Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Honestly… it’s time Greta got a grip. This is a stunt. She’s sailing on a yacht with a diesel motor, which they’ve been using because the sails haven’t been up. There’s been photos and video, Greta doing the Titanic at the bow, on her merciful mission to save the Middle East onboard the vessel complete with Aircon and TVs and Instagram. As for being kidnapped, this must be the first time a victim has broadcast their own hostage video. How does that work? It’s a tiny yacht. How much aid can you actually have on board? There’s no doubt Palestinians desperately need aid because of Israel’s inhumane blockade. Unfortunately, they’re not going to get any from this attention obsessed Swede.  This is the problem I think people have with protesters. Not the ones who protest and then do something useful like become scientists and invent a solution to global warming. Protesters who protest for the sake of it and change causes with the wind.  One day it’s the climate and oil is the devil and the house is burning down. Then the next it’s powering through the Med on a diesel laden yacht to rescue Gaza.  And it’s a bit like a drug.  John Minto is a case in point. Serial protester. Most recently seen promoting a bounty tipline for hunting out Israeli's holidaying in New Zealand.  You name a cause; he’ll get behind it. In Europe they’re defacing ancient artefacts, throwing soup on paintings and confetti on the Court at Wimbledon. While they’re doing all these ridiculous stunts, hoovering up social media followers along the way, they claim, as Greta did yesterday, that it’s not about them. It’s about the Palestinian people, not me, said Greta.  The lady doth protest too much, methinks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“It’s down, but it’s down not very much.” says UK Correspondent Gavin Grey in this morning’s immigration discussion with Ryan Bridge.  The UK Government is spending $4.4billion on hotel bills housing migrants. Although this is down from $4.6billion the previous year, Grey says it isn’t enough.  Money to fund this is coming from the overseas development fund, a system that Grey calls, “unsustainable.”   Arrests for immigrants working illegally in the UK have increased, but Grey says the hotel bill continues to get longer with no end in sight.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A packed weekend for Kiwi and international sport this weekend, and Andrew Alderson joined Ryan Bridge to talk about it. Today’s fill includes Coco Gauff’s victory at the French Open, the latest from the world of Golf and this weekend’s main event: The Blues vs. The Chiefs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rodney local board member and road safety campaigner Geoff Upson join Ryan Bridge to talk about the safety of young people on the road. Upson says that although road fatality rates are declining, there is more work to do when it comes to educating first-time drivers. He said that professional driver training alongside more time in the car with Mum and Dad could make all the difference tomake sure teenagers know how to conduct themselves on the road. Upson also said that education about the car itself is also lacking, with misunderstandings in tire grip capacity leading to more accidents in the rain. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 9 June. 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.

A new 'Parent Boost' visa will make it easier for some migrants' parents to visit the country. From September, it will grant parents of citizens multi-entry access for five years, with the opportunity for renewal once - meaning they could hold the visa for 10 years. Applicants will also need to meet specific health, income, and insurance requirements. Act Party Immigration Spokesperson Parmjeet Parmar told Ryan Bridge it's hard to know how many people will apply. She says it could be between two and ten thousand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was a chilly weekend.  Even in Auckland it was only 5 degrees.  We had the heat pump cranking the entire weekend. I spoke to a friend in Marlborough who had the fire going all weekend. They had a proper frost there.  It's right about now you start thinking... how much is all this going to cost me? The answer $250 for May for a house of two persons, one dog.  Already we've spent $70 for June.  This is one of the few bills I pay in our household so it's one of the few I notice.  It's not going through the roof... and is tracking roughly the same as last year.  And disclaimer... our place is old and cold, poorly ventilated and you basically need either air con or heat all the time. There is good news on the energy front for 2025, not that it directly affects us as much, more the big industrial users.  Forsyth Barr released an energy note on Friday... they reckon we'll avoid another big energy crunch this winter. The next one is due 2026.  That means no risk of blackouts. The reason we've avoided this is because electricity producers did a deal with Methanex. And we've had rain - so the hydro lakes have been given a top up.  To avoid future blackouts, we'll need to cut industrial demand and burn more coal.  And that brings us to gas - a shortage of which caused last year's energy price crunch. Forsyth Barr reckons the government's push for gas is unlikely to solve out problems.  It takes two to three years to get a gas field up and running. First you have to find it. Right now, nobody's even looking. No fields are being explored.  By the time you get gas out of the government's $200-million budget buy-in, the energy shortages will likely have passed. It's one thing to let the producers go it alone, it's another to put our money on the line to develop these fields.  There's a genuine question about whether this is smart investment in our future or if taxpayer money is being wasted. A bit like the heat escaping from my old house. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters is accusing Don Brash and Helen Clark of "relevance deprivation syndrome", after their criticism of his approach to China.  The former National and Labour leaders are warning the Government that it could be putting our largest trading relationship at risk by aligning too closely with the US.  Brash believes that it is unwise to shift priority from China to the US given the current tension between the two superpowers. Peters says he stands by the government's independent foreign policy, and he sees no value in indulging in tired arguments from former politicians.  LISTEN ABOVE     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK and Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney spoke to Ryan Bridge about German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to the White House.   The chancellor presented President Donald Trump with a gift: The birth certificate of President Trump’s German grandfather, which seemed to go down well with the President. Despite the positivity on the outside, McAviney said that the difference between the two nations’ approach to the war in Ukraine has led negotiations to continue behind closed doors.   McAviney also said that Germany is likely aiming to secure a deal with the US that will reduce the effects of Trump’s tariffs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby commentator Tony Johnson joined Ryan Bridge to discussthethree upcoming qualifying finalsgames this weekend. The first match taking place tonight sees the Crusaders take on the Reds. The odds seem to be stacked against the Reds, as an Australian team is still yet to win a Super Rugby playoff game against a Kiwi team on Kiwi soil. The Chiefs and the Blues are also due to face off this weekend. Johnson told Ryan Bridge that the Chiefs will be out for revenge after their crushing defeat in last year’s finals. The Hurricanes are taking a trip over the ditch to face the Brumbies. Johnson said that the Hurricanes’excellent form could win it for them – but it won’t be easy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Misleading vape labelling is a worry for youth vaping.  A study in the medical journal shows more than half of vape juices have incorrectly labelled how much nicotine they contain. Most of the mislabelled products had significantly less nicotine than advertised—some by over 50%. Vape Free Kids Co-Founder Charyl Robinson told Ryan Bridge there's no funded support for youth quitting vaping and families are paying the price.  She says it's hard enough on families trying to support their children, let alone with no confidence in how much nicotine is actually in the product they're using. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 6th of June 2025, there's pressure on the Prime Minister to separate New Zealand's foreign policy from America's Former National Party Leader Don Brash shares his open letter with Ryan. It's the Super Rugby quarter finals this weekend, rugby commentator Tony Johnson tells Ryan who he thinks the favourites will be.  There's been a new study in the Medical Journal which has found more than half of vape juices have been labelled with the wrong concentration of nicotine, Co-founder of Vape Free Kids Charyl Robinson shares her thoughts on how harmful this can be.  Plus, UK/ Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Friedrich Merz meeting with Trump in the Oval office.  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.

Well that was as chaotic as you'd expect.  I caught the first half of Parliament's debate on the haka-gate: Winston Peters went full attack dog, Willie Jackson fought back, Waititi brought a noose into the chamber, and Adrian Rurawhe, former Speaker and Labour MP, had the most sensible and respectable take of the debate.  I've had the pleasure of interviewing him a few times. He's a humble, quiet and observant sort of guy. He's quick to a smile and enjoys a good argument.   Not that you could hear it in the House yesterday. Loads of interjecting. Lots of noise.   Adrian gets respect because he shushed his own Labour colleagues while he was up on his feet.  He made two decent points.  1. The Privileges Committee is meant to be bipartisan. The fact this punishment was not, is a bad thing. Why? Because now it's open season, governments —of any persuasion— can weaponize its punishments against their political opponents. This is not a good thing. As he points out, this was the government punishing MPs, not the Parliament. Which it ought to be.  Herein lies the problem with Parliament these days - there is no agreed standard of behaviours that's universal to all MPs. Getting physically up in somebody's grill is considered okay by some. The House is meant to be about what comes out of your mouth, not how close another MP is to it.  2. Rurawhe scolded the Māori Party for not apologising for their bad behaviour. He spoke of his cousin Dame Tariana Turia. She never skipped a vote, worked hard for her people and spoke on every bill before the House. The question really is whether Te Pati Māori actually wants to be in Parliament or whether it wants a separate one. If it wants the latter, which its website says it does, and doesn't turn up half the time or gets suspended for breaking rules, you've got to ask yourself why they're there in the first place.  All in all, aside from Adrian's wise words, there's a few hours wasted the House won't get back.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fighting in Trump’s cabinet after Elon Musk lashed out at Trump’s “Big, beautiful bill”.   US Correspondent Mitchell McCann told Ryan Bridge that Elon Musk’s comments earlier in the week have gone unaddressed by the President so far.   Musk took to X and called the President’s new bill a “disgusting abomination.” Later adding that the bill would increase the budget deficit to $2.5trillion.   President Trump wanted the bill on his desk by the 4th of July, but the opposition from one of his closest allies could drastically slow down the process.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission is ramping up efforts to disrupt the supermarket monopoly.  It says supplier charges and promotional pricing are reinforcing the dominance of Foodstuffs and Woolworths.  It's proposing a simplified grocery code, reducing the range of payments that supermarkets can charge suppliers.  Grocery expert Ernie Newman told Ryan Bridge that supermarkets are receiving billions of dollars in discounts - which largely aren't being passed on to consumers.   He says there's more money floating around in the sector than the Commerce Commission had previously identified.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homeowners will have to pay more for home insurance to help the Natural Hazards Commission.   Associate Finance Minister David Seymour says levies will almost certainly need to rise further, with Cabinet set to decide on the changes in the coming months.    Insurance consultant Dean Lester told Ryan Bridge that these changes could cost homeowners two to $300 more a year.   The government says they'll carry $2 billion worth of risk but have about $500 million in the kitty.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Government reforms aim to tidy up inconsistencies in Fish and Game New Zealand.  It will be shifted to a nationalised fee collection system to reduce double handling of fees.  Fish and Game councils will also be required to consider the interests of other stakeholders, like farmers and the aviation sector, when it comes to decision making.  Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager told Ryan Bridge he wants to ensure councils function efficiently. He says there should be a consistent approach across the country. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 5th June of 2025, The Grocery Commissioner has revealed changes to crack down on the grocery sector, Grocery Policy Expert Ernie Newman shares his thoughts.  Homeowners could be in for more insurance levies, Insurance Consultant Dean Lester tells Ryan Bridge why.  The Government's announced an overhaul of Fish and Game, Minister for Fishing and Hunting, James Meager tells Ryan Bridge what the changes will mean.  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 Commerce Commission reckons we need fewer items 'on sale' at the supermarket.  That would mean less yoghurt on special at $4.99, fewer $1.99 chocolate bars at the checkout, and just less price yo-yo-ing in general. This is counterintuitive. The job of Commerce Commission, through the Grocery Commissioner, is meant to score us cheaper prices and boost competition, right? So, what the hell is going on here? This morning, they announced they want to change the rules around what the supermarkets can charge suppliers. Foodstuffs and Woolworths purchase $15 billion of goods from suppliers each year and control 82% of the retail market.  When they do this, suppliers will discount prices by about $5 billion a year through rebates, discounts, and promotional payments. This ensures their stock is on sale. If they need to move a boat load of it, they can do on special and quickly, because we all love a bargain. The Supermarket tsar says if you’re a new, smaller supermarket chain opening up, you can’t compete with that cause you don’t have the buying power and economies of scale. Now this is where I think the tsar takes one of many leaps of faith. They reckon we consumers are overall worse off because of these specials and discounts.  The tsar says: "Consumers lose out because prices jump around more. This can mean the average price is more expensive and it’s harder for consumers to assess the value of products.” They don't offer any evidence this is actually happening, and that a change would make things cheaper. Leap of faith #2 is that this saving will be passed on to the consumer via the supermarket. Is there not a floor in this logic? Does essentially banning discounts actually make prices cheaper? If so, by how much? $5 billion? Remember the industry’s revenue is $25 billion a year.  If all of the discounts were handed down the chain of command to us shoppers, we’re expected to believe general prices would fall a whopping 20%? Remember when the Grocery Commission was set up under Labour, we were told the supermarkets were making excess profits of $365m a year.  There's a bunch of other changes, too.  Some of this stuff is just proposed. Suggestions. Voluntary.  Some stuff needs consultation. Then further review. Others need 12 months. Others form part of a new report aiming for 2026. By the time this is finished I will have not only lost the will to shop, but also to live.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine's struck a critical bridge connecting Russia and the Crimean Peninsula.  It's security service claims agents mined the supports of the bridge with more than one-thousand kilograms of explosives, severely damaging the foundations.  Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge the bridge is a hated symbol of Russian occupation for Ukraine.  He says it's also a vital piece of infrastructure for Russia.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's seen as the ideal place to host a major movie premiere.  That's due to a decade-old agreement between the producers of the Avatar franchise and the Government, given the amount of taxpayers' money that's been contributed.   In return, the producers agreed to roll out a red carpet in New Zealand for at least one of the three movies.  818 Publicity Managing Director Chris Henry told Ryan Bridge Wellington has a wonderful film culture.  He says the capital is also home to the films' director James Cameron, and a number of stars.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Building and Construction Minister's confident they're providing the right support while sector liquidation rates remain bleak.  Building Research Association data shows construction companies now make up about a third of all business liquidations – up 25% in 2022.   Minister Chris Penk told Ryan Bridge it's not a great statistic, but they're focusing on what they can control.   He says this includes turning around rules and regulations to make recovery easier.    Penk says the sector's in the midst of a deep boom and bust cycle.   He says times will get better, but they need to do everything in their power to avoid things being tougher for longer.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although visitor spending is on the rise, some parts of New Zealand are still doing it tough. A Government survey's found international visitor spending increased by 10% and contributed more than $12 billion to the economy in the year ending March. That's 9.2% up on the previous year. It reflects an increase in international visitors, topping 3.3 million arrivals, up from almost 3.2 million. Queenstown Mayor Glyn Lewers told Ryan Bridge it's good news, but also highlights the uneven nature of the spend across New Zealand.  He says there should be more effort to collaborate and spread the love between different regions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tourism mojo.  Louise Upston fired off an enthusiastic press release last night.  "International visitor spend on the up” it proclaimed. New data, which we get from the International Visitor Survey, showed a 10% jump in spending on the previous year. Sounds impressive, right?  Sounds like we’re getting somewhere. Finally shaking off the Covid cobwebs.  But this is where we start to see the spin doctors earning their keep.  Let’s not forget we’ve been dealing with inflation outside the band over that year. Which means stuff costs more - restaurants and hotels included. So, are we actually getting more out of tourism than we were, and is the jumping up and down justified? Well, the measure of success ought to be pre-Covid, when everything was shut down, we battened down the hatches and kissed the world goodbye. By that measure, spending is still only 86% of what it was in 2019. Now, the very same Minister responsible for last night’s press release was the same Minister responsible for firing one off on March 4th this year celebrating a big boost in tourism spending - up to, you guessed it, 86% of pre-Covid. So, the long and the short of it is, nothing had changed in real terms between March’s PR exercise and June’s! The Aussies and most of our big competition for these international tourists reversed the trends and brought them back a long time ago. The number of tourists travelling around the world recovered to pre-pandemic levels last year. Instead of celebrating no real success month after month, we ought to be asking why we’re still such a long way off the hip, hit destination we were five years ago. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's refusing to play ball with the US, which is demanding it up its defence spend to 3.5% of GDP as soon as possible.   Australia's currently tracking to lift spending to 2.33% of GDP in the next eight years.   Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seems to be brushing off the demand.   Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge that Albanese has said what you should do in defence is decide what you need, your capability, and provide for it, and that’s what his Government is doing.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plenty happened in the sporting world over the long weekend, and Andrew Alderson joined Ryan Bridge to delve into some of it. On today's agenda is the latest from Roland-Garros, the Warriors' win and Mitch Barnett's unfortunate ACL injury, and a social media spat coming out of IndyCar. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minimal progress in another round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.   The two countries have agreed, in Istanbul, to exchange sick and wounded prisoners of war, and those under 25.  Meanwhile, Ukraine's carried out drone strikes on several Russian air bases.   BBC's Olga Ivshina says even the loss of one plane is significant, as Russia can't replicate it quickly.   She told Ryan Bridge Russia has also launched attacks.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you know what's really starts to rub me the wrong way?  It's governments telling us to do more things.  This morning, we've got the government coming out with yet another hotline. Sounds fancy. Sounds efficient.  It's a hotline to report road cones. A road cone tipline.  Sorry, but if the problem is that there are too many road cones on the road, and they're unnecessary for the work being carried out —which half of them appear to be— then why do you need us to tell you that? Surely if we just had better, clearer rules and less bullshit, we wouldn't need a road cone tipline. A pothole tipline. A 105 theft tipline. A beneficiary tipline. Either you know what you're doing and you've got smart people and smart systems, or you don't.  And every time I hear of another tipline I realise, they have no idea.  Tiplines are the equivalent of a safety calming measure. Those weird speed bumps or narrowing roads, designed to make people feel better when driving around. All they really do is piss people off and reveal how rubbish your road designs are to begin with.  Just think about this:  There's a bunch of road cones in a dumb place on a busy road. WorkSafe and NZTA and Council people drive past this busy spot every day.  Barbara in her little Honda Civic, she drives past. She calls it in. Barry in his truck and trailer. He calls it in. Sally picks the kids up at 3pm from school every day.  They all ring the tipline. They all report the same thing. It will then be somebody's job to sort through the tips. Somebody else will triage the tips. That's two jobs. In three weeks, Barry, Sally, and Barb get a letter. Because the post only runs two days a week.  The letter says we're looking into the issue for you.  Meanwhile, 100 government or council people have walked or driven past the road cone Armageddon and nothing's changed.  Tiplines are plasters over grenades. The only time I want to ring a tipline is speak to the actual dump.  In its first 156 days in office, the National-led government has set up 37 reviews, inquiries or advisory panels – some of which are being led by former ministers, including Bill English, Steven Joyce, Murray McCully and Roger Sowry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 3rd of June 2025, The Government's introducing new changes to Worksafe and implementing a new roadcone hotline, Parallax CEO Dave Tilton shares his thoughts on how it will work.  Ukraine and Russia have been having peace talks in Turkey, BBC Senior Russia Correspondent Olga Ivshina shares the latest.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  Plus, Donna Demaio has all the details on the Australian PM  brushing off a push from the US to spend more on defence. 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.

Significant changes at WorkSafe as it moves from an enforcement focus and launches the road cone hotline. The agency will now engage early to support risk management, starting with today's opening of a tipline for excessive road cone usage.  Parallaxx Traffic Control Training Chief Executive Dave Tilton told Ryan Bridge there are good elements to this announcement.  He agrees with the collaborative risk-based approach, connecting WorkSafe, councils, and NZTA.  But Tilton says there are incompatible components to the hotline itself.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just 60% of Air New Zealand's trans-Tasman flights took off within 15 minutes of their scheduled time last month.   A report by the Ministry of Transport shows airline performance for April.  78% of Jetstar's flights between Australia and New Zealand left on time, and 70% for Qantas.   Aviation commentator Peter Clark told Ryan Bridge Air New Zealand's has a large fleet, which means more planes needing attention.  He says aircrafts have to be turned around, serviced, and catered every flight.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doubts many parents will be prosecuted for repeat truancy under a new Government directive.  Associate Education Minister David Seymour's confirmed these parents could be fined up to $30 a day as part of a firmer approach on school attendance.   Any possible prosecution cases will be referred to the Ministry.  Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Ryan Bridge they have 28 students —or 3%— who could fall into the chronic non-attendance category.  He says the vast majority have parents who are struggling financially or have health issues, and the ministry would struggle to prosecute any of them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers are welcoming a proposal to remove difficult rules from the Resource Management Act.  The Government's released three discussion documents proposing amending 12 current national directions and four new ones.  They include changes to freshwater management and regulation of farming practices.  Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chair Kate Acland told Ryan Bridge the Government's addressing issues they've been highlighting for a long time.  She says the rules are complex, impractical, and in some cases, impossible to meet.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British Police are still asking the public not to speculate as to why a 53-year-old businessman drove his car into a massive crowd of people in Liverpool. Seventy nine people - among those celebrating Liverpool Football Club's league title - were hurt; seven remain in hospital. Paul Doyle faces six charges related to grievous bodily harm, and one of dangerous driving. He'll first appear in court this weekend. Doyle is a former Royal Marine, believed to have served in the 90s. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, Friday the 30th of May Full Show Podcast 2025, the Ministry of Education's been ordered to prosecute parents who who don't regularly send their children to school, Darfield school Principal Andy England shares his thoughts.  Beef and Lamb NZ are praising the government's RMA announcement Chairperson Kate Acland explains it's benefits.  New data on plane arrivals shows Air New Zealand is falling behind, Aviation Commentator Peter Clark shares his thoughts.  Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney shares the latest on police naming the man charged in relation to a car crash during the Liverpool parade.  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 price of butter's shot up 65% over the past year - you might have noticed nana's cookie jar's a bit empty lately.  Bakers are buying in bulk from the Aussies, where it's cheaper. Online discussion blames our dairy farmers, the co-op that buys their milk, and the producers who sell it.  But, there are a couple of reason its cheaper there than here.  1) We export a hell of a lot more to the world than the Aussies do.  In 2023, they exported 9.4 tonnes. We exported 441 tonnes. They exported 2% of the quantity we did.  That means our price is more susceptible to the international market price. We export most of our butter, we pay the international price.  Australia on the other hand, eats a lot more of its own and exports less.  This is good and bad. It mean we pay the trade price, yes, but it also means when the price is high, as it has been lately, our largest company Fonterra does well. Our farmers do well. They spend money here and drive growth in our economy which we all benefit from.  Yesterday we learned that means an extra $15-billion being ploughed into this economy.  2) Supply issues in Europe have pushed that global price up. Our is a premium product which is in high demand overseas. It's grass fed, more sustainable, and just tastes better. The exchange rate has also encouraged large purchases from offshore buyers.  3) When you produce a lot of something, producers will lock themselves into big international contacts because they buy greater volumes than local retailers need.  The Aussies have this problem with their gas. Australian National University business and economics lecturer David Leaney explains that they signed some big money contracts to supply a enormous amount of gas at locked-in prices. He says even though they could sell it for more domestically, they're locked into those contracts.  4) We don't know the details of the Costco cheap butter that everyone's been raving about. Is it a loss leader? Is it a marketing ploy? Discount it to get people into your store to then simultaneously buy 48 rolls of toilet paper? So yes, Kiwi butter is expensive at home. But the fact it's expensive elsewhere is actually a good thing for our country as a whole. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lack of consensus at the Reserve Bank on yesterday’s cut to the OCR reflects the global economic uncertainty.  The Monetary Policy Committee has dropped the cash rate 25-basis points to 3.25%, and now expects to reach a 2.9% low-point in December.  However, further cuts are uncertain, with the bank adopting a watch and wait approach.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge they still believe we’ll get another cut next month, but it’s uncertain how far the Bank will go.  He says it’s possible we will pause at some point.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Grocery Action Group is unconvinced by a proposal to rapidly add competition to the grocery sector.  The New Zealand Initiative wants the Government to introduce a "fast track pathway" to allow new entrants to enter the market, rather than forcing any break-up of the existing supermarket companies.  It includes streamlining rezoning, consenting and investment clearance processes.  The group's Sue Chetwin told Ryan Bridge it's more of a nice to have.  She says to get more competitors, the government will need to force existing supermarkets to give up some of their stores.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's an expectation it will take two years to get the number of international students in vocational education back to pre-Covid levels. There were about 75-thousand international students in New Zealand last year - 40% less than a peak in 2016. Vocational Minister Penny Simmonds says told Ryan Bridge centralising Polytech's into Te Pukenga is a big factor, as it caused a financial mess. She says it's been a nightmare, which is being unpicked. Te Pukenga is being disestablished by January, with power then going back to individual Polytech's. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Reserve Bank rate cut.  It was largely as expected - 25 basis points. The rest of the press conference and much of the Monetary Policy Statement itself was focused on the ‘unpredictable’ global environment.  We can’t say this because we don’t know what Trump will do. We can’t be certain about that because XYZ. Trade war, etc, etc. But at what point does unpredictability become predictable, and therefore not the great threat we make it out to be? Yes, Trump went nuts on Liberation day. The sky fell in, then he calls a ceasefire in May. The markets have recouped all their losses, the indices are patchy but largely back to where they were. Trade talks are ongoing. The IMF yesterday upgraded Britain’s growth. US consumer confidence actually increased last month. China’s industrial growth for April was positive yesterday. Our agriculture exports are doing the business abroad.  Trump rants and raves on twitter. He un-announces stuff as quickly as he announces stuff.  He’s impulsive, emotionally reactive, and vindictive. He’s a weathervane.  The political equivalent of Katy Perry, cause he’s hot then he’s cold. He’s in then he’s out. He’s up then he’s down. He’s yes then he’s no. He’s wrong when it’s right, he’s black when it’s white... You get the point.  The point ism we know this about him. We know he’s unpredictable and that makes his unpredictability, predictable. I reckon we aren’t taking his threats as seriously as we were two months ago. Not the US consumer, not Chinese industry, not us.  And you know who else should stop paying him so much attention? The Reserve Bank. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 29th of May 2025,  The Reserve Bank cut the OCR by 25 basis points, ASB bank Chief Economist Nick Tuffley shares his thoughts.  International student numbers are down in Secondary schools and for vocational training, Minister for vocational education Penny Simmonds tells Ryan Bridge what the Government's doing to help.  The New Zealand Initiative has come up with a plan to bring competition to the grocery sector, Sue Chetwin from the Grocery Action Group shares her thoughts. Plus US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on the US government halting international student Visa appointments.  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.

Renewed warnings that people are 'rolling the dice with their life' when partaking in 'run it straight' style games.  Ryan Satterthwaite has died after a private version of the game in Palmerston North.   The 19-year-old suffered a serious brain injury on Sunday and died in hospital on Monday.   AUT Human Performance Professor Patria Hume told Ryan Bridge Police can intervene in these games, particularly at official events.  She says event organisers are legally required to ensure the health and safety of participants.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major questions about how a man was able to drive his car into a massive crowd in Liverpool yesterday, injuring 50.  Eleven people remain in hospital, all in a stable condition and recovering.  A 53-year-old British man has been arrested for attempted murder.  Fans of Liverpool Football Club had flooded the city's streets to celebrate its Premier League title win.  Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge the driver defied police traffic management by following an ambulance into the area.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Port of Auckland's fee hikes are a bitter pill to swallow for transport operators.  The port has announced a 77% increase for trucks entering the Fergusson Container Terminal during peak times – going from $130 to $230 by July next year.   National Road Carriers Chief Executive Justin Tighe-Umbers told Ryan Bridge it's not so simple to work off peak, as they don't have the workforce to cover those hours.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Wednesday 28th of May, It's OCR day today, Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold shares his thoughts on what the Reserve Bank will do.  A 19 year old has died from a 'run-it-straight' style game with his friends, AUT Human Performance Professor Patria Hume warns about the risk of letting these events continue.  Auckland's port is hiking its access fees once again, National Road Carriers Association Chief Executive Justin Tighe-umbers tells Ryan Bridge about the impacts it'll have. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the car that drove through closed off streets at the celebration parade for Liverpool Football Club.  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 Reserve Bank's expected to cut interest rates again this afternoon, to aid economic recovery.  Economists are projecting a 25 basis point OCR cut to 3.25% - the lowest cash rate since September 2022.  Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold says beyond that, there's a bit more debate.  He says told Ryan Bridge Westpac is forecasting they'll stop at three percent.  Eckhold says next year if the global environment looks weak, then inflation could fall back quite rapidly - so some commentators are suggesting rates could get to 2.5%.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happened in Palmerston North with the death of this young man was an absolute tragedy. We don't know exactly what happened here, other than it was linked to another viral challenge.  The sad reality is stuff like this will happen again. And again. And again.  The campaigners and professionals will warn about the dangers.  And then kids will be kids, and another craze will come along and somebody else will get hurt or worse. Ten years ago… remember planking? The came skin art, where young people paint sunscreen on some parts of their bodies and burn the rest in the sun.  An American family lost their son to the infamous blackout challenge, where kids choke themselves or their friends for fun. For ages teenagers, especially boys, have played bullrush, drank to excess, and driven cars way too fast. Frontal lobes don’t develop properly until age 25. That’s when reason overtakes risk in the brain. Behaviour changes. If you ask me honestly if society can ever prevent these tragedies from happening again, I’d say look at the numbers, the trends and social media algorithms. But more than that, that overwhelming urge to, when you’re young, experiment with danger. To push the boundaries in life. To just goof off with your mates. That primal urge has existed since the beginning of time and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere in a hurry.  All we can do as individuals is offer our sincere condolences to this poor family and hope that others learn a lesson from his death. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's greyhound racers aren't going without a fight.  Greyhound Racing NZ is applying for a judicial review of Racing Minister Winston Peters giving the industry 20 months to wind down, from last November.  Trainer Craig Roberts told Ryan Bridge he believes people have been fed misinformation about the industry.  He says about 95% of greyhound injuries aren't serious, and just prevent them racing for a short period of time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers are sounding the alarm, warning the sheep industry is collapsing.  Numbers in flocks have declined from 70 million just over 40 years ago to 25 million today.   Farmers say carbon farming is the main factor, with 260 thousand hectares of land converted into forestry between 2017 and 2024.  They say the farms harbour pests like stoats, feral pigs, and deer, which come onto their land and harm their livestock.  Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard told Ryan Bridge the problem has grown in the last three or four years – a lack of hunting during the Covid lockdowns seemingly allowing pests to breed.  He says as they redo the Biosecurity Act, they’ll be looking at the clause dictating a landowner must maintain and control pests within their boundary, to see if it needs tightening.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 43-year-old Australian man arrested in Bali for smuggling cocaine, could face the death penalty.  Lamar Aaron Ahchee was picked up by Police at the location where the drugs were allegedly delivered.  More than 200 small packages of cocaine were confiscated, weighing almost two kilograms.  Australian correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge Ahchee has yet to be charged, but has been presented to media at a press conference wearing an orange jumpsuit and black balaclava.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.