Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

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...

Organised crime is being described as the number one threat to New Zealand's national security.

The Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime see it as such a significant issue, it's recommending the government should give one minister the responsibility of tackling the problem.

A new report says police and customs regularly encounter drug shipments which were once thought unthinkable. 

Customs M...

I watched a movie Sunday with a group of friends. Here are 12 things I learnt:

1. You probably aren’t hungover on the couch at home uber-eatsing Maccas from the sofa.

2. You have taken the extraordinary measure of walking, using your perfectly capable legs even though you're still a bit stiff and sore from the gym.

3. This means you have visited the gym four times this week to ensure your ass will squeeze into the ever-shrinking vi...

New data shows rents are down to the lowest point since 2023. 

They’ve dropped 3% in the last year to $628 per week according to realestate.co.nz. 

Urban centres had the biggest decline, with Wellington leading with 11.8% drops and Auckland following with 2.3%. 

ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge its very much an economics lesson in basic supply and demand. 

He says that we not only have more list...

A private investigator who previously tried tracking down Tom Phillips says the area where the fugitive’s campsite was found was where people expected. 

Phillips was killed in a shootout with police after a quad bike he was riding with one of his children was spiked by police on a rural Waitomo road yesterday morning. 

Following a large manhunt, the remaining two children were found at a campsite two kilometres away. ...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 9th of September 2025 Tom Phillips has been shot dead and his three children have been found safe, Private investigator Chris Budge tells Ryan what happens from here. 

New data shows rents are down 3% nationwide to the lowest point since 2023.

The PPTA is telling members to vote down the government's new pay offer, Leighton Watson Senior Lecturer of maths and stat...

New comparisons show teacher salaries have plummeted relative to the minimum wage.

PPTA members are voting on a new Government pay offer, while primary teachers have decided to reject their latest offer.

Canterbury University maths lecturer Leighton Watson's done a comparison of teachers' pay with the minimum wage.

He told Ryan Bridge a beginning teacher was paid $33 thousand in 1999, and now they get $64 thousand.

Watson says it s...

It’s brutal, but Tom Phillips brought this whole thing on himself.

Yes, he was killed and that is a very hard and sad fact his kids are going to have to live with for their rest of their lives.  

Their father is dead.

But, he shot a cop - an innocent local Constable who was trying to do his job.

Tom Phillips also deprived his children of their mum, of any professional medical attention, of any formal education, for four years.

Unfinished business for a former Labour minister, who may jump ship and campaign for New Zealand First. 

Stuart Nash, who was Police Minister during the last Government, made a surprise appearance at New Zealand First's annual convention in Palmerston North over the weekend. 

He was sacked from the last Government's Cabinet after a string of scandals including revealing confidential information to former donors.  

Na...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 8th of September 2025, The Government's patting itself of it's back for new data showing it’s smashed elective surgery targets, Health Minister Simeon Brown gives an update on surgery wait times. 

Former Labour leader Stuart Nash makes his pitch for becoming a NZ first MP. 

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

Plus UK/Europe Corresponde...

As you know I’ve been saying for some time this election is National’s to lose. 

The economy will pick up, this government’s only two years in and kiwis like to give incumbents the benefit of the doubt.

I still think this holds true. But, as we’ve been reporting since April, Trump’s tariffs - which took everybody (including the markets) by surprise, making a bear of a bull - hammered business and consumer confidence just as we...

Belief progress is being made, when it comes to cutting wait times for elective surgeries.

The Government's exceeded its half-year target, by delivering more than 16-thousand extra operations before the end of June. 

It's also wanting 95 percent of patients to be waiting less than four months by 2030.

Health Minister Simeon Brown told Ryan Bridge they're on track to reach 63 percent this year.

He says the list kept growing unt...

It’s world No 1 v No 2, a repeat of the World Cup final, two of the great sporting rivals squaring off once again. It might just be the biggest test for the All Blacks this year. 

Scott Robertson’s side look to continue a proud record at Eden Park stretching back to 1994, while also needing to bounce back from a defeat to Argentina. 

The All Blacks have remained undefeated at the Fortress for over 30 years – a record that...

Truck drivers are feeling increased pressure to deliver on time – even breaking the law to do so. 

The Workers First Union believes the timeframes set up for drivers to complete jobs within allocated driving hours is unachievable. 

The union signed up to support the Safe Rates international labour campaign, which makes employers and customers responsible for the financial pressures put on drivers. 

Union organiser La...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast 2025, criminals with New Zealand residency could now face deportation for up to 20 years after arriving, immigration lawyer Simon Laurent shares his thoughts. 

The All Blacks will be taking on the Springboks at Eden Park this Saturday, Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner tells Andrew what they're doing to prepare for the big match. 

Truck drivers say they’re being pushed t...

What could be a reactive move - as Immigration Minister Erica Stanford sends a clear message to immigrants, to obey the law.

Criminals with New Zealand residency could now face deportation if they've been here for less than 20 years.

That's double the current limit of under 10 years. 

Immigration lawyer Simon Laurent told Andrew Dickens this is a response to an overall mood that's surfacing, particularly in the UK and Australi...

Now seeing as I am a 60 year old white guy, some will consider my comments inherently racist, but I am allowed my opinion just as you are allowed yours. 

Opinions are like bums - we all have one, so why fight it?

Firstly, the coming out of the Māori Queen. 

One thing is for sure, Māori do this customary and ceremonial stuff well. The attendees are seeing history, a young Queen about to take leadership. 

But I’m alway...

A separate argument against major tech firms paying more tax. 

A report from tax expert Nick Miller says companies like Google are able to skirt their dues by taking payments from New Zealand subsidiaries, listed as service fees. 

He says they could be seen as royalties, which come under a withholding tax.  

However, another independent expert in the field, Geof Nightingale, told Andrew Dickens the Trump administrati...