Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

It took a while for the Commonwealth Games to get going but yesterday they did. Lewis Clareburt took gold in the 200 metres butterfly with an insane burst over the last 50 metres in a race even he called stupid. It was a good feeling for the nation, because no disrespect to the earlier medallists, it’s gold that gets the nation going. It’s been a funny old Comm Games thus far.   A scaled down replacement event after Victoria lost their bottle and cancelled their scheduled games. And it’s been plagued by no shows from high-performance athletes who thought it beneath their participation. But it’s a good meet.   To win at the Commonwealth Games still supersedes any win in a national competition. To be the best swimmer from amongst nations like Australia or England or any of the 74 nations present is a big thing.   By the way this is a record number of countries. When Christchurch hosted back in 1974, they were called the friendly games. Watching the coverage from the Crowd Goes Wild team, which is on both Sky and 3, they’ve got into that vibe.   They celebrate the great but also the wacky, the loose and the fun aspects of the games with their tongues firmly in their cheeks. It’s a good watch and a healthy antidote to the cynical and world-weary news we get day in and day out from a globe mired in difficulty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A digital marketing agency says more New Zealanders are turning to TikTok to decide where to eat and shop.  A new Infometrics report shows the app supported almost 10 thousand local jobs last year and helped boost the local economy by an estimated $1.2 billion.  It reveals more than 300 thousand New Zealand businesses are using the platform each month.  Squid Group founder Laurence Carey told Andrew Dickens it's becoming a useful research tool.  He says it's without a doubt the easiest way to find a restaurant to eat at or something to do.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More evidence in black and white of the need for more investment in water infrastructure.   The Water Services Authority's third annual Network Environmental Performance Report finds there is an average 31 wastewater overflows a day.  It also finds some 15% of assessed drinking water and wastewater pipes are in poor condition.   Water New Zealand chief executive Gillian Blythe told Andrew Dickens there also needs to be stronger protections for drinking water sources.   She says it's looking to see if regulations are fit for purpose, or whether there needs to be urgent changes.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A push for New Zealand to catch up with other countries on firefighter cancer cover. The Professional Firefighters Union is backing a Green Party Member's Bill to automatically provide firefighters with ACC cover for work-related cancer. Under current rules, firefighters must prove their cancer was caused by their job. Union National Secretary Wattie Watson told Andrew Dickins most of the time ACC and FENZ reject the cases and the union has to take legal action.  She says Australia, Canada, the United States and Norway all have similar laws, and there's no reason New Zealand firefighters shouldn't receive the same protection. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, Christopher Luxon has ruled out working with TOP.  There's some speculation that the decision was made on the fly and might not have been fully thought out. He didn't seem so certain about himself as he walked away from the press cameras. But it's no surpise as TOP is not a natural bedfellow of the right.   But the perception has got about that they're what you call Teals. A Blue Green centre party. They're certainly not that.  their policies are quite radical.   The Universal Benefit and land taxes.   And National is a party that have simplified their stance down to no spending and no taxes. And behind the scenes they have some interesting staff.   Names like Iain Lees-Galloway, who is the General Manager.   His business partner is Toni Grace, Chris Hipkins' partner. Their number 3 candidate is Kayla Kingdom-Bedd, an author of the He Puapua report. She has worked with James Shaw, the ousted leader from the Green Party at the Worldwide fund for Nature. Many speculate it's a left-wing party in disguise. So maybe Christopher Luxon was right to follow his gut. But at the same time the statement validates the chances of a party who have never cracked the threshold and are only commanding attention right now because they're new, and not part of the old elite and trending up. And people are sick of the old tried and true for not being very true. But personally, I won't give them the time of day.   They've got a long way to go before they prove they're here for the long haul and really have something to offer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday 28th of July 2026, Water New Zealand Chief Executive Gillian Blythe shares her thoughts on the water services authority’s national report.  TikTok advertising is boosting New Zealand's GDP by $1.2 billion, Laurence Carey Squid Group Founder and Managing Director shares his thoughts. The Greens want firefighters to have automatic ACC cover when they get Cancer from inhaling carcinogens, NZPFU National Secretary Wattie Watson tells Andrew why this is important.  Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on an appeals court upholds a ruling that Pauline Hanson racially discriminated against another Senator and a man found guilty of trying to smuggle lizards.  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.

Support for National's paid parental leave policy, from at least one business leader. The party's promising to extend paid parental leave from the current 26 weeks,  to 30 weeks by 2029 if re-elected, with further increases possible if finances allow. Parents would also have more flexibility to share, or take leave at the same time. Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson told Andrew Dickens that most small businesses would already be paying for some additional cover regardless. She says hiring someone for slightly longer, could make things easier, as it can be challenging finding someone for a short term role. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 27 July. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bay of Plenty MP says fresh slips at Mauao in Mt Maunganui put further strain on the community.  Adams Avenue remains closed after eight-thousand cubic metres of debris came down over the weekend.   Three have been three slips near the original landslide which claimed six lives in January.  MP Tom Rutherford says told Andrew Dickens the restored track to the summit - hasn't been impacted by these events.  He says the slips have been in the area of the original January landslide. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As if the world hasn’t already got enough to worry about what with war, and fuel crisis and inflation, there comes another concern This weekend The Independent published a piece on UK Farmers warning that food shortages are just 10 days away for the UK and there are signs that suggest they’ve already arrived Farmers have sounded the alarm about a growing food crisis, and experts say that Britain’s food insecurity needs to be treated as a growing national emergency. Global conflict combined with climate change are affecting fragile supply chains These days Britain produces about 60 per cent of it’s food compared to 80 per cent in the 80s. the shortfall met by imports principally from the EU which has been affected by Brexit and the fuel crisis They’re particularly vulnerable when it comes to fruit and seasonal vegetables. Already there are shortages and they’re getting worse and the prices are climbing New Zealand on the other hand is considered to have one of the most secure food supplies in the world. Basically, we make more than we eat. We currently grow enough food to feed 40 million people Even in a major global crisis New Zealand would remain one of the best placed countries to feed it’s own population And while we might not export oil or mobile phones or plastic knick knacks the one thing every single person in the world needs is food. And in that we are resilient and food is a good product to making But as we enter an election once again our food manufacturers are going to be urged by the environmentalists to cut production to meet climate change targets when in fact the world will be begging us to make even more food The greenies are worried about the globe but the thing the globe needs most of all is food and water. And I wonder if New Zealand First might be better advised to put a billion into making our farms efficient and clean rather than in a survey on whether we have any mythical oil or gas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes more regular inflation reports will mean more accurate analysis for businesses.   From next July, Stats NZ will phase in monthly Consumer Price Index reporting, on top of the current quarterly reports.   Statistics Minister Scott Simpson says it'll keep businesses, households, and decision-makers, like the Reserve Bank, better-informed.   Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge that we just have to be careful not to read too much into any one monthly change and start jumping at shadows.  He says we want to look for the signal rather than the noise, but this is a step in the right direction.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The architect of a member's bill aiming to crack down on unreported child abuse is confident it will receive widespread support.   The bill, which would make it mandatory for people to report known or suspected child abuse to police, has been drawn from the biscuit tin.    Port Waikato MP Andrew Bayly says the current laws hinder the ability of police to effectively investigate child harm cases.   He told Ryan Bridge there are some issues around what exactly "suspected child abuse" means.   Bayly says the definition will be fine-tuned in the select committee phase, but notes similar legislation has passed in Australia.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 24th of July 2026 , Port Waikato MP Andrew Bayly tells Ryan why his members bill on toughening up child abuse reporting is important.  The 2026 Commonwealth Games are underway in Glasgow, Newstalk ZB Sports Reader Andrew Alderson has the latest.  From, July next year Stats NZ is going to report on inflation monthly instead of quarterly, Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Informetrics Brad Olsen tells Ryan how big of a difference this will make.  Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on oil prices hitting $100 a barrel over night and Andy Burnham's new Government and what he's announced so far.  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.

New Zealand has kicked off its Commonwealth Games campaign in Glasgow.   Ahead of the opening ceremony, Shannon McIlroy beat Tonga's Liam Hill 2-nil at the men's singles on the indoor bowls rink.  And in the women's pairs, Katelyn Inch and Selina Goddard won a tie-break against Kenya after the match initially finished one end apiece.  Newstalk ZB Sports Reader Andrew Alderson joined Ryan Bridge to discuss the Games.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's possible our Defence Force could send personnel to the Middle East to help stop the Houthis.  They're the group in Yemen, backed by Iran, currently firing drones and cruise missiles at Saudi tankers.  They're the ones, along with the Revolutionary Guard in Iran, pushing up the price of oil this morning.  They're the ones blocking the B route for getting crude out of the Gulf.  They're the reason we'll probably pay more to fill up our cars and trucks in the coming weeks, if crude prices stay high.  Like most other Western countries, we haven't touched Trump's war and done anything about Hormuz.  But the Red Sea is different because we've been there before.  Two years ago, Judith Collins sent six NZDF personnel specifically to help the US-led coalition trying to stop attacks exactly like this.   Winston said at the time the attacks were illegal, against our values, and continue to affect New Zealand’s economy.  You'd have to say, given what we're witnessing this week, nothing's changed.  That deployment was scheduled to end at the beginning of 2025 after being extended.  In June Chris Penk extended a deployment to the Middle East by two years of up to 14 personnel for 'maritime security".  The question is whether we will now be sending more and doing more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A plant ecologist says New Zealand would get a B on its climate change report card.   A Climate Change Commission report has found New Zealand needs to more than double its efforts in emissions reduction to meet our climate goals.   AUT Professor Sebastian Leuzinger says compared to the OECD, we're middle of the pack.   He told Ryan Bridge while we can make energy and transport changes, a big part of our emissions will be hard to change.   Leuzinger says there's not much we can do for agriculture, which is one of the backbones of our economy.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The edifice of netball's ANZ Premiership has crumbled further.  Administration staff at the three Netball New Zealand-run franchises —the Stars, Magic, and Tactix— have been told their contracts will not be renewed.  Players at the affected clubs were left out of the communication chain.  NZ Herald’s Nathan Limm told Ryan Bridge that Netball NZ has remained tight-lipped on the subject.  He says it’s something they saw from the organisation’s previous leadership, and he’s unsure when they’re going to realise that saying nothing is not a good PR strategy.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trajectory is thought to be heading in the right direction, despite lower NCEA numeracy pass rates.  Just over half of students passed the compulsory numeracy course in May – down more than five percentage points on last year.  Reading and writing pass rates saw little change.  Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Ryan Bridge people shouldn't read too much into the decline, because improvement is being felt across the country.   He says this is the first exam Year 10 students take, and they don't even need it in Year 11 or Year 12.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The more you read about these AI hacks, the less you want to know about them.  Basically, the short story is that there was an AI bot out there that went full Terminator. It hacked into another system, another AI system, without being told to do so, acting entirely of its own volition.  It was reportedly an OpenAI model that did this. It escaped the environment where it was supposed to be, went online, and stole the login details for Hugging Face, which is the other platform, right?  The interesting thing is what Hugging Face, the victim in this case, did about it. They said that, normally, you would get another AI bot to attack the attacking AI bot, and they would have some kind of war. But they turned to a Chinese bot to do it.  Why?  Because the American bot had so many guardrails on it that it had essentially rendered itself useless. It wasn't good enough to defend their system, so they went with a Chinese one.  Fascinating.  So, you basically have robots at war with other robots with no real control over what they might do next. And we've seen that before. This is a clear-cut example of it, and it's not the first one.  OpenAI has said they've had issues before. Apparently, they've previously admitted that their models autonomously took unwanted actions for extended periods to achieve their goals, including looking for ways to act outside their sandbox.  Well, that doesn't sound very good for us, does it?  My question is this: if you have robots attacking robots, Chinese robots attacking American robots, and robots doing whatever they want, how safe is any of our information every time we log into a platform?  How safe is that information? And, therefore, what information are we actually willing to give to those platforms? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Middle East conflict rages on, with the US launching strikes on Iran for the 11th consecutive night. Meanwhile Tehran has warned Washington against targeting its nuclear facilities. A ceasefire agreed in April collapsed last week, with both sides battling over control of the Strait of Hormuz. US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Ryan Bridge Washington's biggest frustration is Iran continuing to try and control the Strait. He says Donald Trump has gone to Truth Social saying every time Iran targets a ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the US will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant - including those in the capital city. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 23rd of July 2026, there's more speculation over the future of the ANZ Premiership, NZ Herald Netball Correspondent Nathan Limm explains.  Barely half of students passed the NCEA numeracy exam this year, Darfield High School Principal Andy England shares his thoughts.  The Climate Change Commission says our rate of emissions reduction needs to more than double over the next few years, AUT Professor and Plant Ecologist Sebastian Leuzinger tells Ryan what the government needs to do.  Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on new threats from Trump to Tehran and Trump wanting FIFA president Gianni Infantino to be the next UN secretary-general.  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.

Fixed mortgage rates could be heading up “pretty soon”, says a New Zealand bank boss as wholesale interest rates rise on the back of volatility in the Middle East. Speaking on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, Co-operative Bank chief executive Mark Wilkshire said wholesale rates were up about 30 basis points (bps) in the past couple of weeks. “I think banks will have to start passing that on. “Even though the Official Cash Rate [OCR] was priced in, those wholesale markets have lifted. I expect this to be upward pressure on retail mortgage rates.” Wilkshire said fixed home loan rates could rise “in that region of 30 basis points”. “It’s going to have to happen pretty soon. “Wholesale markets have been very volatile on the back of these conflicts.” On the Co-operative Bank lifting its own fixed rates, Wilkshire said, “I think we’re going to have to go pretty soon”. “They’re not big changes but I think we’re going to have to see that pass through.” Lower wholesale interest rates had led to banks cutting some of their longer-term fixed rates last month, while shorter-term rates continued to rise on expectations of an OCR hike in July. That hike came, with the Reserve Bank (RBNZ) lifting the OCR earlier this month from 2.25% to 2.5%. Floating rates, which move in lock-step with the OCR, were quick to rise. However, fixed mortgage rates are heavily influenced by wholesale interest rates. Following the OCR hike, economists told the Herald the move was unlikely to trigger immediate fixed mortgage rate rises. ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner said OCR changes take about 18 months to take effect. Instead, the OCR hike would “put a bit of a floor under short-end rates”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our exporters are bracing to be hit with hiked US tariffs but the red meat sector is in the firing line for even more.   Trade experts suggest New Zealand could face a blanket 12.5% tariff – up from the current 10%.  The US International Trade Commission has also launched an investigation into lamb imports.   Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chair Kate Acland told Ryan Bridge it can submit evidence into the four-month investigation.   She says the commission can impose remedies like tariffs if it finds current settings have harmed US lamb producers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gisborne's mayor believes Rhythm and Vines’ organisers will struggle to get a venue as good as it has currently.  This year's festival will be the last held at the Waiohika Estate before it relocates to a new undisclosed site.  Organisers say the move will support the festival’s long-term future and will let it keep growing.  Mayor Rehette Stoltz told Ryan Bridge it's a tough loss for the region, but it'll go out with a bang.  She says it's hard to beat coming to Gisborne and camping in the vineyards with the sun and beautiful beaches.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins is floating the idea of an effective tariff on imported cement.  He reckons it could be a better way of dealing with our cement problem than $60 million in corporate welfare.  The reason Golden Bay Cement needs a bailout is the cost of buying carbon credits from 2030 onwards. The cost of carbon credits is because of the ETS.  When your builder goes to lay cement, they will buy imported stuff because it'll be cheaper – no carbon costs included.  So how do you get around this? You could change the ETS to exempt cement and steel, as we largely do with agriculture, but then you undermine the system.  You could scrap the ETS, which would mean ditching the Paris Agreement.  Or you could do as the EU does and go with a "Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism".  Basically, a carbon tariff on importers to level the playing field with local producers.  Chris Hipkins is saying this is an idea Labour would consider.  National won't because they say it'll mess with Free Trade Agreements.  So we're a bit boxed in here.  If we want to be a country of free trade AND a climate warrior, then we seem destined to lose a bunch of local production and industry.  Sure, we'll do better in some areas, but manufacturing and anything involving carbon emissions? Look out.  In the meantime, taxpayer-funded corporate welfare to the rescue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 22nd of July 2026, Co-Operative Bank CEO Mark Wilkshire shares his thoughts on inflation hitting the highest level in two years.  Rhythm and Vines is ditching Gisborne, Mayor Rehette Stoltz tells Ryan how big of a loss this will be for the local economy.  Exporters are staring down a hike to our tariffs sometime this week, Beef and Lamb Chair Kate Acland tells Ryan how big of a concern it for exporters.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on UK PM Andy Burnham announcing he’s to axe the tax on household electricity bills.  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.

Critics are questioning Andy Burnham's first major pledge as UK Prime Minister.  Burnham has become Britain's seventh Prime Minister in a decade.  His first announcement was committing an extra £340 million over three years to tackle homelessness.  Financial Times Whitehall Editor Lucy Fisher told Ryan Bridge questions are already being raised over how he'll fund his wider agenda as he hints at possible tax changes.  She says critics are asking if he couldn't solve homelessness as Manchester Mayor, how he'll tackle it across the entire UK.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says some council-iwi agreements have gone beyond the initial intention of the law allowing them.   Existing iwi partnerships will be tossed out with new planning laws, despite the Government initially planning to allow councils to keep existing agreements.   RMA Reform Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court says the agreements were initially supposed to be about planning matters.   He told Ryan Bridge in some cases it instead shifted to co-governance models.   Court says there were expanded roles and appointments at the ratepayers' expense.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An economist says digging into today's inflation figures will reveal the real picture. Stats NZ is releasing Consumers Price Index figures later this morning, comparing prices between April and June against the same period last year. Economists expect it surge to somewhere around 4%. Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge he's more interested in core inflation, which strips out food and energy. He says it's been stubbornly stuck on 2.5% and the Reserve Bank will want that lower.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A $60 million corporate welfare cheque for Golden Bay Cement is fixing a symptom but not the disease.  It's taxpayer money. It's not a loan – it's free money. Owner Fletcher Building has agreed, in return, to keep the thing open till 2040 and invest $150 million, phased over time.  No doubt cement is important for building the country, but so was refined oil. We offshored that. So is milled timber, which we let go. So is food production, which we're letting fall over too.  This is the problem with welfare: once you start handing it out, everyone wants a piece of the pie.  Fletcher Building is a conglomerate, listed both here and on the ASX.  Their results are due out next month, which will now be watched very closely.  Last week, the company increased its earnings guidance and turned a $45 million profit in the half year to December.  Sure, it's not been without its problems, and we've kept you updated on their restructures and legacy problems and the general state of construction.  The only reason the Government is doing this, in my view, is because unlike the other examples of paper mills and Wattie's, this one's caused not just by the price of labour and energy going north.  It's the ETS.   Fletcher buys credits to emit carbon while making its cement. This cost made the Northland plant unviable. A dead man walking.  You can import cheap cement from offshore where they don't pay for emissions.  Which makes them a cheaper option, and we get undercut.  The Government reckons they went with a bailout rather than changing the ETS rules because they didn't want companies lining up for handouts.  But that's exactly what will happen anyway. Any plant at risk of closure paying for emissions is now fair game.  This might look like a single smallish payment to a single business, but it's actually a blank cheque they've signed, and with the election round the corner, the sky's the limit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 21st of July 2026, Inflation figures are out today, Independent Economist and Founder of Bagrie Economics, Cameron Bagrie tells Ryan what we can expect.  Andy Burnham's been sworn in as the 7th UK Prime Minister in a decade, Financial Times Whitehall Editor, Lucy Fisher has the latest on who will be in his cabinet.  The way Iwi talk to councils about their Treaty rights is changing under new RMA law changes, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for RMA reform, Simon Court shares his thoughts.  Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on a former defence force soldier pleading guilty to trafficking cocaine and avoids jail and a one in 15 million pregnancy sees identical quadruplets born in Queensland. 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.

Labour says it's a shame the Government isn't pushing through new consent laws right now.  National has announced if re-elected, it'll ensure consent has to be actively given, meaning there must be a "yes" rather than the absence of a "no". It says it brings us in line with other jurisdictions like the UK and parts of Australia.  Labour Justice Spokesperson Camilla Belich told Ryan Bridge she agrees with the policy and says her party's been trying to get it across the line.  She says National walked away from a bipartisan plan - instead opting to campaign on the change. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 20th of July 2026, National's planned change to sex consent laws is getting very political, Labour Justice Spokesperson Camilla Belich shares her thoughts. Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on  Fifa's giving the Spain and Argentina World Cup Final the full super bowl treatment with its first-ever halftime show featuring Madonna and Justin Bieber, Sky News and Fox News Sports Presenter Alex Thomas has the latest from final.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Andy Burnham, reported to be ready to allow new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea after he becomes UK prime minister and Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, arrested in the US after British authorities announced they were bringing further charges against them. 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.

New Zealand First wants to spend a billion bucks looking for oil and gas fields to make our country rich again. Well, richer. A bit more like the place our kids go to earn a living, Australia, who've pulled in $430 billion in mining royalties over the past decade alone. A bit more like Norway, where per person GDP is $153,000, one of the highest in the world, ours is only about $85,000. The Norwegians, of course, got a big boost from oil post 1960s and have a $2-trillion wealth fund, which pays for the stuff the Greens and Labour here could only dream of. And herein lies one of two big problems with this country. The first one is not that we don't more children out of poverty or a generous welfare state or universal pensions. The problem is how you pay for them. Debt is a downward spiral but is how we've been operating since 2019. That's the last time the books actually balanced.   So, there is logic in dragging oil and gas up out of the ocean to pay stuff, especially as the rest of the world, especially the US, is doing it anyway. Which brings us to the second problem with this issue, and Winston's plans for it, and that's the opposition. What's the point in us spending a billion bucks to look for oil the next government won't let anybody drill for? The only way this makes sense is if you get the big parties to agree with each other, we actually need another feather in our bow, economically speaking. Right now, Andy Burnham is having this very debate with his top advisors, including Mike Munro who worked for Jacinda Ardern. The British press is reporting Burnham is about to announce plans for new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. Labour banned it. Burnham's a union guy, a worker guy, a more commonsense guy, so they say, and therefore he is about to turn the black tap on again. Chris Hipkins is not that guy for the New Zealand Labour party. And until the Opposition puts down its giant no sign, then spending a billion bucks looking for oil is throwing money down the dunny.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are facing a tough challenge this weekend.  They’re facing Ireland at Eden Park, aiming to continue their 52 match strong unbeaten record at the stadium.  Dave Rennie has made a few changes to the squad ahead of the match – adding more bulk to the backline with Tupou Vaa’i shifted to blindside.   Newstalk ZB’s Voice of Rugby, Elliott Smith told Ryan Bridge that by and large, the All Blacks have picked a pretty strong side for this test.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's employment spokesperson believes rising benefit numbers comes down to a weak economy.   Latest MSD data shows almost 414 thousand people were receiving the main benefit at the end of June – up 1.9% year-on-year.  12.8% of the working-age population is drawing on the main benefit – up from 12.6% a year ago.  Willow-Jean Prime told Ryan Bridge the stats reflect a failed government promise to improve the cost of living.  She says cuts and delayed infrastructure projects have led to a loss of 20 thousand jobs in the construction sector alone.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes prices at the pump don't spike as fighting intensifies between the US and Iran.   Strikes from both sides continue for the sixth day of renewed hostilities.  The global oil price benchmark Brent Crude has been hovering around US$85 a barrel since the new fighting broke out – its highest point in a month.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge he's hopeful we don't see a return to the peaks of US$115 a barrel from when the war first broke out.  He says we don't want to see diesel prices rise as that's used for all our delivery services.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday the 17th of July 2026, Social Development Minister Louise Upston is celebrating 5,000 more people than last year off the benefit and into work, Labour Social Development and Employment Spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime shares her thoughts. The All Blacks face a mighty challenge to their unbeaten record at Eden Park against the Irish this weekend, Newstalk ZB Voice of Rugby, Elliott Smith shares his thoughts.  Informetrics says New Zealand is on the cusp of an economic recovery if fuel prices stay down, ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley tells Ryan if we're on the right track.  Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Sir Keir Starmer awarded Ukrainian honour the Order of Freedom during his final visit to Ukraine and the UK government has said "the World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are," after Argentina players celebrated their victory over England by waving a banner in support of their country's territorial claim. 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.

Welcome to New Zealand... land of earthquakes, stormy weather, and absolute natural beauty.  Another reminder overnight of how shaky these isles can be.  Hope everyone's alright this morning. It's always a bit hard to get back to sleep after a decent jolt and it sounds like you had one.  We've always had storms, and damage from storms, in this country.  But of late we've had more, more often, doing more damage, according to the insurance companies.  We've got a bird with the flu in Petone, though it's not yet clear how that situation will play out poultry-wise.  But it's, again, another reminder of threats to industry that we can't control.  Like Foot and Mouth, which, if it took hold here, would be devastating.  All of this is to say that there are a lot of things can go wrong in this country, and do go wrong, and often enough that it's actually quite predictable. We're top 10 countries for quakes.  So, we need a buffer... need headroom for borrowing. With the election just around the corner, it's about time we heard from political parties on their debt limits. How much is too much? When will you get us back to surplus? What's your track record on actually doing that?  Treasury tells us debt servicing is now the fourth-largest line item on the Government’s books. Our annual interest bill? It was $3.6 billion in 2014. Now it's nearing $9 billion. If you look on a per household basis, it's tipped to be more than $5000 every year. In interest alone.  Last night's quake, and the next storm, are nature's reminder of the need for fiscal discipline and plan to deal with them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes new pathways for global trade can be created as officials from small countries around the world meet in Auckland.  Trade Minister Todd McClay's chairing the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership meeting tomorrow – bringing together delegates from 21 countries.  It includes Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Panama, Rwanda, and Singapore.  International Business Forum Executive Director Felicity Roxburgh told Ryan Bridge this group can tackle issues together.  She says they can navigate tariff barriers and help create common certification.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No surprises bird flu has reached our shores, as New Zealanders are asked to keep an eye out for transmission escalation.   A sub-Antarctic seabird found on Wellington's Petone Beach last week has tested positive for the H5N1 strain.   Officials say symptoms to look out for in birds include paralysis, shaking, respiratory issues, or diarrhoea.   Otago University evolutionary virologist Jemma Geoghegan told Ryan Bridge there's no evidence of widespread transmission yet.   She says once it starts spreading between birds on the mainland, that's when there's a risk the virus could get into poultry sheds and concerns would grow.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belief sluggish retail spending is a reminder retailers need to stick to the basics. Stats NZ says core retail spending last month was only 0.4 percent higher year on year. Spending on clothes fell most - at 4.2-percent - its fourth straight decrease. First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge retailers have to be hungry in the market, with strong retail disciplines - but he understands it's tough.  He says rising costs and distribution has made things challenging for retailers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 16th of July 2026, Bird flu has landed in New Zealand, University of Otago Professor, Evolutionary Virologist, Jemma Geoghegan tells Ryan how concerned we should be.  Official Stats NZ Spending data shows a seasonally adjusted decrease of 1.4% card spending in June compared with May, First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson shares his thoughts.  Trade Minister Todd McClay is hosting global officials for a big trade meeting on Friday, International Business Forum Executive Director Felicity Roxburgh shares her thoughts.  Plus, US correspondent Katie Fisher has the latest on Iran developments and Donald Trump’s Attorney General pick. 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.

Is banning smart phones for kids a dumb idea?  That would leave them with dumb phones, sans apps and the internet, just texts and phone calls.  Remember the old Nokia? Or Alcatels? They came in that weird light orangey-peachy colour and a purpley-blue.  David Seymour's talking about this after a blog post suggesting it'd be easier, and less restrictive for everyone else, if we banned the hardware not the software.  Make smartphones like cigarettes or beer – if you saw a 12-year-old with one, you'd judge the parents, wouldn't you?  At present, parents hand them out like candy, caving by osmosis to the their kid's peer pressure to own one. The social media bans don't seem to work very well —as we've spoken about before— half the Aussie kids get around theirs.  Where there's a will, there's a way.  Banning the actual device itself does, on the face of it, make more sense.  You can still communicate, but not with the entire world. And not with the entire sum of human knowledge —good and bad— at your unsupervised fingertips.  This way, adults can keep using social media and not have to use some ID or date of birth test to log in.  Which all sounds great. Except the real problem here is parents themselves.  They're often the ones on their phones and ignoring their kids in the first place.  If you were a child, wouldn't you want to be doing whatever your parents are doing too?  It  doesn't really matter what the law says, and changing it won't change everything, it's ultimately up to adults raising those kids to teach them right from wrong, good from bad, and whether 8 hours a day doom scrolling is a behaviour that's acceptable – for them or their kids. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This autumn's been positive for farmers, with less debt and an improved relationship with banks.   Agricultural lending dropped $1.4 billion to $61.2 billion in the year to April.  A Federated Farmers survey also reveals record satisfaction with bank communication, with fewer farmers feeling undue pressure.   Banking Spokesperson Mark Hooper told Ryan Bridge that banks are currently competing quite strongly for a share of the rural market, which in turn drives good service.   He says a good relationship tends to override a lot of other outcomes – there may be variations in interest rates, but if they have good communication and a good relationship, people tend to be more satisfied.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Henry's profile is expected to provide ACT with the exposure it may need going into the election.   The former broadcaster's running as a party list candidate but is gunning for a ministerial role if elected.   He's best known for hosting TVNZ's Breakfast in the early 2000s, where he famously mocked an Indian politician's name on air.  Political commentator Brigitte Morten told Ryan Bridge people like Henry can change the dial.  She says ACT's stagnated in the polls and is in need of attention in a crowded market, which Paul Henry has the power to bring.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 15th of July 2026, former broadcaster Paul Henry's the next big name making the jump to parliament, Political Commentator Brigitte Morten tells Ryan what this will mean for the Act Party.  The Reserve Bank says farmer lending dropped nearly one and a half billion in the year to April, Federated Farmers Banking Spokesperson Mark Hooper shares his thoughts.  NZ Certified Builders CEO Malcolm Fleming shares his thoughts on Cotality data which shows residential construction costs up 1.1% in the three months to June. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on UK Counter-terror police say the murder of the former Prisons Minister was a planned and targeted attack and several people have died in a fire at a building under construction in Brussels. 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.

Good signals in the construction sector with costs much lower than the industry expected.  The latest Cordell Construction Cost Index shows a 1.1% rise in the three months to June.  Annual growth is at 3.5% - below the long-term average of around 4%.  Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Ryan Bridge with the backdrop of the Iran war, they're surprised by the minimal rise.  He says there is enthusiasm from industry we're at the bottom of a cycle and on the way up.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Swearing. Most of us do it. Unless you're a Bishop (or maybe they do it in private, too?). Especially in New Zealand.  We all know what a GC is and it's nothing to do with the white sandy beaches of Queensland.  You don't say them in front of mum, and you shouldn't shout them in anger at people, unless they really deserve it.  But have you noticed the media's obsession with calling out people for swearing, lately?  Exhibit A: furious Benji Marshall's (Wests Tigers coach) expletive-laden presser. The media had been saying he was in a spat with a now former player, and they were at war, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.  None of which, according to Benji, was true. So, he responds and they say he's ranting and swearing and 'going nuclear'.  Isn't that what they used to call gaslighting?  Then there was Winston Peters... Media called that one a foul-language outburst. How can a word so many people use be so offensive or worthy of mention?  Christine Fletcher, Auckland Council, complains about swearing in the council chambers. The Dunedin council boss was done for swearing about councillors and calling them bad words behind their backs.  Who hasn't done that? The truth is most Kiwis don't mind, occasionally. Too much and you sound like trash. Too little you sound too cautious. Directed in anger? Never a good idea and should not happen at work.  The obsession with people using it from time to time, especially in the age of the internet where people do and say what they want?  Waste of f***ing time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cabinet's being warned its window for a decision around replacing our two ageing warships is rapidly closing.   An NZ Initiative research note says the frigates are set to retire within a decade and the complex geopolitical environment adds another layer of urgency.  Retired Major General John Howard says we're seeing more volatility both in our region and at home.   He told Ryan Bridge the country now has the option to think broadly about the maritime capabilities we want and how we defend our national interests.   Howard says if we’re going to be serious about maintaining a blue-water capability, then we need a minimum of four warships.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.