Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The Government’s new plan for water services is called Local Water Done Well. It’s all about keeping control in the hands of local councils and communities, rather than shifting everything to big centralised bodies. 

Which was what Three Waters did. Eventually Labour caved and the policy got renamed 10 Waters because there would be 10 regionalised bodies, but even that was not popular. And of course there was the troubles...

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday 2nd of September 2025, the government's made moves of the foreign buyers ban, former Labour minister Stuart Nash shares his thoughts. 

Interest rates are softening but the property market’s still in limbo, Jeremy Andrews from Key Mortgages provides analysis on the latest Centrix Credit data.

The NZ Initiative has done a report which found we have about three ti...

The New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey reveals most violent crimes have been dropping in the past two years.

It finds the number of sexual assault victims steadily increased over this time.

More beat officers are being deployed in Auckland to act as a deterrent to crime.

Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money told Andrew Dickens that these numbers are highly volatile.

She says there's lots of high pressure times, like Christmas wh...

Concern tertiary students are having to choose extra work over studying - to keep up with increased living costs.

More than 34-million-dollars in hardship funds has been given out by institutions since 2020.

Victoria University's Student Association spokesperson, Aidan Donoghue, says things haven't improved much since Covid.

He told Andrew Dickens they received 940 applications for their Winter Energy Grant this year, compared to 2...

Neil Quigley marched off into the sunset at 5.49pm on Friday. Late enough for the news to miss the TV 6pm bulletin.  It’s an old PR trick. Leaving the shock value to dissipate over the weekend before the start of play on Monday. 

It was evidence to me that successive governments and the Reserve Bank have failed to respect each other or realise that even though they are independent their actions combine and affect all of N...

The Black Ferns’ opening Rugby World Cup win has come at a cost.  

They crushed Spain at the start of the week, claiming victory 45-8, but lost loose forward Kaipo Olsen-Baker to injury. 

However Back and Skills coach Riki Flutey told Ryan Bridge they’re confident Olsen-Baker, along with outside backs Ayesha Leti-I’iga and Amy du Plessis will play in next week’s clash against Ireland.  

But before that is a clash aga...

Ukraine has suffered its worst night of strikes in months. 

Nineteen people have been killed, including four children, and dozens are injured following a bombardment of missiles and drones in the capital of Kyiv.  

It marks Russia's deadliest onslaught on Kyiv since July.  

UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Ryan Bridge the strikes hit residential areas and the offices of those representing the EU and UK.  

...

Chinese investment in New Zealand is growing, but slowly. 

The New Zealand China Council’s annual report shows China ranks 12th as a source of foreign investment in New Zealand, providing less than 1% of total inflows. 

Investment grew 9% a year between 2014 and 2024, but has flat lined since 2019. 

NZIER Principal Economist Chris Nixon told Ryan Bridge the problem is that investment is a long-term game, so other cou...

It could soon be easier to go to the pub for a big overseas sports match amid tough times in hospitality.

The Government's proposing to loosen certain regulations and allow for businesses to respond to objections for them having a license.

Ministers will be able to grant one-off special trading hours for businesses that stream major events. 

Auckland's Kingslander Bar owner Steve Gillett told Ryan Bridge it's a time of need fo...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 29th of August 2025, changes to alcohol regulation laws means ministers can grant one-off special trading hours for businesses that stream major events, Kingslander bar owner Steve Gillett tells Ryan how big of a difference it will make. 

Black Ferns backs and skills coach Riki Flutey catches up with Ryan on the Rugby World Cup ahead of the Black Ferns game against...

Reading the Air New Zealand results was a bit disappointing - even more so was the commentary after. 

Profit's down, demand is down, costs are on the march, capacity still buggered by engine problems. 

Here's the real punch in the guts for our national carrier: they won't be back to full capacity for the best of two more years. Foran confirmed it last night. 

There's something about a national carrier that should mak...

A Minneapolis Catholic school's been left devastated after a gunman killed two children and injured 17 other people. 

He was armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, and shot through the church windows before turning a gun on himself.

Annunciation Catholic School was marking their first week of school with morning mass and had highlighted their theme for the year as 'hope'. 

US Correspondent Toni Waterman told Ryan Bridge...

It's positive news for hubs like Auckland and Wellington where housing affordability gains have been most visible. 

Cotality NZ’s new report finds the national value-to-income ratio reached its lowest point since mid-2019 in the June quarter, at 7.5%.  

One Roof Editor Owen Vaughan told Ryan Bridge buyers should target housing pockets like Auckland's Otara, where's there a lot of value. 

He says prices have come down...

The Labour Party is accusing the Government of dillydallying on changes to the grocery market.  

Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis announced plans to speed up the supermarket consent process.  

Labour Party Commerce spokesperson Arena Williams says Labour is working on a suite of changes, but she didn't reveal what they are.  

She told Ryan Bridge the consenting changes could be used by the existing players. &nb...

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 28th of August 2025, the government's fast tracking new supermarkets to boost competition in the sector, Labour's Arena Williams shares her thoughts. 

Figures from Cotality show house price/income ratio his back to pre-covid levels, Oneroof Editor Owen Vaughan tells Ryan why that is.

The gender pay gap is at the lowest it's ever been, Mind the Gap co-founder Dell...

All good so far from Nicola Willis on supermarkets. 

She's got to the nub of the problem, which is basically red tape.

Governments of all stripes, including her, have been quick to point the finger at private enterprise for high prices.

And there's truth in that, but most haven't looked in the mirror like Willis did yesterday and admit it's them that also has a problem.

We all do, really. 

Everybody moans about prices but...

Belief an improving gender pay gap is due to a weaker labour market.

Stats NZ's revealed the difference in pay between women and men fell to 5.2% in the June quarter - its lowest point to date

A year ago, it was 8.2%.

Mind the Gap co-founder Dellwyn Stuart told Ryan Bridge the number will likely go back up as the economy improves and more part-time jobs become available again for women.

She says they're still carrying majority of t...

There’s a belief new tax rules will attract top tech talent to the country. 

The Government's changing the rules so migrants will only pay tax on income they actually receive.  

Currently new arrivals are taxed on estimated overseas income, even if that ends up being wrong.  

Business NZ immigration specialist Rachel Simpson told Ryan Bridge this law would ensure people coming here for a short period wouldn't get dou...