Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

A Fire and Emergency manager believes public fireworks sales should be banned as Guy Fawkes looms. 

It's currently restricted to just four days a year, this year from November 2nd until Guy Fawkes. 

It's one of the busiest periods of the year for firefighters, who had about 20 fireworks-related callouts in the 48 hours since sales began. 

Community Safety Manager Adrian Nacey told Andrew Dickens they get between 150 ...

Unemployment has hopefully almost reached its peak.

Latest Stats NZ data is expected to show unemployment has reached 5.3% in the September quarter.

That's up from 5.2% in the June quarter.

BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Andrew Dickens they expect another rise in the December quarter, before the job market starts to recover next year.

He says there's still a bit of slog ahead of us, but there's encouraging signs, like job ads ...

Pensioners marched on Parliament yesterday, demanding that politicians remember them.  

And one of the biggest things on their mind is the rules around retirement villages.

Here’s an example:

A couple had been in their retirement village for 10 years. Needing more care, they decide to move out and find a more appropriate place to live.  

They’d bought their villa for $600,000, but under the current situation they’ll get j...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 5th of November 2025, the unemployment figures get released today with economists picking a nine-year high, BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones tells Andrew what today's figures mean for the Reserve Bank. 

Winston Peters has submitted a members bill which would ban the importing and sale of fireworks, Fire and Emergency NZ Regulatory Compliance Manager Adrian ...

There’s concern our cemeteries are running out of space, with some councils taking too long to secure new land. 

The Cemeteries and Crematoria Collective says many graveyards are already at or near capacity, forcing delays and limiting burial options. 

It warns too many councils are failing to plan far enough ahead, and many are excluding cemeteries from urban growth strategies that often focus narrowly on housing. 

...

Consumer confidence could be turning around as borrowing rises. 

Latest data from credit bureau service Centrix shows residential mortgage and household lending have both increased more than 20% year-on-year. 

Personal loan and Buy Now Pay Later applications and business borrowing are also up. 

Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold told Andrew Dickens we're heading in the right direction, but it's still early days.&n...

Rain's on the forecast for today's 165th running of the Melbourne Cup.

There are no New Zealand-trained runners this year, but Smokin Romans and Torranzino were both bred here.

Newstalk ZB's Melbourne Cup correspondent Donna Demaio says those heading to Flemington will need to pack their brollies and coats.

She told Andrew Dickens the weather is dominating much of the conversation.

Demaio says it's expected to rain all day and even...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday 4th of November 2025, Centrix data shows more people are getting mortgages, Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold tells Andrew what this means for the economy. 

A new NZ Initiative report’s calling on the government to tap into GP data, Chair of General Practice Owners Association Dr Angus Chambers shares his thoughts. 

NZ Cemeteries and Crematoria Collect...

The GP Owners' Association's backing calls for the Government to make better use of primary care data.

A New Zealand Initiative report says information from GP clinics isn’t being systematically collected, unlike hospital and prescription data.

It argues the information could help identify prescribing issues and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.

Association Chair Angus Chambers told Andrew Dickens this has been an acknowledg...

9 people were left in a critical condition after a knife attack on a train in the UK. 

It is believed that a man on the train, which was moving from Peterborough to London on a fast-track line, pulled out knives and started attacking passengers once it was on the move.

UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens that the incident was not terror related. 

'Originally counterterrorism police were investigating this. We ...

The public service union says ACC has breached employee contracts with its working-from-home rule change.

The PSA's taking the agency to the Employment Relations Authority. 

It says ACC gave the union only one hour's notice when it told staff four weeks ago they would have to come into work three days a week - up from two. 

PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons told Andrew Dickens that ACC promoted jobs with three worki...

On Friday I interviewed a representative of oyster farmers in the Mahurangi area who were outraged at a wastewater dump by Watercare that had poisoned their oysters. 

They have to close for 28 days. One farmer has to dump 80,000 oysters. That’s not good for business or their cashflow. 

As the interview went on I found out that this is not an isolated incident.  It’s already happened 39 times before this year.  A...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast 2025, the Government’s adding 140 new hospital beds across five hospitals from mid next year Health Minister Simeon Brown tells Andrew Dickens the difference it'll make to capacity.

Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekends sport. 

The PSA’s taking ACC to the employment relations authority, PSA National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons says workers have been blindsided...

The All Blacks are set to face Ireland in Chicago for the first match of their Grand Slam Tour. 

This will be the first time the two sides have faced each other in nearly a year, where the All Blacks beat Ireland 23 - 13. 

ZB's Voice of Rugby Elliott Smith told Francesca Rudkin that '[the game] promises to be a special occasion even if it's not tearing the headlines off the front pages.'

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Health Minister receiving advice on allowing babies to receive measles vaccine as the outbreak spreads.

New Zealand has two new Auckland cases bringing the total to 13. 

A national immunisation week starts on Monday - to help bring it in under control. 

Minister Simeon Brown told Francesca Rudkin there is the potential that if children are immunised earlier than 12 months, their longer term immunity wouldn't be as good.

L...

Is Donald Trump testing the limits with his latest nuclear weapon testing comment?

The US President posted on social media - saying he has no choice but to restart testing, because of other countries testing programs.

If the US follows through it'd mark the first official nuclear weapon testing - apart from North Korea - this century.

Geopolitical Analyst Geoffrey Miller told Francesca Rudkin that it's part of Trump's game.

He says...

Signs are looking good for Fonterra's major sell-off to get the green light this morning. 

By 10:45 today, the shareholders will decide if selling big brands like Anchor and Mainland to global dairy giant Lactalis is the right decision. 

Fonterra Shareholder and Supplier Garry Reymer told Ryan Bridge that the majority of shareholders seem to be in favour of the sale.

'I hear a few farmers who tell me they're gonna vote ag...