Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

There's concerns the Government's being too black and white with its decision to pull the plug on open plan classrooms.

The idea was introduced by John Key's Government in 2011.
 
The Education Minister Erica Stanford says now all new builds will have more traditional layouts.

Auckland's May Road Primary School Principal Lynda Stuart told Andrew Dickens it shouldn't be a binary discussion.

She says it works well when you...

So the Local Government Conference is underway and the Government took advantage of it to talk down to councils like a step dad telling off their step son. 

They’ve been told to reign in wasteful spending to keep their rates increase down.  It'd be good if the government that is currently spending more than any other ever practiced what they preached. 

But anyway. The Government is talking about bringing in rate caps...

Should your job provide health insurance coverage? 

There are calls for a fringe benefit tax break as a Council report reveals people are twice as likely to have car insurance than life or health. 

It says 78% of Kiwis pay for their own insurance, rather than employers footing the bill. 

Enriched Retirement Founder Liz Koh told Andrew Dickens that New Zealanders tend to think they’re bulletproof, and they don’t tend ...

The future of the latest BBC MasterChef UK series is up in the air.  

John Torode is leaving after a report upheld allegations he used an "extremely offensive racist term". 

It comes after an independent report substantiated 45 of 83 allegations about the behaviour of former co-judge Gregg Wallace. 

UK correspondent, Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens there are calls to scrap the already filmed series.   

But h...

Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones is floating the idea of special economic zones as an answer to New Zealand’s energy security.  

The Government's asking for feedback on its new long-term fuel strategy.  

The special economic zones are areas where businesses can get tailored policies on regulation, financial support, and access to infrastructure. 

Major Electricity Users' Group Chair John Harbord told Andrew Dick...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday 16th of July 2025, The Government’s cracking down on councils -  forcing them stick to their core business, Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell shares her thoughts.

There's calls for fringe benefit tax breaks to help kiwis pay for the rising cost of health insurance, Enrich Retirement founder Liz Koh tells Andrew Dickens the difference it would make. 

Shane Jone...

The Government wants to scrap local councils' four well-being provisions. 

A amendment bill has been introduced to remove the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing provisions from the Local Government Act, to refocus councils on their core services. 

The Government wants councils to give more value to ratepayers. 

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Andrew Dickens she's looking forward to the removal of...

I’m always amazed at how much credence the United Nations is given in domestic New Zealand politics. 

The left loves the UN pronouncements on New Zealand’s stances because if reinforces their view that we’ve got much to feel guilty about. 

Meanwhile the right somehow believes that the UN can supersede our sovereignty and is an enemy to be repelled at all costs. 

But the UN is actually an ineffectual bureaucracy. &nbs...

A turning point for Auckland. 

The third annual State of the City report has been released, showing how we compare on a global scale. 

It highlights strengths in sustainability, resilience, and culture, but says we lag behind in prosperity, skills, and innovation development. 

Deloitte’s Future of Auckland Lead Kate Sutton told Andrew Dickens that Auckland’s at 40% of GDP while the productivity per capita is about 20...

Here we go again. 

The polytechs that were centralised by the last government are going to be de-centralised by the current mob. 

It's not quite back to the future because it won't be the same as we had before the politicians started tinkering.

There will now be ten polytechs run locally, six others will have to prove their financial viability, but it still feels like we're going back to where we started from.

And this id...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday 15th of July 2025, Secondary Principals Council Chair and Aotea College Principal Kate Gainsford joins Andrew Dickens to discuss the number of students passing the NCEA literacy and numeracy co-requisite tests slowly on the rise.

Dr Sandra Grey, National Secretary of the Tertiary Education Union, shares her thoughts on the Government’s plan to replace Te Pūkenga and...

Concerns we're narrowing the focus too much in the push to improve literacy and numeracy rates.

Small improvements were seen on last year with 57% of NCEA students achieving the numeracy standard, 61% achieving the reading standard and 55% achieving the writing standard.

Secondary Principals Council Chair, Kate Gainsford told Andrew Dickens the focus hasn't been spread across other important subjects like science or languages. ...

Over the weekend, a group of well-known organizations published an open letter to the Prime Minister. 

Organizations like the EMA, 2degrees and Consumer New Zealand all signed the letter calling for the government to reform the energy sector. 

Chief Executive of Consumer New Zealand John Duffy said that the government needs to have a fast, but measured response. 

He said, ‘[We don’t] want the minister to rush into a ...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday 14th of July 2025, Act's Tertiary Education Spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar shares her thoughts on a new plan from the government to double the amount international students contribute to our economy to $7.2 billion by 2034. 

A group of well-known organisations have written an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for immediate reform to our energy sector, C...

The Government's unveiling new initiatives in hopes of doubling the international education sector. 

Education Minister Erica Stanford wants it to contribute 7.2 billion dollars to the economy by 2034. 

The Government's plan begins with expanding work rights to all tertiary students in approved exchange programmes. 

It's also allowing eligible students to work 25-hours per week - up from the current 20. 

It will...

I find it ironic that the government and the electorate are once a gain keen on getting rid of some of the layers of our council bureaucracy.

First NZ First’s Shane Jones publicly questioned the role of regional councils, pondering whether “there’s going to be a compelling case for regional government to continue to exist”.

Then Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Mike Hosking that the Government was looking at local government r...

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson is determined to have more success in the air against France during Saturday's second test in Wellington. 

The French aerial assault often caught the ABs on the hop in the narrow first test win, an area Robertson says the All Blacks have been tidying up in practice. 

Weekend Sport Host Jason Pine told Andew Dickens that defusing their ariel game is essential, and Caleb Clarke, who is comin...

A belief all sectors will need to step up to deal with online scammers. 

The new Anti-Scam Alliance brings together government agencies, banks, telcos, digital platforms, and consumer groups. 

The task force will share data about scams to shut them down in real time. 

Banking Association chief executive Roger Beaumont says it will make a difference if all participants play their part. 

He says particularly socia...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Friday 11th of July 2025, the Government's going to address the country's scamming issues head on with a anti-scam alliance, NZ Banking Association Chief Executive Roger Beaumont, tells Andrew Dickens the difference it will make. 

The All Blacks are taking on France this weekend in Wellington, Newstalk ZB's Jason Pine shares his thoughts ahead of the game. 

Just u...