Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Europe's leaders are rallying together to discuss Ukrainian security with Donald Trump.  

Over the weekend Vladimir Putin met with the US President in Alaska, which concluded without any movement.  

Now, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France's Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky are some of the leaders meeting in Washington tomorrow to continue discussions.   

European Correspondent Gavin Grey told...

We are well on our way to a collective one trillion dollars in debt.

In the year to the end of May, New Zealand hit just over 870-billion in gross debt - up 5.4 percent from almost 830-billion last year.

It represents an average of just over 160-thousand dollars in raw debt for every person in the country.

At the current rate of growth, New Zealand will hit the trillion dollar landmark,  inside the next three years.

That rate ...

I went out for lunch to a cafe the other day and our table was served by a couple of waiters who all seemed to have a similar vibe about them.

They just. Did. Not. Seem. To. Care.

No smiling. No banter. No small talk or polite conversation. 

Just this blank look on their faces.

You sit there and think “did they hear me”?

You ever so politely repeat yourself in case they didn’t. 

But they did. They got it. There’s just no ...

A reversion to a largely first-choice team for the All Blacks as they open the Rugby Championship against Argentina on Sunday morning in Cordoba. 

The return of captain Scott Barrett from a calf injury headlines the side, while Du'Plessis Kirifi gets his second straight test start at openside flanker. 

Although the New Zealand side has never lost to the Argentinian team at their home, former All Black Josh Kronfeld told R...

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are gearing up for tomorrow's highly anticipated talks in Alaska.  

The US and Russian presidents will discuss ending the war in Ukraine, with suggestions a second meeting could follow if it goes well.  

The Kremlin's already dangling financial incentives, saying there's untapped potential in US-Russian relations. 

US Correspondent Toni Waterman told Ryan Bridge there are reports Trump...

The country's red meat sector may struggle to reach a goal set by the Government to double exports by 2034.

Data from NZ Beef + Lamb's found breeding ewe numbers have dropped by nearly two-percent, while beef cattle numbers were up 4.4-percent.

It reveals 2.6 million units of sheep and beef stock have been lost due to afforestation over the past eight years. 

Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Richard Dawkins told Ryan Brid...

What's the point in us having more affordable property prices for first home buyers if young workers are jetting off to Australia in search of a better tomorrow? 

There's a perverse logic to this, but across the Tasman right now, where our flying Kiwis are headed, they're experiencing something of a property boom. 

It's the opposite of the stagnant or falling prices we're seeing here, where homes in most regions are now c...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 15th of August 2025, All eyes are on Alaska ahead of a crucial meeting between Trump and Putin, US Correspondent Toni Waterman is in Alaska and has the latest. 

The All Blacks are taking on Argentina in Córdoba, former All Black Josh Kronfeld shares his thoughts ahead of the game. 
Sheep and beef cattle numbers are improving, Federated Farmers Meat and Wool...

Times are tough for property owners as they see the lowest resale profits in over a decade. 

Cotality’s latest Pain & Gain Report shows 89.4% of homes sold above their purchase price last quarter – the lowest since 2014. 

Christchurch was the most resilient of the main centres, with 4.9% of Q2 resales made at a loss, well below the national average of 10.6%, while Auckland recorded the highest proportion of loss-makin...

NCEA Level 1 achievement's dropped to its lowest level in a decade, while all qualifications saw improvement. 

In 2024, achievement in Levels 2, 3, and University Entrance went up for the first time since 2020.  

Student's completing Level 1 continued to drop, and Māori also fell further behind. 

Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Ryan Bridge there've been problems with the qualification since its intro...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 14th of August 2025, Jacinda Arden and Chris Hipkins won't show face at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19, Minister responsible Brooke Van Velden shares her thoughts. 

Property owners are seeing the lowest resale profits in over a decade, Matt Ball from the NZ Property Investors Federation tells Ryan why. 

New NCEA achievement data shows mixed re...

The ACT Party's laying into the former Ministers who lead our Covid-19 response for refusing to front public hearings. 

Labour leader Chris Hipkins, and former Ministers Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, and Ayesha Verrall have declined to appear as part of the Royal Commission's Inquiry. 

Commissioners are confident it won't hamper efforts.

Act's Brooke van Velden, who's in charge of the inquiry, told Ryan Bridge these Mi...

Yesterday they wheeled out three excuses for not fronting up and answering questions about why they went so hard on lockdowns and mandates which they then papered over with $66-billion in spending - second in the world only to the US - thereby helping fuel the inflation we're all now paying the price for taming. 

1. First we heard they wouldn't attend the public hearing and give public evidence because they were worried about ...

More heat pumps in households could cut energy bills by a total of $1.5 billion a year. 

A report by the New Zealand Green Building Council has found replacing gas and electric heaters with heat pumps could save 40% of gas produced, each year. 

It's also revealed this could protect thousands of  jobs, with three mills closing in the last year due to soaring energy prices. 

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Auth...

The Vocational Education Minister assures its Te Pukenga de-merger is responsible, despite Treasury raising concerns.

Newstalk ZB can reveal it urged the Government to seek reassurance that allowing polytechs to go back to governing themselves would help their finances.

The mid-March paper warned the financial situation would be the same, if not worse, than before the merger.

Penny Simmonds told Ryan Bridge if they did nothing, Tre...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 13th of August 2025, Treasury warned the Government that breaking up Te Pukenga could leave polytechs worse off, Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds tells Ryan Bridge why they decided to go ahead anyway. 

A report from the Green Building Council shows Kiwis could save up to $1.5 billion on their annual energy bill if we moved to full heat pump adoption....

People aren't telling pollsters they'd vote for Labour because they'd actually vote for Labour.

Labour hasn't got any policies - they're an empty vessel. 

It's captain is still, according to most recent polling, less popular than the current Prime Minister. 

It's a protest vote. They're telling the PM to hurry up and do something else to rescue the economy the last lot, and a trade war, have suppressed. 

You don't th...

Major gas users are looking to the Government for help, with many struggling with high prices. 

A survey by energy management company Optima and Business NZ reveals gas prices have risen by more than 100% on average in the past five years. 

Nearly half of industrial and commercial users have had to make cuts as a result. 

Resources Minister Shane Jones is seeking advice whether rationing gas supplies is possible.&nbs...