Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The road to peace in Gaza is not without its obstacles, despite a major breakthrough.  

Israel's security cabinet's meeting to vote on implementing the first phase of a ceasefire proposal.  

The deal would allow the release of hostages early next week and would see Israeli troops pull back to agreed lines.  

The Guardian Washington Bureau Chief David Smith told Ryan Bridge it will get more complicated from this point...

The ACC Minister's confident the insurer's growing deficit is on track to be brought under control. 

The scheme's recorded a net deficit of $1.5 billion, blowing the total out to $13.8 billion.

Minister Scott Simpson told Ryan Bridge the net deficit is still a lot better than last year's $7.2 billion shortfall. 

He says good work has already started, but there's still a lot to do. 

Simpson says this involves doing th...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 10th of October 2025, Donald Trump says the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal has been signed, Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian David Smith has the latest out of the US. 

ACC has reporter yet another deficit, Minister responsible for ACC Scott Simpson shares his thoughts. 

New rules are out on when a rental’s too contaminated with Meth, Property Inv...

In a few hours we'll know who's won the Nobel Peace Prize. 

It's the world's most prestigious award, and Trump wants it really, really badly. 

Every year since 1901, a bunch of Norwegians sit around a table and sort through their candidates. 

This year there's almost 330 entries.

Four US Presidents have previously won it: Obama, Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson - Jimmy Carter got his two decades after he left office. 

...

The discourse surrounding the R360 League is growing increasingly heated.

The rugby unions of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy issued a joint statement on Wednesday (NZT) refusing to endorse the proposed Saudi-funded competition.

Sport commentator Sam Ackerman says the unions are overreacting- "that's like saying back in the day, if you had converted to, to rugby league, then you co...

The Reserve Bank's cut the OCR 50-basis-points to 2.5%, despite acknowledging inflation is above or almost above where they'd like it. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says they've factored in broader economic conditions. 

She says the central bank clearly thinks any fluctuation in inflation will be constrained by spare capacity in the economy. 

Labour's Finance Spokesperson Barbara Edmonds told Ryan Bridge it’s a dir...

Locals are raising eyebrows at the camping areas selected within a proposed freedom camping bylaw that goes before council this week.  

The Queenstown Lakes District Council bylaw proposes 15 designated freedom camping sites for the district following a surge in freedom campers. 

Save Clean New Zealand spokesperson Andrea Beryl says she's not against freedom camping, as the area relies on tourism. 

But she told Ryan ...

Former FBI director James Comey is standing by his innocence after being targeted by US President Donald Trump. 

Comey was indicted last month and made his first court appearance in Virginia today.
 
He's pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation.

US correspondent Nick Harper told Ryan Bridge Trump has described Comey and other political enemies as 'guilty...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 9th of October 2025, Labour Finance Spokesperson Barbara Edmonds thinks the Reserve Bank is taking a risk cutting the OCR by 50 basis points, she tells Ryan why.

Freedom camping across some of the South Island’s most popular holiday hot-spots has surged to the highest levels, Save Clean New Zealand spokesperson, Andrea Beryl shares her thoughts. 

Rugby Unions aro...

This story about sick or disabled teenagers getting the benefit doesn’t make any sense.

The Government wants to cut the dole for teenagers whose parents earn $65k plus - okay.

Their justification? If poor old mum and dad have to cover their living costs, said teenagers will go find a job.

Okay, fine. That’s about 4000-odd 18–19-year-olds.

But here’s where it gets complicated. 

It turns out around half that number are getting t...

Kier Starmer has urged students not to protest on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge that they aren't listening. 

In London on Saturday nearly 500 people were arrested in a protest linked to Palestine Action which has been labelled a terrorist organisation by the UK Government. 

Starmer warns of rising antisemitism while protesters say conflating the Israeli Government's...

The Government has signed off changes that let NZ Post cut back to just two delivery days a week in towns and three in rural areas.

Postal Workers Union co-president John Maynard said to Ryan Bridge that they are 'very critical' of the decision as it appears NZ Post prioritises returning a dividend to the Government over it's customers.

But NZ Post says nothing is changing yet, and rural communities will still get extra protections...

More students now think it's important to attend school everyday.

A new Education Review Office report shows students are taking school more seriously than three years ago, with six in ten attending regularly - back to pre-Covid levels.

It also found that 80 percent think education is important for their futures, and 75 percent think attending every day is important.

PPTA president Chris Abercrombie told Ryan Bridge having the gove...

Economists say a 25 basis point cut to the Official Cash Rate could be the Reserve Bank's most strategic option. 

The central bank will announce its latest review of monetary policy at 2pm. 

It's largely expected we'll see a cut from the current rate of 3%, but the size of the reduction isn't clear. 

ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Ryan Bridge we're just getting into the spring period for the housing market, ...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday October 8th 2025, ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner shares her thoughts on what will happen with the OCR. 

The Government letting NZ Post cut back to just two delivery days a week in towns John Maynard co-president of the Postal Workers Union tells Ryan about the impacts it'll have on the workforce. 

School attendance is back up to pre-covid levels, PPTA P...

Regular listeners will know, when it comes to free speech, I'm into it. 

How else do we get smarter but to debate ideas, put them through the ringer, shout and scream and reason and argue?

We've been doing it since we could talk - which is, well, a long time. 

When the MAGA mob came for Jimmy Kimmel, I defended him. On this programme. 

Many of you agreed. Some of you did not, which is what we call an argument, and th...

Satisfaction on both sides over the Commerce Commission's decision regarding Air New Zealand's airport cost concerns.  

The Commission's announced it won't investigate airport regulation but will look into how much information airports should give airlines on major upgrades.  

Air New Zealand says it's pleasantly surprised by the outcome.  

Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore told Ryan Bridge it's const...

It's thought the roll out of David Seymour's new attendance services will make a difference.  

The Associate Education Minister's putting $140 million towards improving attendance over four years, promising to reach twice the number of students. 

Extra support is going to 170 schools with chronic absence. 

Manurewa Attendance Service Lead Principal Cathy Chalmers told Ryan Bridge it's a much fairer way of distributin...

Australia's mushroom murder case will be heading back to court. 

Prosecutors have launched an appeal over the length of Erin Patterson's sentence. 

This follows her triple convictions – convictions her lawyer confirmed last week he intends to appeal. 

Melbourne correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge the Crown intends to argue her sentence is "manifestly inadequate". 

Patterson was spared the harshest penalt...