Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Liam Lawson has been handed a five-second time penalty and has therefore lost his points finish from Formula One‘s Miami Grand Prix sprint race. After qualifying 14th, Lawson looked to have finished seventh in the 18-lap affair, shortened by one lap due to rain over the Miami International Autodrome. Sports Contributor Andrew Alderson talks to Ryan Bridge about the race. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 5 May. 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 Defence Minister is tight-lipped over whether a major investment in the military, will mean better pay for frontline troops.  Defence contractors will be lining up their bids to build the Defence Force's new maritime helicopters. Judith Collins revealed yesterday two-billion dollars has been set aside for new helicopters, while 957-million's been earmarked over four years for Defence Force activities.  She told Ryan Bridge troops already had quite large pay rises last year, and every time they go overseas, they get extra money on top of their usual pay. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No doubt Donald Trump's brand is dicey at home at best but globally, the world has watched on with a mix of amusement and feigned concern.  These results out of Canada and Australia at the weekend show that brand has turned toxic... like a beef Wellington at a family dinner party.  We've all seen the host - the chef - tuck in... but now we're thinking hmm... do we want to do the same.  We can't get much closer in style and substance to Canada and Australia when it comes to democracy - both chained to the Westminster system we inherited Mother England... and both of our cousins have turned on their political oppositions as Trump upends the global order.  To rub salt in the wound both Poilievre and Dutton lost not just their elections but their seats.  We spoke about this on Friday but... but what is the message here? Trump is toxic.  Poilievre's problem was one of style - he sounded and campaigned too much like Trump - the airports hanger with the branded plane behind shots on the nightly news.  Dutton's problem was more complicated... first. He ran a crap campaign. Realising a defence plan so expensive it gets funding to 35 of GDP and means you can't Albo's tax cuts in a cost-of-living crisis - and then only releasing that plan two weeks out from campaign day was dumb.  But it was also about that word economists are spitting out like a bad steak - uncertainty. Don't ask Luxon though - he gave a bizzare response when asked about this yesterday... Basically... the Aussies and the Canadians simply picked the most economically credible parties in the face of uncertain times.  What? Those parties he's endorsing are both from the left. That's the equivalent of kicking his sister parties (The Aussie Libs and Canadian Conservatives) in the shins. Made no sense. I think he wanted to avoid mentioning the trump bump.  What's actually happening here is not really about parties.  In times of uncertainty, you don't change your horse mid-steam. Voters stick with what they know. When the worlds in a spin, you don't know up from down, Albo from a-hole.... human nature, for the most part, is to do nothing and hope it goes away. Why risk a new government of unknown quantity? Singapore's arguably just done the same. The counter factual to this obviously is America, but remember the American economy was actually growing for past two years, consumer spending was strong, and inflation had come down earlier than ours. So that's a different set of circumstances.  The best comparison for what's happened in Australia and Canada in the past week is 2020, New Zealand.  A bunch of people really worried a perceived global threat rallying around flagpole and rejecting a campaign that wasn't neither well-run or nailing the public mood.  Which Judith Collins' disastrous 2020 attempt didn't.  Whether it was Trump, or a reaction to him. For Luxon to attribute the fiscal credentials of left-wing parties abroad with their success was an unnecessary own goal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The balance of power seems to be shifting in Australian politics.  There was a shock U-turn in the polls ahead of the election, with Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party suddenly pulling out in front.  It now seems likely the party will secure a second term.  Independent Member for Warringah, Zali Steggall told Ryan Bridge confidence in major parties keeps decreasing, and there’s an increased interest in independent candidates as a result.  Although convention in parliament has evolved towards party politics, Steggall says the Australian constitution actually allows for a model of parliament in which legislation is tackled on its own merits.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New figures on meth-use are prompting calls for more preventive action.   Discharges from public hospitals suggest meth-use has increased four-fold over the past decade, while wastewater testing last year showed a doubling in meth use.  Former detective and anti-meth advocate Mike Sabin told Ryan Bridge that you’ve got to turn the tap off on the supply.  He says that New Zealand’s had a problem with meth for the last 25 years because policy is focused on harm minimisation or problem limitation, which accepts that use will happen and tries to manage it.  Sabin says this is the wrong way to go around it, as areas such as tobacco and diabetes which have seen a reduction have been as a result of prevention.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act Leader David Seymour's taken aim at the size of government.  He's calling for a limit on the number of ministers, with no ministers outside cabinet, and no associate ministers other than in finance.  There's currently 82 ministerial portfolios, held by 28 ministers, and he claims they're full of 'meaningless titles'.   PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons told Ryan Bridge it's a hypocritical move from Seymour.  She says both times Act have been in government recently, they've created new agencies.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alright it's time for Friday confessional.  With the Pope passing away, all this focus on Catholicism's got me feeling repentant.  There are two things I predicted would happen last December as I was signing for Christmas here at Newstalk ZB. One of those things hasn't happened and the other one is about to not happen.  Poilievre winning the Canadian election and Albo losing Australia's.  We all know who's to blame. You know who – the wildcard, the kamikaze, the outlaw, it was the Trump Bump that did it for both of these guys.   Carney, while he's won, will have a very tough term in office given the whole rally round the flag effect in support of Canadian sovereignty will fizzle out as quickly as Jacinda's Covid election high – the underlying problems Canadians felt before this month-long love-in will remain. This will surely be his high tide mark.  But that's no excuse. I got it wrong. Fair cop.  And as for Dutton, who's been looking behind every couch and under every rock for something relevant to say, he’s now beating up on the return to country. Which during a cost of living crisis people want sorted, is akin to Judith Collins' attack on fat people at the ill-fated 2020 election.  Remember that? If you want to lose weight, then eat less. Actually, not an unreasonable thing to say for most but it's the timing, isn't it? It's the focus on that when it should be on bigger things.  And that brings us to the elephant in the White House: Donald Trump.  While I predicted he'd win last November, I think most of us underestimated just what “America first” meant for the rest of the world. When somebody comes first, somebody loses.  And both Albo and Carney have been beneficiaries of that.  His power of course has swung global political pendulums before. Remember the rise and international star power of Jacinda Ardern was born out of an anti-Trump backlash. The liberal young female prime minister banning assault rifles in a country post mass-shooting became the darling of global left – just the tonic for those who not just dislike, but despise Trump and his band of merry MAGA supporters.  So the political lesson is don't underestimate the Trump Bump and Dump on any foreign election.  The question is, what does it mean for our election next year?  We're less affected by his tariffs, unless China implodes. We’re not yet being threatened with invasion. Unlike the Aussies and Canadians, our incumbents are bent to the right.   So the risk of a Trump Bump getting Chippy over the line here if he starts singing from Phil Goff’s songbook is perhaps more limited – but not non-existent.  When Washington coughs, somebody gets a cold.  How Luxon and Winston et al. navigate the next 18 months will determine whether it's them that catches it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 2 May. 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 Government's ensuring financial education is central to a refreshed school social sciences curriculum.  Education Minister Erica Stanford's announced it will be a core element for Years 1-10 from next year.  The curriculum will cover key financial skills for younger students, such as having a bank account, earning, spending and saving.  Older students will be taught concepts like budgeting, investment and taxes.  MoneyTime CEO Neil Edmond told Kerre Woodham it’s heartening to see the Ministry of Education come out and make the curriculum clear.   He says it will have a massive impact on the next generations, as they’ll learn how to manage their money and make the best use of it.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About five-thousand senior doctors are striking until midnight in a bid to get more of them on the roster.  This comes after eight months of failed negotiations with Health New Zealand.  The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says it’s not going to fill workforce gaps without major improvements to pay and conditions.  President Katie Ben told Ryan Bridge salaries aren't competitive enough for doctors to want to stay in the country.  She says more doctors need to be recruited into New Zealand and ones that train here need to be kept.  Ben says they often work 10 hour days and then stay on call for 14 hours overnight.  She says they're working non-stop through the day as there's not enough staff for any breaks.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rail Minister says any supply chain interruptions caused by the Interislander reducing its Cook Strait ferry fleet can be handled.   Aratere will be retired when demolition begins on its decaying Picton dock late this year or early next, to add infrastructure for new ships.  It's KiwiRail's only rail-enabled ferry.   Winston Peters told Ryan Bridge it won't have an impact on the amount of freight KiwiRail is moving.   He says it will be supplemented by added shipping around the coast and a re-formulated programme.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Mitchell, he's got a bit on his plate at the moment.   He'll be happy with the score he got from Audrey Young in her ranking of ministers for midterm, but I reckon he is holding on to a ticking time bomb.   This is the case of the beautiful young Colombian woman in Christchurch living next door to a monster. She didn't know he'd been let out of prison 10 weeks before he raped her and stabbed her to death. He was on parole, by the way.   And here's the problem: Corrections knew he was, quote, “a high, high, high risk”. Any young attractive woman near him would be a target. Poor Juliana Bonilla-Herrera. She lived next door. She didn't know about his past and Corrections somehow didn't know she'd moved in next door to this animal.   Now, since we spoke about this the other day, a couple of things have happened. A couple of updates for you, and this is where Mitchell comes in. This guy was on parole right, which means he's been let out of prison early. Could still be in prison, but you're not because we've let you out. Now you wonder how many other high-risk offenders like this guy are released from prison early. And is this, you know, a good idea?   Well, a senior Correction staffer this week says they're regularly being let out early and let into the community. Not just people like this guy, but people with quote, “even higher risk”.  Here's what I reckon: this case, and a long list of parole botch ups before it, are all the evidence you need that we can't trust the system once these guys make it outside. The government should immediately pause the release of high-risk violent thugs into our communities. Everyone loves to talk about safety first, well here's a bloody good place to start. This ticking time bomb is in Mark Mitchell's lap. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 1 May. 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 Government books are expected to reach surplus by 2029.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis has teased slices of her Budget 2025 cake, revealing $1.3 billion in new operating spending – a cut from the forecast of $2.4 billion.  Ministers and agencies have been asked to cut more costs, for diversion into focus areas including health, education, and defence.  Labour’s Finance Spokesperson Barbara Edmonds told Ryan Bridge it all comes down to the choices Willis will need to make to get to that surplus.  She says this is where choices really matter, and the Government’s pulling back at a time where they should be investing.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chaos for southwest Europe during a major power blackout.  Spain, Portugal, and parts of France went dark yesterday due to an issue with the grid, originating in Spain.   Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says power has now been restored, and they will take all necessary measures to prevent a repeat.  Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge cash registers, gas pumps, and credit cards all stopped working.   He says it was a very hot day, and people were stuck in lifts and electric trains.  Grey says plenty of other countries are now wondering if they’d be resilient enough if the same happened to them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canadian Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney will have a lot of issues to tackle after winning the country's election last night.   The win means he'll continue to lead Canada – the job he took over from Justin Trudeau six weeks ago.   It's an upset loss for the Conservative Party, which was leading the polls up until Carney took over.  Political Analyst Nick Harper told Ryan Bridge it might be a tough start for him.  He says Carney has a tremendous to do list, and will also have to work out a trade policy with the US.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A children's support charity says a mix of heightened awareness and more abuse could be the reason for more reports to Oranga Tamariki.  The Ministry for Children estimates its seen a 45 percent increase in reports of concern in the year to April. It comes as Newstalk ZB reveals more than a-thousand children are overdue to be assigned a social worker.  Child Matters Chief Executive Jane Searle told Ryan Bridge it's aware of a large volume of under-reporting - especially in serious cases.  She says increased reporting is certainly not indicative of just more awareness.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can’t say we weren’t warned Nicola Willis would be taking to government spending like a butcher to a fresh carcass. She’s been saying it for months.  Yesterday she halved the operating allowance to $1.3 billion. All this because she wants to do what she said she’s do, and that’s balance the books by 2029. The recession’s cut her tax take so you either push your surplus out or you trim your spending. Labour, of course, says this is austerity, it’s bad, and we should spending more not less. Well, we know where that got us, waist deep in our own shite. Shite that Willis is now wading her way through trying to clean up. Budgets are just bigger versions of what we all do in our own lives everyday. We make decisions and choices about how much to spend, to borrow, what we spend on and more importantly, what we don’t. And if you asked most Kiwis what they’re doing right now, are you doing a Hipkins.Are you borrowing and splashing the cash? Stacking the pantry? Making nice brand spanking new purchases?  Or are you doing a Willis? Spending on the stuff you need, cutting the stuff you don’t, and trying to balance your budget so you can start paying down your debt?  I reckon most kiwis are doing the latter. So on that score, she’s on the money.  But here’s the thing to worry about, the political calculation for Budget 2025 will be very different to Budget 2026. You can get away with running a tight ship in the off-season but next year we’re going to the polls. Just look across the Tasman for a look at how mad that makes us and by extension our politicians. Albanese's borrowing so much for his election promises that Standard and Poor’s threatening to downgrade their AAA credit rating. There's debt-funded election spending so out the gate it’s pushing government outlays to its highest level since World War Two.  They’re now promising to cut $7 billion plus out of the public service least they push the boat out too far. The coalition’s been dining out in the credit card too. Not just the lefties. And this is the lesson and the warning. Being frugal and thrifty is easy when you’re not trying to buy an election. So yes, Willis is making the right noises for now, but next year, might just be a different story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 30 April 2025, numbers revealed this morning show more 1,300 children are waiting to be assigned a social worker by Oranga Tamariki. Child Matters CEO Jane Searle gives her reaction to Ryan Bridge.  Labour is already calling the upcoming budget the "slash and burn budget." But Ryan questions Finance Spokesperson Barbara Edmonds on what she would do differently.  We get reaction from Canada as Mark Carney and the Liberal Party pull off a remarkable win in the country's election.  Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A thumbs-up from the building industry over changes to certifications and inspections.   The Government will be letting approved builders, plumbers, and drainlayers sign off their own work for simple residential dwellings.   80% of inspections will also need to be completed within three working days.  Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma told Ryan Bridge there’s a lot that can be done to reduce the compliance burden on low-risk homes without compromising quality or consumer protection.  Some of which, he says, are restricting it to low-risk builds, having strict self-certification criteria, and strengthening the LBP scheme.   Sharma says that more details would be needed, but if improvements in these areas are implemented well, they’ll enable productivity gains without compromising quality.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A belief there's hope to solving New Zealand's plastic waste problem.  Plastics New Zealand has released two reports with strategies for minimising plastic waste in the construction sector and in consumer, medical and seafood packaging.  Five thousand tonnes of polystyrene packaging enters the supply chain every year, with 77% going to landfill.  Plastics New Zealand CEO Rachel Barker told Ryan Bridge there's work to be done.   She says New Zealand could implement product stewardship, so people have a place they can take it back to —or it gets collected— so it can be recycled and re-used into new products.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tory Whanau is bowing out of Wellington's mayoral race.  The incumbent's confirmed she'll instead stand for the council's Māori ward seat to give former Labour Leader Andrew Little a clear run.  She says Little will do a good job, and she hopes people see her withdrawal as a gracious move.  Little's been critical of Whanau, calling rate increases under her leadership "simply not acceptable".  He told Ryan Bridge Whanau advised him before announcing her decision.  A key focus of both the residents and candidates is Wellington's high rates, and Little says he wants to slow the rise. He says a 35% increase over the next three years is simply not acceptable.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here we go again with the whinge fest about Air New Zealand's prices.  I get it.  I try book the same flights as everybody else and when you're trying to fly some obscure route from this province to province its gets expensive. Quickly.  But here we are again with politicians telling us fibs - telling us they can wave a magic wand and fix all of our problems.  This time is James Meager - going in to bat for the South Island. He says flying shouldn't just be for the rich, the government is going to take action and is talking about underwriting airlines. Do we want the government underwriting the purchase of turbo prop planes? Really? We've heard this all before of course. They've gone after the banks, the supermarkets, and the price of petrol.  I can't tell you how many painstaking and frustrating interviews I've done with ministers of all colours and stripes who swear black and blue they'll sort it out and then don't. What's worse? The person that punches you in the nose? Or the doctor that says they'll fix it when they know you can't?  Here's the thing, if you wanna book the main trunk line, it's relatively inexpensive, providing you're not booking last minute. There's Jetstar keeping Air New Zealand honest. That's competition. But if you're flying Kerikeri to Dunedin tomorrow, guess what? It will cost plenty. Why? Because they've got you over a barrel. You need to fly. It's short notice.  8000 people live in Kerikeri and 130,000 in Dunedin, these routes are often empty.  The fact is running a profitable airline in a sparsely populated country is bloody difficult.  And we want them to be profitable, otherwise we have no airline and we're a backwater banana republic.  And the regional players - they're no better off. Air Chathams the other week was threatening to pull out of Whakatane unless the council paid for a new Cessna.  Everyone compares us to the Australians - but have a look at outback Queensland. You pay thousands just to get to Brisbane.  Show me a headline about flights being cheaper from Dunedin to Bali than Dunedin to Auckland and I'll show you one about Mount Isa to Brisbane and Brisbane to Canada. Population matters and guess what? We're a blip on the radar. And as for the promise that some politician will swoop in and save the day - it's about as reliable as planes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 29 April 2025, Tory Whanau has given up her bid to be re-elected Wellington's Mayor. Ryan Bridge got reaction from the apparent frontrunner in the race, Andrew Little.  The construction industry is celebrating the government's to allow reputable builders, plumbers and drainlayers to self-certify their own work for certain builds.  We get the latest from Australian as the election campaign draws to a close.  Ryan gives a reality check for those complaining about Air New Zealand's prices.  Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three people have been taken to hospital after they were found injured in Leeds. Among them is a 38-year-old suspected attacker who is thought to have caused the injuries by using a crossbow. Police are investigating the incident as a counter-terrorism event because they also found a firearm at the scene. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey talks to Mike Hosking about the incident, Marks and Spencer still struggling after a cyber-attack and Liverpool's Premier League win. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC have officially claimed the Premier's Plate after Melbourne City drew with Adelaide United.  The Auckland team beat Perth Glory 1-0 at home yesterday.  Newstalk ZB sports editor Elliott Smith joins the show for a weekend sports wrap.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's planning to build thousands of EV chargers by 2030.  Using a concessionary loan scheme to do it, the Government will use a private-public funding model to build the charging model.  Currently New Zealand has about 1400 EV charging stations.  Chair of Drive Electric Kirsten Corson tells Ryan Bridge she isn't sure their plan will work.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discussions around the next Pope are heating up. Eighty-eight year old Pope Francis has been laid to rest after a funeral in front of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Saturday night. One hundred and 35 cardinals will soon be locked in the Sistine Chapel to vote on his successor in secret - the candidates must be aged under 80. Newstalk ZB's Jo McKenna, who's at St Peters' Square, told Ryan Bridge she's been told the Italians want to see a European Pope. She says her source has told her they didn't like that an outsider from Argentina had come in and shaken things up, as they see it as a family business. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition Full Show Podcast for Monday 28 April 2025, Rome Correspondent Jo McKenna talks Ryan Bridge through what to expect as the Vatican prepares to elect a new Pope.  The government is making moves to try and boost the number of public EV chargers - but Drive Electric's Kirstin Corson explains why she doesn't think the plan is a silver bullet.  ZB Sport's Elliott Smith talks Auckland FC's remarkable debut season as it takes out the A-League's Premier Plate.  Ryan asks whether the government should simply ditch one of its flagship policies.   Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was a  priest on the news last night talking about homeless people the cost of buying a house in New Zealand.  This priest, who was all dressed up in his garb, then mentioned the fact there were marina berths down at the waterfront bursting at the seams with super yachts.  I thought that was such an odd thing to say.  I know the church's role is to help the poor. And they do that and I've seen them do that. And that's fantastic.  But to then also blame the wealthy for not helping the poor - is that helping? Or is that politics?  The church and state have been clashing of late.  We saw all those quote 'faith leaders' come out during the Treaty Principles Bill bill debate and give David Seymour a bollocking.  What exactly is the end game here? Are they, like the good bishop Brian Tamaki, keen on getting into parliament themselves?  The Salvation Army does a report every year looking at the wealth of billionaires. There's a lot of finger pointing and tisk-tisking about those who've accumulated a lot.  What about those who've got a lot, but also give a lot?  For a good example, we need look no further than the Catholic Church itself. It is one of the largest and wealthiest organisations in the world. The Vatican, because of its small population and huge tithings from working and poor people the world over, is the 18th wealthiest nation in the world per capita. They boast a huge real estate portfolio.  The men who run the roost, the cardinals and bishops and what not, are all fed and watered by the women who really run the place, the nuns.  It's not a hard life they lead. Is it? It's hardly struggle street.  It's hard to work out exactly what it's worth all up. But media reports anywhere between 73 and 250 billion bucks. So more than the combined wealth of all the the billionaires this country's ever known. To be honest - none of this bothers me. I believe everybody should believe in what ever god and afterlife they want to. That's religious freedom.  I respect your right to think and pray as you want. But if you're going to preach for the poor and against the wealthy, perhaps getting your own house in order might be a good place to start. Least you come across a tad hypocritical. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand workers seem to be embracing Gen AI in the workplace.  New research from Robert Half finds 91% of workers are using AI tools to help with their day to day tasks.  93% of workers say they’re transparent about their use with their managers and employers.   Tech Commentator Oskar Howell told Francesca Rudkin it’s becoming a real staple of a lot of desk jobs, as it allows people to become more efficient.  Although, he says there may be such a focus on upskilling in the area as people are concerned their job may be taken over by AI in the future.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It comes as no surprise to some the Government got the number of families eligible for the full FamilyBoost payment wrong.  New data shows 249 families have received the maximum payment of $975 dollars a quarter since the scheme came into effect last year.   Finance Minister Nicola Willis says IRD got the modelling wrong, as 21,000 families were thought to be eligible.  Early Childhood NZ chief executive Kathy Wolfe told Francesca Rudkin the sector always knew the scheme was flawed.  She says it doesn't reach the families it should, and there are a lot of hoops those eligible have to jump through to get access.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes being the grown up in the room is deeply unfulfilling, pragmatic, sensible. Considering consequences, taking a long-term view, they're all good, admirable words, and we should take some solace in them. But sometimes I think we'd rather just throw a plate at the wall. And so, it is. Was the government's response yesterday to the Trump tariffs essentially to roll over and take it understandable? Sure. Sensible. Yep, frustrating. Very. The government confirmed we're not in the queue to negotiate a trade deal with President Trump's administration, nor are we interested in taking legal action over it, and the tariff hit will come after exporters had an excellent March. It's a shame the party music has hit a bum-note, we want the growth. We want good export news, but without the dark tariff cloud lingering in the distance. As Trade Minister Todd McClay said yesterday, we probably couldn't negotiate between below the current 10% rate and the legal process would be long winded and would probably go nowhere. I'm presuming, like the majority of us who aren't diplomats and haven't been in a room negotiating a trade deal, this is a well-considered plan. One based on experience and insider information, but perhaps also because making a fuss could have unintended consequences and result in even higher tariffs. It also makes sense to keep our head down until our two biggest trading partners, China and US, have sorted out their own tiff. We need to ensure both are feeling valued by us and not be seen to take sides as we focus on growing our trademark. Will the plate throwers get sensible? Trump stated during a White House news conference that the final tariff rate with China would come down substantially from the current 145%. He said the US would be very nice to China and not play hardball. Trump's remarks towards China come on the same day the IMF released a new report showing the United States faces the biggest downgrade among advanced countries due to the increase in tariffs and the uncertainty they've caused. The IMF predicts the US economy will grow 1.8% this year, down from the estimated 2.7%.And there's a 40% chance of recession. So, is this a case of Trump blinking in a first sign of some steps towards stabilizing global trade? Is it a move by Trump to calm the nerves? The markets responded well to both Trump's tariff call on China and his remarks. He has no intention of firing the Federal Reserve chair. I don't think anyone knows what's to come next or how Trump will respond to Chinese social media hashtags such as Trump admitted defeat, but I much prefer the adult Trump rather than the one throwing plates. In the meantime, New Zealand shall remain patient and diplomatic, settle in and see what change may occur again. Before the 90-day pause is up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition Full Show Podcast for Thursday 24 April 2025, Early Childhood CEO Kathy Wolfe joins Francesca Rudkin to discuss concern the sector reform could put business over children.  Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Scott Simpson explains new protections that require banks to reimburse fraud victims up to $500,000. Increasing numbers of people are openly using AI at work. Tech commentator Oskar Howell considers the changing attitudes towards AI. And, US correspondent Mitch McCann shares details on how the stock market is reacting to tensions with China. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 24/7 reporting channel is just one of the new anti-scamming measures banks are implementing. The suite of consumer protections will be rolled out this year. Banks will also now reimburse victims up to $500,000 if they fail to adequately warn and protect consumers. Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson tells Francesca Rudkin telco companies and digital platforms should follow suit. He says other players in the scam ecosystem need to step up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon and Sir Keir Starmer have reaffirmed the close ties between New Zealand and the UK.  Luxon says the relationship between the two countries is strong, and he'd like to deepen ties around defence and security.  The pair discussed their support for Ukraine, with Starmer announcing a multi-million dollar deal to buy Kiwi-made drones.  Geopolitical Analyst Geoffrey Miller told Francesca Rudkin Ukraine is front and centre of the agenda at the moment, but it’s not the only thing on it, with trade being another focus.   However, he says Luxon will need to be careful about what he says about defence, as China will be watching.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the first locally listed companies is seeing the impact of Trump’s tariffs.  Tourism Holdings Limited has seen a dramatic slowdown in bookings by its US division and is anticipating a “significantly” lower net profit than previously expected.   Its share price fell more than 10% after announcing it was downgrading its earnings outlook.  CEO Grant Webster told Francesca Rudkin in recent weeks, the booking intakes for the rentals division into the US are down 40-50%.  However, he says people are simply choosing to travel elsewhere, and their other markets are actually up.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s new bill is finding support from a women’s sport advocacy group.  The new bill wants to codify sex-based language, defining a woman as an “adult human biological female” and a man as an “adult human biological male”.   It comes as Britain’s Highest Court ruled that only biological women —not trans women— meet a definition of a woman under equity laws.  Save Women’s Sport Australasia NZ Spokeswoman Ro Edge told Francesca Rudkin the bill is a protection for the sex-based rights of women.   She says all it does is reinforce the urgent need for the likes of Sport New Zealand to prioritise and protect safety and fairness for biological women.  Edge says they play sports with their bodies, not their identities.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the world's most influential people will be making their way to Rome to farewell the late Pope Francis.  The Head of the Catholic Church died aged 88 on Easter Monday - following a stroke and heart failure.   Pope Francis' funeral will take place outside St Peter's Basilica on Saturday evening - and he'll be laid to rest in Rome's Basilica of St Mary Major.   Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Francesca Rudkin world leaders have begun confirming their attendance.  He says Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, Sir Keir Starmer, the Argentinean President and Prince William on behalf of the King are among those going. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 23 April 2025, geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller discusses the overnight meeting between Prime Minister Luxon and his British counterpart Sir Keir Starmer.  NZ spokesperson for Save Women's Sport Australasia, Ro Edge explains a new members bill that aims to legally define men and women.   And, Tourism Holdings Limited has seen a dramatic slowdown in bookings to the US. Chief Executive Grant Webster considers the effect of the US tariff regime on the locally listed company.  Francesca Rudkin asks us to take responsibility for our own relationships with technology.  Plus, Pope Francis' funeral will take place at the Vatican on Saturday morning - UK correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest.  Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There has been a clever marketing campaign from 2degrees this week.   The telco has released the results of a study it commissioned into the impact mobile phones are having on our mental health.   It’s not good.   While most telco’s like to concentrate on keeping us connected, 2 Degrees has taken a slightly different approach with this one, acknowledging the elephant in the room by talking honestly and openly about the damage phones can do.   It’s almost like they care.   Which is quite refreshing.   I probably sound a bit sceptical, but I’m less fussed about a smart approach to promote a brand than the more important point that it’s absolutely crazy we’re letting our phones negatively impact our lives.   It simply doesn’t need to be this way.    One of the things the survey looked at was the role notifications play in adults' daily lives.   What they discovered was 50% of Kiwis receive too many notifications.  37% feel overwhelmed, panicked, or anxious.  30% struggle to concentrate due to the notifications.  46% of Gen Z respondents and 40% find it difficult to concentrate.   The biggest culprits are social media (65%) and email (60%).   I told you it wasn’t great news.   But as concerning as these figures are the crazy thing about it is that this is on us - we can control our notifications. We can turn them off or silence them.   We can take control of apps by doing things like deleting and restoring them throughout the week so they’re not constantly available.   And if you don’t know how to do it, you do what I do and find a younger person to do it for you.   We can come to terms with never having an empty inbox, and not feel the pressure to try.   We can make rules about scrolling through emails after work. We can just put the phone down.   It’s interesting to understand how the brain works in response to notifications.   According to Kathryn Berkett, a neuroscience and digital wellbeing expert working alongside 2degrees on this project, notifications from phones trigger dopamine, making them highly addictive.   She says our obsession with our phones are physically altering our brains, damaging our relationships, draining our energy, and reducing our overall wellbeing.   I get it, it’s hard to make a change, but I'm absolutely certain that in 10 to 20 years we will look back and wonder what the hell we were thinking with the endless content, apps, notifications, likes and swipes.   We can’t keep blaming the tech companies, we know what they’re in it for.   We can’t keep blaming the tech, a lot of the tech is really cool and helpful.   At some point we have to step up and take responsibility for how we use it.   Thanks 2degrees for the reminder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Easter weekend hosted a fair bit of sport, and Elliott Smith joined Francesca Rudkin to delve into the wins, losses, and major players. They discussed the Warriors' win over the Broncos, the Super Rugby results, and the latest out of Formula 1. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Costco is assessing its options for a potential expansion.  The US big box retail chain has seen a sharp rise in membership and revenue since opening in Auckland's Westgate in September 2022.  It launched home delivery to members and non-members across Auckland last week, and is working on expanding to new regions.  Grocery Policy Expert Ernie Newman told Francesca Rudkin that he’s not all that convinced this expansion will pan out.  He says Costco is successful in the North American market as people are able to access it within a relatively short drive, but New Zealand is much more fragmented.  Newman says that New Zealand supermarkets go to where the consumers are, but Costco expects the consumers to travel long distances to get to them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition Full Show Podcast Tuesday 22nd of April 2025, Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna has the latest on the death of Pope Francis. Costco is looking to expand to outside of Auckland, Grocery Policy expert Ernie Newman tells Francesca Rudkin what this could mean for the grocery sector. Elliot Smith has the latest on weekend sport. Plus, Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's response to the Pope's death. 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.

Heavily choreographed proceedings are now in motion, following the death of the Pope.  The leader of the Catholic Church has died overnight at the age of 88 following a battle with double pneumonia.  Later this week, the Pope will lie in state in St Peters Basilica for several days for the public to pay their respects.  Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna is at St Peters' Square, and told Francesca Rudkin another ritual will be held in the coming hours, inside his apartment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to an article in the NZ Herald this morning, fewer people want to be teachers.    Teacher education is still a popular field of study, but both Canterbury and Otago Universities have seen a decline in teaching student enrolments over the past four years.  Provisional data shows Canterbury has 964 students enrolled in a course in 2025, down from 1281 four years ago.  Otago has followed a similar trend, with student numbers dropping from 620 to 495 in the same period.  National Polytech, Te Pukenga, has seen the lowest number of first year teaching students since it formed in 2020.  It’s not the best news when we are facing a teacher shortage is it? PPTA President Chris Abercrombie said the downward trend is extremely worrying.  I’m not surprised by this trajectory.   All we seem to hear about are issues around pay, conditions, and the challenge of changes to the curriculum.   And then there are the parents who don’t have the time to support their children in their education but complain about teachers when their children don’t reach their expectations.   I can understand pay and conditions being a red flag for someone heading into teaching, but teachers have worked hard advocating for themselves when it comes to pay, and the government has accepted conditions need to improve.   But it’s in all our best interests that we attract good people, passionate about education, to the profession, and while we may not be able to do much about the pay and conditions outside a general election, we can do something to push back on the shift in attitude towards teachers which has crept in over recent years, preventing some from considering the idea of being a teacher.   Chris Abercrombie said, “One of the things we often hear is the lack of respect from the community, from politicians, and people are like, well, why do I want to go into a profession that has that.”  As in any industry, there are great teachers, good teachers, and some who may be a bit useless.   But we need to be championing our teachers.   Teachers play a massive, formulative role in our children’s lives.   Some even change a young person’s life, or what our kids believe is possible.   Just over 3 years ago, a young lady rather close to me started high school, had a bit of a hiccup, and was at school for about half of years 9 and 10.   In year 11 she started a new school, and this year she aims to wrap up school and complete year 13 a year early, before heading to university to do a science degree.  There isn’t a person who knows what she’s been through who isn’t stunned by this turn around.  A lot of it is down to this remarkable young lady – she has worked hard to get back on track and loves to study - but it’s also thanks to a series of extraordinary teachers that she is where she is today.  So, if we want the best outcome for our children and their future, we can start by showing some respect, and champion all the good teachers out there. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The education sector's hopeful further investment into school classrooms is on the way.  New data shows 368 state schools had more students enrolled than their official classroom capacity last year – almost 1500 are at capacity.  Education Minister Erica Stanford announced $100 million for school property, with new schools and classrooms in Auckland.  PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Ryan Bridge it's got to be supercharged, so more schools can get re-locatable classrooms when they need them.  He says schools are trying to find interesting solutions to the problem – he's heard of one using a Masonic Lodge over the road to help.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our economy could take a knock, with volatility in the global trade environment.   Infometrics has revised its GDP forecast for next year from 2.6% to 1.0% per annum, in anticipation of reduced exports stemming from Donald Trump's tariff policy.  The annual inflation rate is expected to have risen from 2.2% to about 2.4%.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge they’re not too worried about a slight increase in inflation, as the domestic part of inflation should fall substantially this quarter.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you been keeping up with this senior doctor's strike? There's a couple of things that don't add up.   Yesterday we spoke about the average salary for these unionised senior doctors.  Simeon Brown says it's a total package worth $343,500.  The union hit back - they said the number was made up.   Which it's not. It's the total package including superannuation and overtime penalties, etc.  Now, for most Kiwis, when you apply for a job, that's the number you'd work off. When somebody asks how much do you get paid in a year, do you just say your base salary?   No, you'd say your total package amount. Second bit is around the actual staffing, cause this does not make sense.   We hear from doctors that they're so short-staffed - not enough specialists, not enough doctors, etc. So short staffed that they're on their knees and the system's broken.   But Ministry of Health says there are more senior doctors now than when National came into office.  And what's more, their churn or turnover has come down too.   So are the doctors saying the situation is now worse than when National came in and if so, how when there are apparently more doctors? So either the Ministry's lying or the system is bad and maybe broken but still better than it was 15 months ago. which is it?   Then there's the pay.   Put your hands up if you've scored a 12% pay rise lately?   No,  I didn't think so. Not that I can see your hands. Dairy farmers you'll all have your hands up in the milking shed this morning I hope with your record payout.   But what about your average worker? No. So doctors want 12%. The Ministry says 1-2%.   Again, this doesn't make sense. If you're worried about safe staffing levels  —and this is not really about pay— the chances of Health NZ hiring more doctors when the wage bill's 12% higher seems less likely.   Is this counterproductive?   Like I said yesterday, you want the men and women who cut you open for surgery to be well paid and rested,  because well, they're cutting you open for surgery.   But they need to articulate just how sick the patient is before we dial up the medicine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.