Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Complex cases appear to be clogging up our justice system, with manslaughter and murder offences making up more than 70% of all High Court trials.

Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann says the system is struggling to keep pace, in her latest Annual Report.

Her report reveals a mix of delays, burnout, safety issues, and under-funding.

Former High Court Judge and Parole Board Chair Sir Ron Young told Andrew Dickens it's horrifying tha...

The game of rugby this weekend is starting to take on a life of it’s own. 

Some have called it the biggest game of rugby since the last World Cup Final featuring the same two teams - and this is even though the Lions have just toured Australia in a record-breaking financial success. 

But it is going to be a cracker. It’s been fortified by Eden Park’s record as a fortress - 30 years and 50 games where the All Blacks have n...

The Government's tertiary refresh has sparked conversation around whether the country's dumbing down the sector. 

Universities Minister Shane Reti's announced a package of initiatives, including a new education strategy and updated governance rules. 

He decided against making university entrance harder. 

Universities NZ chair Grant Edwards told Andrew Dickens there's no need for more limits on who can hand out the to...

Farmers are pushing ACT and New Zealand First for less politicking and more action.  

The two parties have expressed interest in withdrawing from the global Paris Agreement unless more realistic emissions targets are produced to fight climate change.  

But Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says they're in government and could be resolving the problems creating uncertainty for farmers now.  

He told Andrew Di...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday 3rd of September 2025, Should we pull out of the Paris Climate Accord? Federated Farmers National President Wayne Langford makes his case. 

A international visitor survey shows there was a 5% increase in visitors over the last year, Hospitality NZ Head of Advocacy Sam Mackinnon shares his thoughts.

The Government’s rejected tougher entry rules for universitie...

Pulling out of the Paris Climate agreement has got the backing of ACT and New Zealand First, who say we're overdoing it. And my first reaction is yes.

The thing isn't working. It's never worked.  It has always felt like something the world does to make itself feel like it's doing something, even though it's doing nothing

When you combine it with the Emissions Trading Scheme —...

Overseas visitors are back and here to spend, with tourism hotspots like Queenstown reaping the benefits.

The latest International Visitor Survey results show a 5% increase in international tourists over the past year.

Spending has increased by more than 4%, but still remains at 86% of pre-pandemic levels. 

Hospitality New Zealand spokesperson Sam Mackinnon told Andrew Dickens he's hoping the spending will soon become more reg...

A push to slim down New Zealand’s unusually large number of ministerial portfolios is being met with caution. 

A report by the New Zealand Initiative's found comparable countries have a third of our 81 portfolios and is calling for a cull. 

PSA's national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says they don't object to a discussion around this. 

But she told Andrew Dickens it's taking place in a political context, driven by the ...

A drive to attract foreign investors could deliver more than just financial gain. 

The Government’s tweaking visa rules, letting Active Investor Plus holders buy or build one New Zealand home worth at least $5 million. 

This is on top of the minimum $5 million investment pledge needed to get the visa. 

Former Labour Cabinet minister Stuart Nash told Andrew Dickens these investors will bring experience, contacts, and ...

More people are getting mortgages approved as they prepare for the Official Cash Rate to fall further.

Latest Centrix figures show mortgage enquiries are up 16% for the month of July and new mortgage lending rose almost 25%.

Key Mortgages broker Jeremy Andrews told Andrew Dickens many people are getting approved and just holding off.

He says there's been more activity lately - with one client of his going to auction, and nine peopl...

The Government’s new plan for water services is called Local Water Done Well. It’s all about keeping control in the hands of local councils and communities, rather than shifting everything to big centralised bodies. 

Which was what Three Waters did. Eventually Labour caved and the policy got renamed 10 Waters because there would be 10 regionalised bodies, but even that was not popular. And of course there was the troubles...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday 2nd of September 2025, the government's made moves of the foreign buyers ban, former Labour minister Stuart Nash shares his thoughts. 

Interest rates are softening but the property market’s still in limbo, Jeremy Andrews from Key Mortgages provides analysis on the latest Centrix Credit data.

The NZ Initiative has done a report which found we have about three ti...

The New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey reveals most violent crimes have been dropping in the past two years.

It finds the number of sexual assault victims steadily increased over this time.

More beat officers are being deployed in Auckland to act as a deterrent to crime.

Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money told Andrew Dickens that these numbers are highly volatile.

She says there's lots of high pressure times, like Christmas wh...

Concern tertiary students are having to choose extra work over studying - to keep up with increased living costs.

More than 34-million-dollars in hardship funds has been given out by institutions since 2020.

Victoria University's Student Association spokesperson, Aidan Donoghue, says things haven't improved much since Covid.

He told Andrew Dickens they received 940 applications for their Winter Energy Grant this year, compared to 2...

Neil Quigley marched off into the sunset at 5.49pm on Friday. Late enough for the news to miss the TV 6pm bulletin.  It’s an old PR trick. Leaving the shock value to dissipate over the weekend before the start of play on Monday. 

It was evidence to me that successive governments and the Reserve Bank have failed to respect each other or realise that even though they are independent their actions combine and affect all of N...

The Black Ferns’ opening Rugby World Cup win has come at a cost.  

They crushed Spain at the start of the week, claiming victory 45-8, but lost loose forward Kaipo Olsen-Baker to injury. 

However Back and Skills coach Riki Flutey told Ryan Bridge they’re confident Olsen-Baker, along with outside backs Ayesha Leti-I’iga and Amy du Plessis will play in next week’s clash against Ireland.  

But before that is a clash aga...

Ukraine has suffered its worst night of strikes in months. 

Nineteen people have been killed, including four children, and dozens are injured following a bombardment of missiles and drones in the capital of Kyiv.  

It marks Russia's deadliest onslaught on Kyiv since July.  

UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Ryan Bridge the strikes hit residential areas and the offices of those representing the EU and UK.  

...

Chinese investment in New Zealand is growing, but slowly. 

The New Zealand China Council’s annual report shows China ranks 12th as a source of foreign investment in New Zealand, providing less than 1% of total inflows. 

Investment grew 9% a year between 2014 and 2024, but has flat lined since 2019. 

NZIER Principal Economist Chris Nixon told Ryan Bridge the problem is that investment is a long-term game, so other cou...