Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

It was the last day of school in Parliament yesterday. 

It happens after MPs sit through urgency, they get restless, excitable, a bit crazy. 

They were shouting, interrupting, it was a bit chaotic - even Gerry Brownlee finished question time saying this has not been our finest hour. 

Opposition MPs, particularly women, were up in arms and incensed over the Pay Equity bill for the second day in a row.

The question for...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 9th of May 2025, A new Pope has been elected, Catholic Journalist Mark O'Connor shares the latest live from the Vatican. 

The prime minister's announced an extra almost half billion dollars in capital spending in upcoming budget, New Zealand Initiative Executive Director Oliver Hartwich shares his thoughts. 

Record income for New Zealand Rugby was not enough t...

The unemployment rate has come out better than anticipated. 

It remained unchanged at 5.1% in the three months ending March.  

The number of people in full-time work fell by 45 thousand, while the number in part time work grew by 25 thousand. 

Westpac Senior Economist Michael Gordon told Ryan Bridge that people are likely using reduced hours as an alternative to layoffs. 

He says it’s likely one factor as to why...

Experts fighting organised crime say New Zealand must pick up its act to keep pace with trans-national criminals.  

They've released their second report, criticising New Zealand's response to modern crime and money laundering.  

It wants cash to be made a less attractive option for criminals and to ban crypto currency ATMs.  

Drug Detection Agency Chief Executive Glenn Dobson told Ryan Bridge the criminals work quick...

Transpower is looking to make a key investment into the Cook Strait electricity cable. 

It's consulting on a $1.4 billion upgrade to the 610 kilometre link connecting the North and South Island.

The existing cables are likely to reach their end of life in the late 2030s. 

Major Electricity Users' Group Chairman John Harbord told Ryan Bridge the link's important when hydro-lakes in the South are low in water.

He says the N...

So, after all the handwringing, the complaints, the stomping of feet, the Commerce Commission's shooting down talk of an investigation into domestic airfares.

Greg Foran and Co. will see this as vindication - validation that, despite the headlines and Consumer NZ's claim the market is quote broken, the reality is their costs have gone up and, surprise surprise, it's expensive to run routes with high fixed costs to small places with...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Thursday 8th of May, Glenn Dobson Drug Detection Agency CEO shares insight on a new Ministerial Advisory Report on organised crime. 

Much to the surprise of economists The unemployment rate remained flat at 5.1% for the first three months of this year, Westpac Senior economist Michael Gordon shares his thoughts. 

Transpower says they need to replace the electric...

Social media for under 16s is being compared to the harm caused by cigarette smoking. 

Clear evidence shows that social media can be linked to depression and anxiety. 

This has led to National introducing a member's bill to ban social media for those under 16 years of age, to protect kids. 

Parenting expert Nathan Wallace told Ryan Bridge implementing a ban for under 16s sends the message that, like cigarettes and al...

Mixed opinions on when unemployment will reach its peak. 

Stats NZ data out this morning is predicted to show rates increased to around 5.2% during the March quarter. 

ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner expects this will likely be as high as it will go. 

While ASB senior economist Mark Smith told Ryan Bridge it could be a bit higher later in the year. 

He says they've seen firms hold back on hiring as disruption...

The doors of Rome's Sistine Chapel officially lock tomorrow morning as the conclave selects a new pope. 

135 cardinals from around the world will vote on a successor to Pope Francis, who was laid to rest almost two weeks ago. 

There's no timescale for how long it'll take, but the last two papal elections lasted for two days. 

Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge it's set to be most secretive election of a...

The future of a pay equity deal for teacher aides may fizzle out under newly introduced Government legislation. 

The proposed law, which would lift the threshold of pay equity claims of gender-discrimination, is expected to have its third reading this morning. 

A deal reached by union teacher aide members in 2020 is due to be reviewed - but may no longer go ahead. 

Union Member Ally Kingi told Ryan Bridge it was base...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 7th of May 2025, The government wants to overhaul the Gender pay equity claims process, Teacher aide Ally Kingi explains how it will impact her workforce. 

National's putting forward a member's bill that bans social media for under 16-year-olds, parenting expert Nathan Wallis shares his thoughts. 

We get the unemployment figures from Stats NZ this morning, ...

Bad news this morning for any productive, hard-working, and busy members of our society.

The climate protesters who brought Wellington to a standstill - rush hour traffic to a stand still - will be back at it again soon. 

Mark my words. 

You'll see more idiots gluing themselves to motorways, abseiling down Mt Victoria, hanging signs from gantries, roads closed, police resources distracted from important stuff, and chaos t...

A Government delegation has landed in the Indian capital to kick-start Free Trade Agreement talks.  

The Prime Minister, along with several other ministers, visited India earlier this year to improve diplomatic ties.  

India New Zealand Business Council Chair Bharat Chawla told Ryan Bridge India will hope to make movement in New Zealand easier for its people.  

He says it will also be looking to make use of New Zeala...

A tough winter ahead for meat processing plants as livestock numbers continue to decline.  

Latest figures from Stats NZ show a 21% drop in sheep numbers over the past 10 years – a total decline of 6.2 million sheep since 2014.  

The number of dairy cattle also fell 13% over the same period.  

Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Toby Williams told Ryan Bridge keeping livestock processing plants open, profitable, an...

The Australian Prime Minister's confirmed he's had a 'warm and positive' chat with US President Donald Trump. 

Anthony Albanese's Labor Party has swept back into office, securing a historic second term.  

It's widely thought Trump's volatility influenced the outcome.  

Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge Albanese thanked him for reaching out in such a positive way. 

She says they talked about ...

Tourism organisations from across the North Island are teaming up to shine a light on its tourism offerings.

Fifteen operators including Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Rotorua NZ and Northland Inc have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

It aims to generate interest from key tourism markets particularly Australia, North America and China.

Northland Inc Head of Destination Tania Burt told Ryan Bridge tourists fly into Auckland and the...

Disclaimer: Satire 

On the news last night, it was nothing but scandal. Scandal. Scandal.

I don’t think I’ve seen political misconduct of this magnitude since Watergate.

The Woodward and Bernsteins of our time were busy digging through documents, uncovering truth. Protecting democracy. From corruption. From evil.

Erica Stanford, Minister of Education and obvious crook, first in the firing line. 

Her crime? Printing off wo...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 6th of May 2025, A Government delegation has landed in New Delhi for the first round of talks towards a FTA between India and New Zealand, India New Zealand Business Council Chair Bharat Chawla tells Ryan Bridge how we should approach a deal. 
 
New figures from Stats NZ show our livestock numbers are falling, Federated Farmers Meat & Wool Chair Tob...