Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

A lot of roles could be facing the axe as the Government looks to scrap regional councils. 

The Government's proposing replacing them with boards made up of Mayors in a particular region. 

The proposal aims to reduce duplication and put downward pressure on rates. 

Boards would be required to put plans in place around re-organising services and infrastructure, which will be checked over and ticked off for financial s...

Hopes a nationwide maths pilot can continue to deliver results.

The $40 million Government programme targeted 1,500 Year 7 and 8 students needing extra support, through small-group tutoring up to four times a week. 

New data shows students averaged one to two years progress in 12 weeks.

PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Ryan Bridge the focus on core skills like maths never stopped, but this is a new way of doing it.

He say...

I'm part of the generation that grew up pre-cell phones. 

Gifts were usually clothing you needed. Toys were chatter rings, marbles, maybe a skate board. 

There was no 'picky eating', as we've heard about this week. If you didn't finish what was on your plate at dinner, you didn't get a treat afterwards. 

Sweat treats were fruit. Or Raro sachets (sugar rush) if you managed to sneak one out the pantry.

There were no sn...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 26th of November 2025, The Government's committed to abolishing all 11 regional councils, Otago Regional Council Chair Hilary Calvert says she thinks this is a good idea. 

Students forced to do an hour of maths a day made a full year's progress in just 12 weeks, PPTA President Chris Abercrombie shares his thoughts. 

It's the final OCR day of the year, A...

A rise in bulk buying may be contributing to New Zealand's food waste.  

A report commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment reveals more than 1.2 million tonnes of food is wasted or thrown away here every year. 

Nearly a third is by households, with processing and food production making up the rest. 

Love Food Hate Waste Programme Manager Sophie Wolland told Ryan Bridge buying in bulk isn't always the best ide...

A construction sector voice says mandatory home warranties are well overdue.

The Government's announced plans to require warranties for new homes three storeys or less and all renos worth at least $100,000.

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says it hopes to protect homeowners from cowboys.

Certified Builders Association Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Ryan Bridge it will cost more, but only marginally.

He says it w...

A Bay of Plenty trust says new investment will help more families address harm before authorities have to step in.

The Social Investment Fund's putting $50 million into programmes for children with parents in prison, and those who’ve grown up in care.

Among the recipients is Ngati Awa Social and Health Services Trust.

Chief Executive Enid Ratahi-Pryor told Ryan Bridge their aim is to tackle family harm early, before official interv...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 25th of November 2025, The Government's announced a new building rule designed to protect homeowners from cowboy builders.

A study from Otago uni says Kiwis toss out 1.2 million tonnes of food a year, Love Food Hate Waste Programme Manager, Sophie Wolland shares how we can improve food waste. 

The Government's revealed the first seven groups to get funding from it...

This rates cap, how's it actually going to work. 

I had Luxon on my Herald show yesterday, an announcement's coming in the next few weeks. 

But ask any Mayor, not the ones who like disco toilets and golden miles, but the ones who already to the basic stuff and little else. They're cutting their cloth.

Tim Macindoe in Hamilton. I spoke to the Tararua Mayor yesterday. They all say the same thing: we are doing the basics. We...

A banking expert is picking apart National's 'piecemeal' Kiwisaver election pledge, saying it doesn't go far enough. 

The party's promising to lift default worker and employer KiwiSaver contributions to six percent by 2032 - matching Australia's 12 percent superannuation rate.

Employer contributions would increase by half a percent - but not until 2029.

Massey University banking expert Claire Matthews told Ryan Bridge that the...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, National promises to lift the default kiwisaver rate to 12% by 2032 if elected again next year, Claire Matthews Associate Professor at Massey University Business School shares her thoughts. 

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

The trucking industry wants tougher rules for unsafe vehicles, Billy Clemens Head of Policy and Advocacy at Transpor...

The trucking industry wants NZTA to have the power to impound dangerous vehicles, after an Auckland operator was jailed for manslaughter.

Ashik Ali kept his truck on the road despite it being banned, and its failed brakes caused it to roll away and fatally hit a roadworker last year.

Transporting NZ Policy Head, Billy Clemens told Ryan Bridge the assessment for entering the industry needs to be more rigorous, with the current proce...

Unions charge like wounded bulls for their services. 

And they claim they're in it for the workers. 

They care about workers' pay and conditions so much, they're worked their way up the union ranks to help those at the bottom.

But then once they get a bit of profile. They jump ship to the Labour party, their good mates. 

Craif Rennie - flits between the CTU and Grant Robertson's office - has been selected to run in W...

The All Blacks playing stocks have been refreshed for the final test of the year against Wales on Sunday morning. 

Only captain and lock Scott Barrett and blindside flanker Simon Parker are retained in their positions from the loss to England with Will Jordan moving from fullback to right wing. 

Ruben Love makes his second test start from fullback. 

Former All Black Josh Kronfeld told Ryan Bridge Robertson is giving ...

A lifetime Black Power member is warning of a larger threat on the anniversary of the gang patch ban.  

Today marks one year since the law was changed to give Police increased powers to go after gangs, including banning gang insignia in public.  

Since then, officers have seized 182 patches, more than 600 insignia items, and 178 firearms. 

But Community Advocate Denis O'Reilly told Ryan Bridge international cartels a...

Hopes that those responsible for the Pike River mine disaster will finally be held accountable. 

Police believe they have sufficient evidence to prosecute certain people for manslaughter. 

This week marks 15 years since 29 men died in the West Coast mine tragedy. 

Sonya Rockhouse, whose son died, told Ryan Bridge Police have done their job and now it's a waiting game for justice. 

She says they've always ha...

Can you trust Winston Peters not go with Labour next year?

No you can’t. He hasn’t ruled it out.

Despite National scoring a higher party vote in 2017, he went with Jacinda.

Labour has not ruled Winston out. Winston has not ruled Labour out. Winston has ruled out Chippy, so a leadership swap in the last seven weeks of the campaign, or even during negotiations, is possible. 

Hipkins is a party man, and if the choice was oppositi...

Ferry Holdings' Chairman says he's more confident in the new Cook Strait ferry plans than the ditched iRex project. 

The Government's officially signed a fixed-price contract with a Chinese shipbuilder for two new rail-enabled ferries. 

It's now securing teams to build the required infrastructure at Picton and Wellington ports. 

Winston Peters claims the total cost will come in under two billion dollars and will be d...