This week marks 15 years since 29 men died in the West Coast mine tragedy. 

Sonya Rockhouse, whose son died, told Ryan Bridge Police have done their job and now it's a waiting game for justice. 

She says they've always ha...

Can you trust Winston Peters not go with Labour next year?

No you can’t. He hasn’t ruled it out.

Despite National scoring a higher party vote in 2017, he went with Jacinda.

Labour has not ruled Winston out. Winston has not ruled Labour out. Winston has ruled out Chippy, so a leadership swap in the last seven weeks of the campaign, or even during negotiations, is possible. 

Hipkins is a party man, and if the choice was oppositi...

Ferry Holdings' Chairman says he's more confident in the new Cook Strait ferry plans than the ditched iRex project. 

The Government's officially signed a fixed-price contract with a Chinese shipbuilder for two new rail-enabled ferries. 

It's now securing teams to build the required infrastructure at Picton and Wellington ports. 

Winston Peters claims the total cost will come in under two billion dollars and will be d...

Students getting around a school phone ban could be chatting with family members. 

An Education Review Office report shows three-quarters of secondary school teachers believe the ban has improved student behaviour. 

But nearly half of students admit to using their phones in class, likely because family members were getting in touch. 

Whangaparāoa College Principal Steve McCracken told Ryan Bridge most schools have ot...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 20th of November 2025, New Cook Strait ferries are set to arrive in 2029, Ferry Holdings Limited Chair Chris Mackenzie tells Ryan how the government managed to save $2.3 billion dollars. 

A ERO report shows the cellphone ban is working but half of high school students aren't following the rules, Whangapaeroa College Principal and B416 expert advisory panel me...

One of the country's top youth health experts says puberty blockers have been safely used in New Zealand for 20 years. 

No child or young person experiencing gender dysphoria or incongruence will be able to start taking gonadotropin-releasing hormones from December 19.

Health Minister Simeon Brown says Cabinet has agreed to new settings until the outcomes of a major clinical trial in the UK in 2031.  

Otago University's D...

We've got a bunch of new economic numbers this morning. 

The recovery is underway. Finally. 

We've had false dawns before, so I'm not overcooking this, but things are moving in the right direction. Investor confidence is up for Q3.

Most regions are getting a slice of the recovery action, according to Infometrics. 

What's most interesting is investor confidence, led by Auckland, is up quite a bit and they're not worry...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 19th of November 2025, a new report from Business NZ projects a shortfall of at least 250,000 workers by 2045, Chief Executive of Business Canterbury Leeann Watson shares her thoughts. 

Over half of our apprentice trainees in new zealand drop out before they complete their course, Te Pukenga CEO Gus Gilmore tells Andrew what needs to change. 

It's be...

A small business advocate says a Government grant must do more than throw money at a problem.  

The Taxpayers’ Union has revealed the business start up grant has dished out $38 million with little to show for it.  

Documents retrieved through the Official Information Act show hundreds of the recipients struggled and returned to a benefit within two years.  

Small Business New Zealand Founder Phil Wicks told Andrew Di...

A warning our major political parties need to display more bipartisan planning so we don't buckle to a dwindling population and economic growth. 

Business NZ's report warns a labour shortage of at least a quarter of a million is expected before 2050, and there's also a one in four chance the population doesn't grow.

Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson told Andrew Dickens says major parties need to reach a certain...

There are concerns over the fact that more than half of trainees aren't completing their apprenticeships. 

Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds is seeking extra funding so new industry bodies can investigate low apprenticeship completion rates. 

She says the government could help through policy settings and funding, but the nature of the problem was likely to vary between industries. 

Te Pūkenga Chief Executi...

There’s controversy in the Ockham Book Awards as two books by notable authors are withdrawn from competition because their covers were created using AI.

Stephanie Johnson’s collection of short stories 'Obligate Carnivore' and Elizabeth Smither’s collection of novellas 'Angel Train' are the two books cancelled.

Their covers were created using AI and the book awards are on high alert for anything that takes the place of human activit...

The struggling car industry is looking forward to some much needed relief.  

The Government's confirmed its slashing charges on importers who don't meet carbon targets by almost 80% and launching a full review.  

It's expected to save about $264 million in cost to consumers and will keep imported cars cheaper.  

Imported Vehicles Association Chief Executive Greig Epps told Andrew Dickens the target was difficult for ...

The police union is confident the health sector can pick up the remainder of mental health callouts.  

Now there's new guidance to determine if Police are needed when health workers request non-emergency assistance or when people go missing from health facilities. 

It will free up roughly half-a-million policing hours every year.  

Police Association President Steve Watt told Andrew Dickens the new approach has been ...

Uber drivers are rejoicing over their employment status being finalised with a legal win in the Supreme Court. 

Four drivers have won their battle against Uber to be treated as employees, rather than contractors. 

The Supreme Court rejected Uber’s bid for the court to overturn a 2024 Court of Appeal ruling. 

Wellington Uber driver —and city councillor— Nureddin Abdurahman told Andrew Dickens Uber's been exploiting th...

The recall of coloured play-sand products - potentially contaminated with asbestos - is continuing to cause disruption on both sides of the Tasman.

A recall notice was issued last week for EC Rainbow Sand 1.3 kilos and Creatistics Coloured Sand, 1 kilo.

More than 20 schools and early learning centres are temporarily closed.

Australia correspondent Lesley Yeomans told Andrew Dickens schools and centres across Australia are also impa...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 18th of November 2025, The Government’s having another go at the clean car standard, Imported Vehicle Association CEO Greig Epps shares his thoughts. 

Police and Health New Zealand are pressing ahead with phase three of their mental-health response changes, Police Association President Steve Watt tells Andrew what will change for the Police.

The court's recognised...