Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Net migration is back on the rise as the brain drain eases.  Stats NZ data shows the number of people moving here in the year to July outnumbered those leaving by 20,300.  Annually, that net migration has risen almost 55%, with arrivals up 5% and departures down 4%.  Immigration Expert Simon Laurent told Andrew Dickens that much as it has in the past, the security and safety of New Zealand is making it an attractive place to put down roots.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Surging global oil prices and bond yields could keep inflation higher than expected and force the Reserve Bank to raise the OCR faster than expected.  Some economists now expect the Official Cash Rate to reach 4% before the end of the year.  The Government says the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update —due out in two weeks— will try to reflect changes in borrowing costs.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Andrew Dickens further conflict in the Middle East is pushing up oil prices, as fears grow about an AI bubble burst.  He says both of these things are happening, amidst mounting concerns about government debt.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July's record tourism numbers are being seen as a reflection of investment finally paying off.    Stats NZ data shows 256,600 overseas tourists arrived during the month, overtaking pre-Covid numbers from July 2019 by 0.4%.  Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Andrew Dickens the effort from local councils, regional tourism operators, and the Government is bearing fruit.   She says July is usually a quiet time, so the big win is the 70% jump in business events that keep the likes of Rotorua afloat.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 15th of September 2026, international visitor numbers are finally back above pre-Covid levels, Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell tells Andrew how the government's tourism push has helped.  Migrant arrivals for the year were up 5%, immigration expert Simon Laurent shares his thoughts.  Our debt situation might be catching up to us as the global bond markets start to get anxious, Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains.  Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Pauline Hanson asked to apologise over nasty and divisive comments about First Nations Australians and the first confirmed case of bird flu, an endangered an Aussie sea lion. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The past week has seen immigration policies come to the fore.  New Zealand First is signalling a tougher immigration stance, longer waits for residency and citizenship, a referendum to cap new residency approvals at 20,000 a year, and a 30-year population plan tying migrant intake to infrastructure capacity.   Labour is also tightening its settings, extending residency qualification to four years and promising a Government Policy Statement.  But as economists like Bernard Hickey point out, these policies miss the real immigration pressure.  New Zealand issues more than 230,000 temporary work visas annually, largely for lower-paid roles on our farms, in our kitchens, and even in our beauty salons.  The temporary workers aren't here forever. But when they go, they're replaced but other temporary visa holders.   This quarter of a million of temporary visa holders is still driving population growth, straining infrastructure, and suppressing wages.    They come with problems that no-one is addressing.  Not for the first time, politicians can't see the wood for the trees, and not for the first time, they then release policies that are primarily designed to get votes but not to address the issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Russian drone has hit a train near the Ukraine-Poland border, moments after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other top European security officials had been present. No one died in the attack, and all passengers were safely evacuated. Johnson had been passing along the same line on a different train, returning from a conference in Kyiv. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says there's plenty of speculation behind the motives of the strike, with Ukraine claiming Johnson's train was the intended target. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK's GDP grew by 0.4 percent in July, surprising economists after no growth was predicted. The economic growth was driven by several key sectors, and boosted by more businesses investing in AI and data centres. Business correspondent Vicky Pryce says the World Cup also helped contribute to the growth, with more people spending money in pubs and restaurants over the July period. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The City Rail Link finally launched over the weekend and it's set to bring extra foot traffic to Auckland CBD, but concerns have been raised over the potential risks. National's promising a dedicated Auckland Transport police team if elected, pledging an extra $7 million per year through Budget 2027 to recruit the extra officers. Auckland Councillor Alf Filipaina says this is the right move, and he's been consistent in saying that the community needs to be protected. "We need to protect the community, in particular, within the CRL - along with the transport officers."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A clear standout - as Labour rolls out a raft of proposed changes to our KiwiSaver scheme. The party's promising to lift the employer contribution rate to six percent by 2032 - if elected.  Labour would also introduce compulsory employer contributions, even when employees have paused or reduced their own share.  Finance Spokesperson Barbara Edmonds shares the latest with Ryan Bridge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2026, Labour Finance Spokesperson Barbara Edmonds shares the details of Labour's KiwiSaver policy.  Auckland Councillor shares his thoughts on the opening of the CRL and if we need to establish Auckland Transport Police to keep people safe.  Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on UK GDP, the European Central Bank raising rates and a look ahead to the UK rate decision.  Plus, UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the UK national security adviser saying Europe must be ready to endure "real hardship" this winter if it is to keep up economic pressure on Russia and Reform UK receiving two £36m donations from British cryptocurrency billionaires.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a reason we talk a lot on this programme about bond markets, growth, central bank decisions and wars in far-away places. There was, and probably still is, a school of thought that people either don't want, or don't understand, financial markets, currencies and economics. I've always thought this was BS. It's why we focus on them a lot. They're important because they tell a story about where we've been and, more importantly, what's next. People aren't stupid. Most of the correspondence, emails and letters I get are from people far smarter than me. Though, that's not really saying much. More about me! This week we're getting GDP for Q2. It'll show we've gone sideways to slightly forwards, if you listen to the bank economists. Which is better than backwards, which is where they were picking we would go a few months ago. This is StatsNZ data and is, of course, itself backwards-looking. It'll show us where we've been. For a look at where we're going, we had the PMI, that's the manufacturing index out Friday. It was off slightly July-August, but still in expansion. And still above the long-term average. What's more, it tells us that forward orders are looking good. It bodes well for Q3. As always, there's a reason to talk about the numbers. Not just the ones we'll hear about this week. But the ones which give us clues about where we're heading next. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are hoping to rally after back-to-back losses to the Springboks.  But this time they're not on South African territory, instead the two sides are clashing on the neutral ground of Baltimore in the United States.  But whether or not the All Blacks manage to tie the series, former Springbok Kevin Putt believes Dave Rennie has already got the tick.  He told Ryan Bridge he's gone toe to toe with the 'Boks, so people can see he's doing his job okay.  Putt says this is more of a test of New Zealand Rugby and what's happened over the last four years with their development of young players, and NZR may be found wanting.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A retired US politician believes the Iran war has no end in sight. The Wall Street Journal reports top advisers told President Trump privately that his war would likely drag on through the rest of his term.  It differs from his comments yesterday, in which he was telling supporters it'd end immediately after the November mid-terms.  Former Defence Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta told Ryan Bridge that's unlikely.  He says this is Trump claiming everything will be fine, but in reality, the war will go on. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A warning from a constitutional law expert that every time the Government rushes legislation, it risks a major stuff up.  The Ministry of Social Development's apologising after 30 thousand winter energy payments and main and supplementary benefits were wrongly cut.   It was caused by an error in legislation which was passed under urgency through Parliament last year.   Graeme Edgeler told Ryan Bridge these mistakes happen a lot under urgency, but they don't always have such drastic consequences.  He says skipping the select committee process means losing that extra chance for people to point out mistakes as officials will often be working on the legislation and fixing errors as they go.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 11th of September 2026, the Ministry of Social Development has released its review into two issues that meant thousands of pensioners, veterans and beneficiaries had their benefits incorrectly cut, constitutional law expert Graeme Edgeler shares his thoughts. Former US Secretary of Defence and former Director of the CIA Leon Panetta, joins Ryan to share his thoughts on the US/Iran war and when he thinks it will end.  The All Blacks hoping to rally after back-to-back losses to the Springboks, former Springbok Kevin Putt tells Ryan how he thinks the game will go. Plus, visitors to England will soon face paying a Tourist Tax for their accommodation, with Mayors to be given the power to set rates, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A clearer direction for the hospitality sector, with red tape set to be slashed.  The Ministry for Regulation's completed a review into cumbersome rules hindering food and drink operators from doing business.   It highlights several recommendations designed to make things easier for the sector. Regulation Minister David Seymour told Ryan Bridge the changes would make life easier for people in the industry trying to make a buck.  Ministers are now working on an Action Plan.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tech New Zealand's hoping AI becomes a hot topic this election as Labour releases its policy on the new technology.  If elected, the party wants stronger regulations on the use of copyright materials, private information, and the energy needed to power data centres.   Labour also wants stronger oversight through an Office of AI and would establish an online safety regulator.  Tech New Zealand chief executive Graeme Muller told Ryan Bridge they've been calling on politicians to focus on AI for the last two elections.  He says this is a technology which will be more impactful than any that's come before, so it's good people are taking it seriously.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

House prices could be on track for a much faster recovery than ASB expects. The bank says national prices are still 15% below their late-2021 peak and won't fully recover until 2029. But real estate agent Rawdon Christie thinks the market's about to pick up. He told Ryan Bridge the sheer number of people he's talking to points to a strong start to 2027. Christie says that's because people have accepted the fact we're in a stable market, with not much changing and not wanting to wait. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 10th of September 2026, the Minister for Regulation, David Seymour tells Ryan how big of an impact the Hospitality review will make for the sector and what comes next.  Real Estate Agent Rawdon Christie shares his thoughts on ASB picking house prices will return to 2021 peaks by late 2029.  Labour's put out an AI policy and wants data centres to find their own energy supply, Tech New Zealand Chief Executive Graeme Muller shares his thoughts.  Plus, US Correspondent Nick Harper has the latest on the US/Iran war and oil prices and a preview of Trump's big speech at the Republican Convention. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do we really need a Minister of Booze?   Back in the good old days, they were all Ministers of Booze. The whole cabinet – especially Robert Muldoon.   But the idea that we need a Minister responsible for alcohol is well-intentioned, like all 80-odd portfolios that reviews and recommendations have created.   This one is a recommendation from the Hospitality Sector Regulatory Review.   The review was done by the Ministry for Regulation – that was created to cut red tape and make government less complicated.   It's recommended creating a new agency and transferring Ministerial responsibility.   It was announced by the Minister for Regulation, David Seymour, whose role was also set up to cut red tape.   Can you see the problem here?   There are no doubt good reasons to make rules simpler and get rid of regulations.   But creating a new Minister and ministry who then does a review and recommends creating another agency and transferring responsibility to a new Minister just sounds backwards.   It's like bacteria. Bureaucratic bacteria. They multiply and spread everywhere.   One minute it's a single cell, the next minute it's split into two. Next minute there's four. It goes on and on.   We need fewer jobs in Wellington, not more.   Remember, Ireland, Norway, Singapore, and Finland who are similar size to us, they all have fewer than 20 Ministerial roles. The UK, Canada, United States, and Korea have fewer than 30.   The saving grace is that no decisions on the review have been made. Why not just cut the red tape and send the pollies for a beer at Bellamys?  This piece initially stated that there would be a new Minister created - that was incorrect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel's taking several measures against the UK, including closing its consulate in Jerusalem and banning 11 MPs from entering the country.  The move's in retaliation to the UK saying it'll ban the imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank.   UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens the language used in the British Parliament was startling, with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband calling it "ethnic cleansing".   He says it's not how ministers of the past would've framed it.   France, Canada, and Spain are among the 12 countries imposing similar sanctions.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queenstown's Mayor says National's alternative to a bed tax is better than nothing.   The party's pledging to change how the International Visitor Levy is spent, pouring $100 million into conservation a year and $50 million for tourism.   The rest would be dished out to councils based on how many international visitor nights they get.   Queenstown would get $17.1 million in the first year, with John Glover telling Andrew Dickens it's not as good as a local accommodation levy, but there's currently very little else.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 9th of September 2026, new numbers on how students are are comparing with the rest of the world and it's good news, Secondary Principals Association Chairman Steve McCracken shares his thoughts. Nationals got an alternative to a bed tax, redirecting international visitor levy money to councils, Queenstown Mayor John Glover tells Andrew where the money will go. Beef + Lamb New Zealand says supports Labour's policy for changes to Emissions Trading Scheme; Chair Kate Acland shares her thoughts.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Israel unleashing four countermeasures against the UK after Britain’s Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Parliament the UK will ban the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand is welcoming Labour's plan to review the Emissions Trading Scheme. Labour says ETS prices are too low to meaningfully cut emissions, and make planting exotic forests more attractive than growing food. It wants farmers to adopt new technology to reduce emissions and isn't campaigning on making them pay directly for agricultural emissions. Beef + Lamb Chair Kate Acland told Andrew Dickens Labour is starting to recognise how important farming is to the economy. She says Kiwis are among the most emissions efficient farmers in the world - and stopping farming isn't the way to cut agricultural emissions.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, the jungle drums are starting to thrum for the fast-track regime.   Word on the street is that legal action is coming for a number of the proposals currently before the committee.  Meanwhile, there was a fiery Auckland Council meeting yesterday full of anger at residential fast-track developers.  Mayor Wayne Brown has vowed to be a thorn in the side of subdivisions looking to circumvent the council, considering telling fast-track developers —and future residents— it won’t provide or fund basic services to them.  The problem is the developers are using the new system to gazump planning rules.   Fast-track was designed to speed up the process of getting consents, but not to supplant the regulations currently in place.   There's been a stampede by housing developers who want quick consents, but they also want more latitude for their plans.   A prime example is the re-development of the Devonport township.   The developers there have proposed a series of eight storey buildings, but the Unitary Plan currently only allows four.   That's got locals concerned that the picturesque main road will be overwhelmed, but they'll have no say.  The fast-track is there to make the gaining of consents faster, but not to fundamentally change the plan that's currently in place.   The great success so far is the Port of Tauranga, whose plan was stuck in bureaucratic limbo for seven years. Now in a matter of months the plan has been approved, but it is still a plan that adheres to planning regulations in place.   So expect some expensive legal action as locals and councils put the spanner in the works of the developers trying to push the boundaries for a quick buck. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germany's far-right AfD is piling pressure on parties to work with them after a state election win.  Preliminary results show the party is three seats short of an outright majority in Saxony-Anhalt.  However most German political parties refuse to work with the AfD.  If it finds support, it would be the first far-right party to govern a German state since World War II.  Sky News European Correspondent Alastair Bunkall told Ryan Bridge there's a chance they could try and govern as a minority, but even then they'd probably still need an agreement to make sure anything they wanted to pass got across the line.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The oil and gas industry is welcoming the first loans from the Government’s $200 million Gas Security Fund. It's investing $23.5 million into two projects, including drilling a new well and accessing deeper gas at existing fields.  Both with be run by Todd Energy, while there are 17 other proposals sitting on the Government's desk.  Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie told Ryan Bridge the loans are being used for existing field and infrastructure, so they offer one of the quickest opportunities to get more domestic gas into the market sooner.   He says if they're successful, both projects expect to have gas flowing by the end of 2027.  Carnegie says this is a public-private partnership at its best.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2026, Todd Energy getting up to $23.5 million in government loans for gas security projects, Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie shares his thoughts.  The Government’s splashing another $5 million on regional tourism, Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell tells Ryan what the money will go to in Rotorua. Europe is shaking in it's boots after the far right party AFD's win in Saxony-Anhalt, Sky News Europe Correspondent Alastair Bunkall has the latest out of Germany. Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on a leaked text shows huge amount tipped for Solomon Islands from the Australian Government and American football fans descend on Melbourne for an historic NRL match at the MCG. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Overseas visitors are being encouraged to get out of the main centres so our tourist hotspots stay fully booked all year round.   The Government's putting $5 million into six initiatives designed to entice travellers to visit the regions, ahead of the peak season.   Rotorua NZ will lead a $995 thousand food campaign focused on Chinese visitors, as well as co-leading another aimed at Australian and US tourists.  Mayor Tania Tapsell told Ryan Bridge the overseas focus is important, so businesses thrive in the quieter months when there's less domestic travel.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've got another report from another ratings agency, Moody's.   They've taken a look at our credit, they've taken a look at our economy, much the same as the S&P one we spoke about last week.  But here's a few things this country cannot afford to forget.   We are a trading nation; we have a small population. Unless we sell stuff to the rest of the world, which the world then pays us for, we are a backwater.  We are a money-go-round; we are a low-income poor cousin at the bottom of the Pacific.  Dairy, meat, kiwifruit, honey, you name it. If we don't have strong export industries, we're basically buggered. We need more of them, of course.   We have tourism, let's not whinge too much about the campervans.  The world's cooked at times, and there'll be another Hormuz before long.  Hell, the current Hormuz isn't over yet and that means we need storage for diesel, which we're doing, but we need more of, for gas, which Genesis is looking at, and Todd and Uncle Shane are trying to find, and data centres.   I know they're controversial, I know people hate them, but they shouldn't be.   If done well, and by well, I mean they wash their own faces, then tick tick.   The other thing we desperately need are roads that don't wash out when it rains. Petrol taxes pay for that, so let's maybe not cut our nose off to spite our face in that regard.  It's pretty simple really, we need to keep doing what we're doing, we need roads to get our stuff to port, we need oil to keep the country moving, we need ships coming and going and we need something new on the horizon always. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 7th of September 2026, National’s promising to make it easier to get into your first home if re-elected, Cotality NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson tells Ryan what difference it would make to the property market.  Former Senior Royal Protection Officer Scott Hamer shares his views on Prince Harry and Meghan's security since moving back to the UK.  Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce shares  Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Police in Southeast England accused of being slow to react after major disruption at the Port of Dover in Kent due to a large group of masked men holding a demonstration about illegal migration and Nigel Farage says he "frankly wasn't listening" during a conversation with his former chief of staff and an undercover reporter discussing what appears to have been a scheme to funnel foreign money to Reform UK. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's plan to expand the First Home Loan scheme could help more people buy their first home - but isn't expected to transform the housing market. The party wants to widen access to five percent deposits. If elected, National would increase the income threshold so anyone earning less than 300-thousand dollars combined could access the scheme - up from the current 95-thousand dollars for single buyers or 150-thousand for more than one. Cotality Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson told Ryan Bridge the change will have a limited impact - and shouldn't push house prices higher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Told you when this whole thing kicked off that it wouldn't end tomorrow, and it hasn't. This is the war between the US and Iran. It is still going on. The biggest problem was always going to be the Strait of Hormuz, and the Strait of Hormuz is not open. In fact, there were tankers going through the other day in a shoulder that the US should be said should be safe, and guess what, they weren't.  Now, over the weekend we've had Leon Panetta, this is the US former US Defence Secretary. He was also CIA Director under Obama. He's said, yeah, look, it's one of those things. It's at risk now becoming another forever war in the Middle East, which is exactly what everybody doesn't want. We've had these before, we've had many before, Iraq, Afghanistan, you name it. He says the likelihood is this war is going to continue for another six months without being resolved.  And at the same time, you've got chaos at the Pentagon. You've got Hegseth going after and firing people left, right, and centre, or senior military commanders leaving their posts. And just imagine if you were one of the frontline soldiers here, if you were on some Navy frigate in the middle of the Gulf, although they're having a wee holiday in Thailand at the moment, of course, but if you were on a Navy frigate in the middle of the Gulf and you were reading updates on your phone or you're reading updates from command going, oh, he's gone now. Oh, who's in charge here? And what exactly are we doing? Quite disconcerting. And I think Leon Panetta makes that point very well. This war is not going to end in a hurry, certainly not in the next six months. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are preparing for the third test in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry.  South Africa levelled the series in Cape Town, making this match effectively the decider, even though there is a fourth test in Baltimore.  They're clashing at FNB Stadium in Soweto – the match kicking off at 3.10am Sunday.   Former All Blacks Captain Sean Fitzpatrick told Ryan Bridge that the team is finishing well, so they're doing something right.  He says they just need to get the crucial moments in the first 20 to 25 minutes right.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The property market's remaining subdued with a suggestion it'll be a while until there's real growth in prices.  Cotality data shows values on average fell by 0.4% over August, marking the fifth declining month in a row.  It notes global geopolitical tensions, the OCR lifting, and the upcoming general election is contributing to market uncertainty.  Real Estate Agent Rawdon Christie told Ryan Bridge the high amount of homes for sale is also probably supressing potential price increases.  But he says they saw a pretty healthy August, as vendors are meeting the settled market where it's at.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday the 4th of September 2026 the All Blacks take on the Springboks for their third test in Johannesburg, former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick tells Ryan what we can expect.  House prices continuing to fall for the fifth month in a row, real estate agent Rawdon Christie shares her thoughts.  The ACT Party is calling for an end to race-specific placements at medical school, Warwick Bagg, Auckland University Dean of Medical and Health Sciences shares his thoughts on the policy.  Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on the King, President Macron and PM Burnham attended the unveiling of the Bayeux Tapestry last night at the British Museum.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.            LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's plan to campaign on scrapping Māori and Pacific med school places is being seen by some as electioneering. A review into Auckland and Otago university admission programmes is part of the ACT-National coalition agreement, but its findings haven't been made public. An ACT spokesperson claims the scheme shows unjustified discrimination. Auckland University Medical Dean Warwick Bagg told Ryan Bridge the findings should be released so the facts can be debated. He says it's about giving Māori and Pacific students the highest chance to succeed, where the school system doesn't. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Look don't mind confessing you, dear listener, that I don't read many books.  I do listen to them on audio, I do read on holiday, but who has the time to actually sit down and get stuck into hundreds of pages?  People don't even watch full movies anymore.    You can't do much when you're checking your phone on average one billion times per hour.  But I did happen to stumble across one of the best reads I've had in a while a few weeks back in Barry Crump's 'A Good Keen Man'.  It's unpretentious. It's funny. It's outrageous. It paints a picture of New Zealand and New Zealanders that I think most can relate to.  We generally get along with each other. We generally call a spade a spade. We don't like people who bullshit or cheat.  We like a fair fight. We love the bush, the beach, the beautiful place we get to call home every day.  I've now finished two other Crump books, and I am getting through the audio version of some short stories.  What an adventure. If you haven't read or listened to them, you should.  They should be compulsory reading for anyone wanting to become a New Zealander.  I'm aware it's an election period. There's a lot of fighting and whinging.  But really, if you take a step back, look at the people around you – your neighbours, your mates, your country.  We're not doing too bad. We've got a lot to be grateful for. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Banks aren't expected to increase fixed rates after the latest OCR hike.  The Reserve Bank raised the Official Cash Rate another 25 basis points yesterday, bringing it to 2.75%.  Governor Anna Breman says they are moving it towards a neutral level of around 3%.  Co-operative Bank CEO Mark Wilkshire told Ryan Bridge the hike was largely expected, so those rates were already built in.  He says the increase will be passed through to variable home loans quite quickly, but they're not expecting to see fixed rates rise.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A warning to asset owners across the country to take lessons from Wellington's Moa Point disaster.  The Government has released the findings of an independent Crown Review into the massive February malfunction at the wastewater plant.  It doesn't blame a single technical fault, but finds decades worth of significant gaps in accountability and risk management from asset owners.  Water New Zealand Chief Executive Gillian Blythe told Ryan Bridge maintenance woes became normalised, which caused problems to pile up.  She says there are lessons around the fact there was fragmented accountability and misaligned authority.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Methanol producer, Methanex, has confirmed it is shutting the Taranaki plant that has run for 40 years.  It says it's struck a deal to sell most of its natural gas entitlements under current contracts, starting in next year's first quarter.  The company says continued decline in domestic natural gas, and no clear pathway to meaningful new supply, means continued operations in New Zealand aren't sustainable.  Carnegie told Ryan Bridge says Methanex stepping back will free up some gas to be used elsewhere, but it's a bit like a snake eating its own tail.  He says we're gaining that gas but losing a major manufacturer and exporter.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 3rd of September 2026, Co-Operative Bank CEO Mark Wilkshire shares his thoughts on the Reserve Bank hiking the OCR for the second time.  The country's biggest gas user Methanex announcing its getting out of New Zealand, Energy Resources Aotearoa John Carnegie tells Ryan this is the economic cost the country is paying for a shrinking domestic gas supply. We've finally got answers about what happened at Moa Point, Water New Zealand Chief Executive Gillian Blythe explains. Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on Iran saying the US bombed a wedding party in Sirik, killing at least four people and a women has been arrested for taking photos of jury members outside the courthouse in the Lindsay Clancy trial.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's an air of arrogance and butt-covering to the stench that is Moa Point.   In a nutshell, the council, its water management company, and the contractor were all a bit shit at their jobs.   And Wellington's South Coast has been shat on – 14 billion litres of raw sewage, to be precise.   None of them took charge of and ownership of the water treatment plant. And they didn't talk to each other or listen to some quite critical information and warnings.   Anyone getting Mount Manganui vibes here?   But the part that gets me, and should get us all, is the no show from ratepayer-funded bureaucrats ducking for cover.   Council infrastructure leaders, who clearly are leaders in job title only, did not meet with the Crown Review team to tell them about their role in this shambles.   They were asked for in-person meetings. They were asked to sit down in front of somebody and explain themselves.   And they ran. They ducked. They gave written responses.   14 billion litres of Wellington's digested breakfasts on the beach deserves more than written answers.   It's like the politicians who dodged the Covid inquiry. Why would you do not front up in person unless you had something to hide? Why would you not speak in person, unless you were worried about what you'd say?  Did lawyers and comms staff, at the ratepayers' expense, review all those written responses before you hit send?   People don't necessarily lose trust in councils over mistakes. Mistakes happen to us all.   Coverups and accountability dodgers – they're the ones who flush our trust down the toilet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's netball ecosystem is breathing a sigh of relief after confirmation of a privatised domestic league for next season and beyond.  Rich-lister couple Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams are set to take the licence for the competition and its teams via an initial agreement with the sport's national body.  Former Silver Fern Marg Foster told Ryan Bridge this is a really good thing, but they can't just rely on philanthropy.   She says there's a lot of things they'll need to be able to get out of this deal, such as making it commercially attractive so investors can get a genuine return.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another OCR hike is widely expected today and the Reserve Bank could signal more are coming.  It announces its decision at 2pm, with the Official Cash Rate expected to rise from 2.5%.  Economists are picking one or two further hikes.  Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold told Ryan Bridge the Reserve Bank's view has shifted sharply since the start of the year.  He says they're pretty locked in for 3% between now and Christmas.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 2nd of September 2026 another OCR hike is looking likely from the Reserve Bank, Westpac chief Economist Kelly Eckhold tells Ryan what we can expect. New Zealand and America are teaming up to build a port for the Cook Islands; international relations professor Robert Patman shares his thoughts. Netball New Zealand have made the decision to privatise the domestic league; former Silver Fern Marg Foster reacts to the news. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on laundry rooms being turned into prison cells to combat overcrowding in UK jails and an investigation underway after a man died near Notting Hill Carnival in London following a police pursuit.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US appears to be re-engaging with the Pacific as it invests in Cook Islands infrastructure. New Zealand's pledged to co-invest with the US to build a port on the Penrhyn atoll in the Cooks, a former military base. China had been interested in seabed mining in the area. Otago University International Relations expert Robert Patman told Ryan Bridge the Trump administration hasn't shown a lot of interest in the Pacific until now. He says what it is interested in is combatting China, so this is an incentive for them to get back to being much more active in the region. PM Christopher Luxon is travelling to Palau for the Pacific Islands Forum today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IP lawyers will be licking their lips with all these AI cases landing on their desks.   The latest, we spoke about it yesterday, was Sony and Warner going after Anthropic.   Their argument is basically that Anthropic's AI models, the ones we use to get answers to questions, scrape and bottom trawl the internet for information.   That information, including song lyrics, is often IP owned and produced by humans or companies. So, scraping it and using it to sell as a product is theft.   Media companies in New Zealand take a similar view.   If the robot is scraping content produced, at cost, by a news business, then how is that not also theft?  But if you think about it, humans do this all the time. I do it every day. It's actually what I'm paid to do. I ingest large amounts of information and then use it to inform interviews and content.   Lawyers do it for legal cases. Politicians do it. Businesses do it. We all do it in one way or another.   And we all use the information the internet provides for our own purposes. Usually, to make money.   Knowledge is power and content is king.   So, the question then becomes, what is the difference between us doing this and using this information and an AI model doing the same?  Surely Claude is committing no greater crime than the rest of us.   Of course, how they get their hands on the information is key.   If you're ripping it off bit torrent, then you might have other problems. But if you're getting it from a paid subscription, isn't that what we do?   In the news business you credit your sources. But not always. There's a point where the collective weight of the information you've consumed becomes your own thoughts and your own IP.   Are robots any different? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's being criticised for giving the country the run-around with next year's fuel tax.   It's cancelled the 12 cent per litre hike and equivalent lift to road user charges that were set to take effect in January.   The next rise of five cents a litre now kicks in from January 2028.   AA Fuel Spokesperson Terry Collins told Ryan Bridge the Land Transport Fund has been under stress because it's unable to get enough money to do the work that's needed.  He says any time there's funding uncertainty or money is removed from it, it adds to the problem, kicking it down the road and making it bigger in the future.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's proposing changes to Permanent Resident Visa requirements to make sure holders are actually living here.   The party wants to increase the initial two-year travel condition for Resident Visa holders to five.  Residents would be able to travel freely in and out of the country after this period, but would need to spend at least 730 days here during any rolling five-year period.  Immigration Spokesperson Parmjeet Parmar told Ryan Bridge they want people to be living, working, and contributing in New Zealand.  She says they're welcoming all migrants who genuinely want to be here, but her job is to fix the system if it's being exploited.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.