Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Belief that small businesses are the backbone of New Zealand but are under-served in current Government schemes. 

Labour has pledged to launch a Future Fund - that re-invests dividends from specified Crown assets into businesses and infrastructure projects.

Prospa Managing Director Adrienne Begbie told Ryan Bridge her company helps small businesses get off the ground, and it's great Labour is taking steps forward for these Kiw...

A rates cap is one of those policies that immediately sounds appealing. 

Look no further than yesterday’s CPI number. It’s one of your top three inflation feeders.

So, throw a cap on them. Tie their hands behind their backs. Reign 'em in!

Get rid of the hundred-thousand-dollar bike rack here, the million-dollar disco toilets there, the coffee machines for staff over there.

But in practice, how do actually make it work without ...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 21st of October 2025, the Government's set aside a combined total of $1.2 billion to get key projects moving in the roads of national significance programme, National Road Carriers General Manager of Policy and Advocacy, James Smith shares his thoughts. 

Inflation’s hit 3% for the year to September -- up from 2.7%, but still within the reserve bank’s target.

Adrie...

Shane Jones is determined to use his voice to attract mining investors to our shores - no matter the next election outcome. 

The Resources Minister and self-proclaimed 'mining champion' is heading to the International Mining and Resources Conference in Sydney, to promote our supply of rare earth minerals. 

Jones told Ryan Bridge regardless of the risk of the opposition taking power, if there is no strong advocate for mini...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 20th of October 2025, inflation data comes out this morning, ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley shares his thoughts. 

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

Resources Minister Shane Jones is on a mission to sell our minerals on the global stage, he tells Ryan how he's going to do it.

Plus UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Pol...

Don’t expect a handout.

That’s basically the message to homeowners hoping the Government will swoop in and buyout houses after the next big cyclone.

Watts is the climate Minister. He took a paper to cabinet. I had a read in the weekend.

They haven’t immediately turned the tap off to buyouts, but they’re making it pretty clear it won’t e long before they do.

How long? Doesn’t say, specifically. Just sometime in the medium to long te...

Economic consultancy Infometrics says the impacts of the latest OCR cut probably won't be felt until mid to late next year - by which point the economy will be growing. 

It could mean greater inflation - with predictions the OCR will rise again as early as late next year. 

Independent economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge that caution is needed.

He says if the economy does kick into gear, there could be capacity issue...

New Zealand's suppression laws are back in the spotlight. 

This comes after the Mowbray family called out those on TikTok who placed Mat Mowbray at the centre of a child abuse material case.

The man who was jailed in this particular case has permanent name suppression and has been identified only as a member of a wealthy Kiwi family.

But that didn’t stop people on social media from pointing the finger at M...

It's hard listening to all the tributes for Jim Bolger and not feeling like we're being short-changed by our current crop of leaders.

A few short generations ago, this country was a different place.

Before the internet. Before the phones. Before the anxiety.

Before career politicians—those who go straight from school to university, into the student union, and then directly into politics.

Jim Bolger was i...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 17th of October 2025, retired law professor Bill Hodge tells Ryan the Mowbray family has a point over their complaints about name suppression in our justice system. 

Former Silver Fern Margaret Foster previews the opening Constellation Cup test against Australia with Dame Noeline Taurua still stood down. 

Ryan reckons Jim Bolger's death has put a spotlight on ...

A Texas biotech firm is forging ahead with plans to bring the South Island giant moa back from extinction. 

The Colossal Bioscience team is working on the project alongside Ngai Tahu researchers. 

Chief executive Ben Lamm told Ryan Bridge that they'll use ancient DNA and gene editing to bring back the giant bird — the same way they've recreated dire wolves and mammoths.

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The Airports Association is defending itself after airlines blame their charges,  for spikes in airfares. 

An international airport group says New Zealand’s domestic airfares have shot up more quickly than any other country by 63-percent in six years. 

But Air New Zealand says its fares are only up 35-percent.

Association chief executive, Billie Moore told Ryan Bridge the biggest driver is air capacity reduction, so ...

Kainga Ora's large-scale ownership of state houses may not be the most effective way to provide housing help to Kiwis.

A report by The New Zealand Initiative lists several reasons why government ownership can be problematic and wasteful.

Its cost structure appears to be approaching double the usual private landlord benchmark, based on indicative calculations.

NZ Initiative Senior Fellow Dr Bryce Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge the Gover...

This idea that our trading partners will somehow punish us for lacking ambition in climate change doesn’t pass the sniff test.

Yes, there are some provisions in some agreements, but they’re vaguely worded enough to get around.

If the UK or the EU or even the Aussies really wanted to punish us, they could.

But the question is whether they would, nor could.

And why would they? We’re a fraction of global emissions so what difference w...

Support for a crackdown on dress codes and behaviour in Parliament.  

Speaker Gerry Brownlee's cracking down on rules in the House following what he sees as multiple disruptive incidents.  

The latest saw Te Pati Māori MP Oriini Kaipara's maiden speech go well over time.  

He will look at attendance records, dress standards, and leave provisions.  

Political commentator Liam Hehir told Ryan Bridge dressing for p...

Improved relationships between teachers and students are being credited as just as important as the Government's curriculum changes. 

New Education Review Office research shows teachers are seeing more engaged students in maths and English, and three-quarters of parents say their child is making progress.  

Principal of Rotorua's Kaitao Intermediate, Phil Palfrey told Ryan Bridge it's also that more people are realising t...

Cafes are continuing to see their profits squeezed.

Sales in the hospitality sector have increased 1.4% in the past year according to just-released figures from the Restaurant Association.

But sales for cafes and restaurants only rose 0.3%.

Coffee Club Director Brad Jacobs told Ryan Bridge they're having to absorb rising costs to remain competitive.

He says the minimum wage has gone up much faster than the price of coffee over the ...