Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

New Zealand isn't good at maintaining its infrastructure.

The Infrastructure Commission's released a 30-year draft plan, revealing its first look at how New Zealand needs to invest in our future builds and upgrades to roads, hospitals and buildings.

Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett told Ryan Bridge big parts of government don't have a record of what they own and therefore no plan on how to maintain it. 

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It's obvious to anyone paying attention that we don't have enough young people working to support the cost of health and super for the elderly. 

This problem is going to get much worse in the coming decades. 

All this is spelled out in a Treasury report which Thomas Coughlin published in the Herald today. 

This is not new. We've known this for a long time. 

Future governments will either have to take a sledgeham...

News GPs can soon prescribe ADHD medication from the outset is being hailed as a community breakthrough.  

From February, GPs can offer a patient stimulant medications without them needing a specialist recommendation first.  

Specialist wait times vary across the country, but can surpass a year.  

ADHD NZ spokesperson Darrin Bull New Zealand has a major underdiagnosis issue, with only 2.2% of the population diagnosed...

Teachers and principals are relying on other students to know if someone is bringing a weapon to school.  

Figures released under the Official Information Act show 526 students were stood down, suspended, or excluded for using or having a weapon at school last year. 

That's 80% higher than in 2018. 

PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Ryan Bridge the experience of most schools tends to be the same.  

He says b...

The US President's received praise for his involvement in a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel. 

Both sides are claiming the other has breached the truce. 

Donald Trump scolded both for early violations but directed particularly stinging criticism at Israel over the scale of its strikes. 

US columnist Henry Olsen told Ryan Bridge it's a win for Trump, but earlier US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities may onl...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 15th of June 2025, Trump's ceasefire deal between Iran and Israel has fallen apart, Washington Post Columnist Henry Olsen has the latest. 

The number of students being disciplined for using or having a weapon at school has more than doubled, PPTA President Chris Abercrombie shares his thoughts.

From February GPs will be able diagnose and treat ADHD, Darrin B...

US President Donald Trump has landed in the Netherlands for his first NATO summit since 2019.

World leaders are gathering for the alliance meeting in The Hague to agree on increases in defence spending. 

The new target will be to spend 5 percent of the size of their economies, measured by GDP, on "core defence" along with defence-related areas such as security.

UK and Europe correspondent, Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge Trump goi...

It's just amazing the shear breadth and diversity of things we get outraged by on any given week. 

Whether its Brian Taamaki - who after literally decades taking to the streets and stirring the pot - nobody should be outraged by.

Or whether's it's a bunch of chicks in bikinis rolling around in cow's milk trying to make a buck on OnlyFans.

The Police were called. 

Yes, I kid you not. Couple of lasses. Bikini clad. Making s...

Scott Robertson has called up five new faces for his first All Blacks class of 2025, with his 35-man squad for next month’s series against France named. 

Following a spate of injuries and departures offshore, Robertson has put his faith in four newcomers to face Les Bleus, themselves weakened by an inability to select from their full complement for the tour opener. 

All Blacks regulars Dalton Papali'i, Ethan Blackadder, a...

Flares have lit up the sky above Doha following threats Iran would retaliate against US strikes on its nuclear sites. 

Iran's also reportedly launched an attack on another US base in Iraq.  

Qatar has confirmed no deaths following Iranian missile attacks on an US Air Force Base Al Udeid.  

Qatar closed its airspace earlier amid threats from Iran, and a flight from Auckland to Doha has since been diverted to Oman's Mu...

Iran's strikes on Qatar and Iraq have sent oil prices tumbling. 

Crude prices fell about 6% following the news. 

Analysts have been warning of steep rises if Iran retaliates against Sunday's US strikes, by targeting oil infrastructure and closing the Strait of Hormuz. 

AA Principal Policy Advisor Terry Collins told Ryan Bridge that the talk of potentially doubling the price of oil per barrel is overblown. 

He sa...

There's no downside to New Zealand's latest 'golden visa' scheme, according to a former Labour Cabinet Minister. 

The Government's confirmed almost 200 applications have been received from overseas investors since settings loosened in April. 

Former Minister Stuart Nash, who launched golden visas in 2022, told Ryan Bridge it's not just about the financial investment. 

He says it's about the networks, connections, com...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 24th of June 2025, the golden Visa scheme has taken off former Labour cabinet minister Stuart Nash shares his thoughts. 

Newstalk ZB Sports reporter Nick Bewley provides analysis on the new All Blacks squad. 

AA Principal Policy Advisor Terry Collins shares his thoughts on fears petrol prices could increase by 30c a litre as Iran's leadership considers whethe...

A couple of investment-related revelations from the Government this week proves a couple of basic points about business: you've got to sell something people want, and you've got to do it at a competitive price. 

Take the golden visa numbers the Government's crowing about. 

The golden visa category changes are netting results. This where we give residency to wealthy foreigners, but they've got to buy their way in. 

In...

So we now know the Americans used seven B-2 Stealth bombers to attack Iran's three nuclear sites. 

They used a dozen bunker-buster bombs - the first time these massive 140o KG big boys have been used in combat.

They flew in the dark of night, dropping the payload just after 2 AM local time. 

They fired Tomahawk missiles from US Navy ships nearby.

Decoys were used to throw the Iranian off the scent - some of the B-2's atta...

Whether the United States will intervene in the Iran-Israel conflict remains up in the air. 

President Donald Trump says he 'may' or 'may not' order American military involvement.  

US correspondent Katie Fisher told Ryan Bridge the uncertainty is causing some rifts within the Republican camp. 

She says that some of his “right-wing cheerleaders” like Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Green are saying that by enterin...

From November, transiting Chinese passport holders won't need a visa to pass through New Zealand airports.  

They'll can instead get a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority that's processed in four hours, and lasts for two years.  

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told Ryan Bridge our Chinese visitor numbers are lagging at about 65% pre-Covid levels, so they're doing anything to help.  

She says it will also sig...