Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 28th of November 2025, Judith Collins has ordered a public inquiry into the Tom Phillips case, Child Matters CEO Jane Searle tells Ryan what she hopes to see from it.

Jennifer Andrews from Oyster Property Group which manages Dress Mart shares what retailers are hoping for this Black Friday. 

The Government's considering moving escooters into cycle lanes as injury c...

A push to get more bike lanes as the Government eyes up moving e-scooters onto them from pathways.

ACC statistics show there were more than 2,100 claims for e-scooter related injuries in the first half of this year. 

Payouts for e-scooter injuries this year are close to surpassing $14 million. 

Cycling Action Spokesperson Patrick Morgan told Ryan Bridge e-scooters are here to stay, so councils need to build more bike lane...

The RBNZ update this week again made the point that yes, the economy's in bounce back mode.

We'll grow 2.5% next year, they reckon. 

But this country needs more than that. It deserves more than that.

The problem for us is, and has been for about the past 30 years, productivity.  How much we get out for what we put in. We went sideways and it's now falling. 

As you know, this is a bad thing. It's taking us more people...

The Finance Minister believes the country is in a position to grow.  

The Reserve Bank believes the economy has now turned a corner after last month's 50-basis-point cut to the OCR. 

It's cut the cash rate a further 25-basis-points to 2.25%, but is signalling further cuts are unlikely. 

Nicola Willis told Ryan Bridge that while the data lags make things difficult, there is enough other information to give them a sens...

Encouragement for any Northlander who feels hard done by from the region-wide power outages last year to explore legal avenues. 

Local businesses are taking class action against Transpower and its lines maintenance contractor over the outages caused from a pylon collapsing in Glorit, north of Helensville. 

An investigation found a relatively inexperienced and inadequately supervised Omexom worker removed nuts from three o...

The Auckland Business Chamber believes a a surcharge cap is a reasonable compromise to an otherwise unfair rule. 

In July, the Government announced its plan to ban surcharges for shoppers on methods like Paywave, forcing merchants to front the cost instead.  

The business chamber says this will just force businesses to increase costs, which will be unfair for other customers.  

CEO Simon Bridges told Ryan Bridge a ca...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 27th of October 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins Ryan to talk on the final OCR cut of the year.

The Northland pylon fiasco is heading to court, Northland MP Grant McCallum shares his thoughts. 

Business groups have come up with an alternative plan for the surcharge ban, Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges tells Ryan what they're asking of th...

So what do we know today that we didn't know yesterday after the big show from the Reserve Bank? 

Well not much, really. 

The cut was expected - it was already priced in. They're a bit more rosy on growth, it looks like the end of the cycle for cuts. 

But beyond that, it really is guesswork. 

The central outlook was 'balanced'. Meaning closed wallets could could hurt the outlook, higher housing prices and export...

Another cut to the Official Cash Rate is expected today but it could be the last for a long time. 

The Reserve Bank's reviewing the OCR at 2pm. 

Most economists expect the cash rate to be cut 25-basis-points to 2.5%. 

ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge they expect the Reserve Bank to keep the door wide open to taking further action next year if needed.  

He says it will be wanting to use the three...

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...