Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

There’s a very good reason National’s talking about a revamping the major events fund.

Or as the PM said on Monday, stuffing the pipeline’ with more events. 

It’s the same reason you’re seeing them announce just half an hour ago they’re creating a new business investor visa.

Foreigners will get a fast-track to residency for chucking $2m into a kiwi business. 

It’s the same reason they’ll announce in a few weeks that some ...

New Zealand could see faster economic growth than Australia, but fewer jobs.

In New Zealand, Westpac's now forecasting an economic growth rate will hit 2.4% this year, and 3.1% next year.

In Australia, it's forecasting a growth rate of 2% this year, and 2.2% next year.

Senior Economist Satish Ranchhod told Ryan Bridge we've been seeing more OCR cuts, but it hasn't flowed through to the job market.

He says New Zealand's seeing high ...

A reassurance that banking won't be much riskier even if capital rules are changed.  

The Reserve Bank's put out two proposals to loosen capital requirements after the government called for it.  

One of them is reducing minimum capital requirement for deposit takers from $30 million to $5 million.  

Founder of KiwiSaver provider Simplicity, Sam Stubbs told Ryan Bridge there are other rules, so it won't make it much m...

Self-employed people are opting out of KiwiSaver, putting their retirements at risk. 

A new report from the Retirement Commission and accounting firm Hnry's reveals only 44% of self-employed people actively contribute compared to 78% of employees.  

It shows 41% of self-employed workers don't get any government contribution.  

Hnry CEO James Fuller told Ryan Bridge when the Government halved KiwiSaver contributions i...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 26th of August 2025, The Reserve Bank’s giving capital rules a second look, Simplicity Founder Sam Stubbs shares his thoughts. 

The Retirement Commission is warning that self-employed people are investing at less than half the amount into their retirement than that of employees.

University of Auckland sociology of education professor Elizabeth Rata tells Ryan whet...

There's a view that NCEA has impacted how Universities grade their students.

A report by the New Zealand Initiative has found the proportion of A grades has increased from 22% to 35% since 2006.

It shows a dramatic rise during Covid - and can't be explained by academic improvement.

Auckland University Sociologist of Education, Elizabeth Rata told Ryan Bridge students now expect to get high marks.

She says it's what they've encounte...

At the rate it’s going, this by-election could cost Labour the real election.

Peeni Henare’s popping out policies toxic to the general electorate but popular with the 10,000 odd voters he’ll need to win Tamaki Makarau. 

First it was bringing back the gang patches, which left middle New Zealand scratching their heads.

We’ve been there, done that with the gangs. We’re over it. We want them sorted out. 

When people started g...

A clear message has been sent around driving under the influence after the jailing of a 20-year-old, who killed one of his friends in a crash. 

Alexander Lucas Kerr has been sentenced to 27 months in prison after his friend died, and the other was severely injured. 

Kerr had cannabis in his system when he crashed his car in a semi-rural part of Havelock North on January 2. 

Criminal lawyer Steve Cullen told Ryan Brid...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 25th of August 2025, Police Minister Mark Mitchell joins Ryan to talk about the issues with Police recruits. 

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

Criminal Lawyer Steve Cullen shares his thoughts about where to draw the line on drug driving. 

Plus UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the UK government planning an overha...

The Police Minister says our Police force is 'world-class' after concerns were revealed about officers' preparedness.

A survey of training officers released to the Herald found 55 percent feel new cops were barely or not at all well equipped with knowledge of arrest and charge procedures. 

Mark Mitchell says told Ryan Bridge this is about probationary constables, who receive two years of supervision on the job.

He says policin...

How many more children and pets will we tolerate being maimed and punctured to death on suburban streets before this actually gets taken seriously

I’ve personally had three people in my life who who’ve been out for a walk with their wee pups, on a leash, registered for $200, poop bags in hand to do the right thing. 

Only to be attacked by some absolutely viscous mongrel. And I mean absolutely ripped to pieces. Puncture wounds....

The All Blacks are demanding a discipline improvement as they count down to the rematch against Argentina in Buenos Aires. 

After having the better of the penalty count nine to four in the first half of the opening win, the tally was 12 penalties a piece at fulltime. 

The All Blacks also copped two second half yellow cards, one of which went to centre Billy Proctor and he says the need to tidy their discipline up. 

S...

A notable shift in the housing market as first home buyers have the highest share of purchases in two decades. 

The Cotality Monthly Housing Chart shows first home buyers account for 27% of market activity in July, a 5% jump on the long-term average. 

It also finds existing homeowners trading up or down, remain at historically low levels. 

Head of Squirrel Mortgages' David Cunningham told Ryan Bridge there's less pre...

Our defence aircraft could soon be playing cat-and-mouse with submarines following a multibillion-dollar investment. 

The Governments putting $2.7 billion towards two new Airbus A321 planes to replace older planes. 

Five Seahawk helicopters are also being bought, equipped with anti-submarine torpedo systems.  

Retired Lieutenant Colonel and defence expert Josh Wineera told Ryan Bridge the helicopters will bring milit...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 22nd of August 2025, The Government's gone shopping for some new planes and helicopters, at the tune of $2.7 billion, retired Lieutenant Colonel and security expert, Josh Wineera shares his thoughts. 

New data from Cotality shows people getting on the property ladder are actually at the highest share of purchases in the last two decades, David Cunningham from Squir...

Israel's military has begun the first stages of a planned ground offensive in Gaza City, causing Palestinians to flee.

It's pressing ahead with its plan to occupy the war-torn city despite international criticism.

New Zealand's one of 27 countries demanding Israel give foreign media access to Gaza to cover the “unfolding humanitarian catastrophe”.

Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Ryan Bridge Israeli hostage families are c...

We should all be happy, the weekend’s finally here.

But there’s an issue of major national significance I need to get off my chest: I have had it with car parks so small, you couldn’t fit a shopping trolly in them.

What exactly do they think we’re driving? Go-karts?

No. People are buying big cars. Utes that cross the white lines.  Station wagons that hang out the backend, blocking the road. Enormous SUVs that do both...

It's been another tough year for Fletcher Building. 

The construction giant's announced a net loss of $419 million, compared to a loss of $227 million last year. 

It's pondering selling its residential and development division and continues to consider offers for its construction division and other subsidiaries. 

Building Industry Federation CEO Julian Leys told Ryan Bridge Fletcher’s loss underscores the broader dow...

The fact a terrorist attack on New Zealand remains a future possibility is coming as no surprise to one security expert.

A Security Intelligence Service report states we're facing one of the most challenging national security environments in recent times.  

It's kept our terrorism threat at low, indicating an attack is realistically possible. 

Massey University's John Battersby told Ryan Bridge he's often been critical of...