Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Emergency Management Minister, Mark Mitchell, says Cyclone Vaianu could've been much worse - and Kiwis prepared well.  Gisborne and some other East Coast communities are still cut off with sections of State Highways 2 and 35 closed, due to fallen trees, flooding and slips.  The last of MetService's strong wind warnings and watches for Wairarapa and the Tararua District are set to ease at 7 this morning. Mark Mitchell told Ryan Bridge several thousand houses were evacuated across the North Island. He says some of them have flooded, but a lot were precautionary evacuations - which was the right thing to do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 13th of April 2025, Former CIA Intelligence Officer Glenn Carle shares his thoughts on the US failing to make a peace deal with Iran.  Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell tells Ryan whether or not we dodged a bullet with Cyclone Vaianu.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on suggestion blockade in the strait of Hormuz may be enforced by allies of the US and Hungary goes to the polls today with the EU secretly hoping the incumbent Prime Minister loses power. 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 storm for the most of the North Island was a fizzer. The TV news struggled to find pictures of anything actually happening other than a few trees down and reporters breathlessly doing pieces to camera in the wind. In Auckland where I live most shops were closed and they didn’t need to be. There is a risk of the boy who cried wolf. But I also don’t think need to have an existential national conversation about whether this was over-hyped. The forecasters do their thing. They tell you what is coming. Or their best guess of what's coming. Then it’s up to us to make our own decisions based on the information, our own experience and personal judgement. The businesses who decided to close yesterday before anything had actually happened lost a day's trade. The one's who didn't, didn't.  Maybe next time they’ll make a different call. After all, Auckland was only under an orange watch. The media coverage was over the top. It always is. Remember they make money off events like this. Eyeballs on screens. I noticed before every video on the stuff site yesterday showing ocean lapping at sand dune, there was an ad for Tower Insurance playing.  They do what they do. But you can’t tell MetService to not to report the weather.  They’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t. We’re all responsible for our own lives. Ultimately we can decide if we’re safe enough to stay home or go to get a flat white from the local Robert Harris. And if you want to go out kite-surfing or surfin in their storm, all power to ya. You might die, or you might have an awesome Sunday, wither way it'll be your informed choice to do so.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK wants to know why three Russian submarines have apparently been examining the country's vital underwater cables and pipelines.  British Defence Secretary John Healey says the subs were tracked over several weeks operating in the north Atlantic.  Russia denies the claims.  More than 90% of the UK's day-to-day internet traffic travels via undersea cables.  Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Ryan Bridge there's been no apparent damage; rather, the British Government is putting Russia on notice.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered officials to hold talks with Lebanon, but rejects any reports of a ceasefire there.  He says Israel's military will continue to strike Hezbollah with force and won't stop until security is restored, but a Lebanese official says it won't negotiate under fire.  Reuters senior Middle East correspondent Alexander Cornwell told Ryan Bridge if the talks between Israel and Lebanon take place, they'll need some kind of guarantor for it to work.   He says they'll probably have to come from outside of the region – like the US or the French.   Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei says it's allowing the Strait of Hormuz to open but requires vessels to communicate with its military.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early childhood centres are lifting their game, with fewer falling below quality standards. Education Review Office monitoring shows 47% of standalone services didn’t meet the quality threshold, down from 64% a year earlier. Early Childhood Council Chief Executive Simon Laube says the reviews are just snapshots and even the best centres go through staff changes and have to rebuild quality. He told Ryan Bridge that the reviews are sensitive, so anything that’s slightly out of place will appear on the review, and pretty much everyone will have something.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 10 April. 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.

Energy security is shaping up to be the hottest item on this year's election agenda, and with good reason.  Ask any business who's about to renew an energy contract, any transport business who's battling the price of diesel, or any factory or mill thinking about mass layoffs and shutting up shop.  In Hawke's Bay, CEOs are organising an energy summit in June. Their business leaders voted energy as their top concern.  Bombing in the Middle East might be in pause, bar Beirut, but the energy price battle is far from over. And it’s time for our politicians to put their swords down and agree on a long term energy strategy that addresses the new world we’re living in.  Post ceasefire, oil is still more than 30% more expensive than it was before the war. Gas is 40% higher.  There’s a piece in The Economist, well worth a read, that sets out the problem well. Infrastructure's been damaged and takes time to repair. When the tankers start moving, the insurance premiums will cost an arm and leg. That’s before ships take the risk of sailing in the opposite direction back into the Gulf again while a shaky ceasefire is in play. We’ve now all learnt that a few drones and terrorists with speed boats is all it takes to choke supply. Oil will find a way, from other regions, or overland by pipes, but all this takes time and costs money. I had Chlöe Swarbrick and David Seymour in my show yesterday and they both disagreed with each other on what mix of energy solutions we need to keep trucks, factories, and businesses moving.   But the fact is they both have valid points and all parties should compromise and agree on an energy plan we can all agree on. Whether that’s LNG, over-building renewables (as Sir Rod Drury argues), more drill baby drill, tanks at Marsden Point, coal for Huntly, or a combination of all of the above, political consensus is the missing ingredient to make ensure NZ Inc can keep the lights on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ceasefire with Iran has to hold, according to an intelligence foreign policy analyst, otherwise the entire global economy will collapse.  The reduction in energy resources from the war was like “doing one of those Vulcan pressure holds on your carotid artery”, former US Navy senior chief Malcolm Nance told Ryan Bridge.  “You can't hold it forever, you're then going to start killing the system… [US President Donald Trump] had to take this deal.”  The US-allied Gulf states had lost trillions of dollars in market capital from the attacks, Nance said.  “[Trump’s] going to have to deal with what's been played now, because there's no restarting this war. It will collapse the global economy if they do it again.”  Nance —who has extensive experience fighting in the Persian Gulf— said the war should never have started in the first place as Iran’s chokehold over the Strait of Hormuz has been very clear since the 1980s.  “This was done almost haphazardly. They didn't consult anybody and they didn't listen to the advice of military planners.  “We are awesome —America— at blowing things up. We're apparently really awful at meeting our stated objectives.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drug traffickers have their eyes on New Zealand as Customs deals with a massive influx in border seizures.  A Cabinet paper shows the volume of intercepted drugs more than quadrupled between 2018 and 2024, going from 1.5 to 6.5 tonnes.  Drug Detection Agency Chief Executive Glen Dobson told Ryan Bridge officials are stepping up.   He says we're being actively targeted by organised crime groups, and recommends greater cross-agency consultation.   But Dobson says greater seizures are also a success.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank expects inflation to spike this quarter but says it's still too early to say by how much. The central bank's opted to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 2.25% for now. It's forecasting inflation will surge to 4.2% in the June quarter but admits that forecast doesn't take into account the fall in fuel prices after yesterday's Iran ceasefire announcement. The Co-operative Bank CEO Mark Wilkshire shares his thoughts with Ryan Bridge.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 9th of April 2025, Iran and the US have agreed on a two week ceasefire, Intelligence, Foreign Policy Analyst and former US Navy Senior Chief Malcolm Nance tells Ryan if it will hold.  Huge drug hauls are being caught at Auckland Airport, Drug Detection Agency CEO Glen Dobson tells Ryan why there's so much more drugs coming in.  The OCR held steady at 2.25%, but the Reserve Bank says inflation will peak at 4.2% this quarter, the Co-operative Bank CEO, Mark Wilshire shares his thoughts.  Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on Trump changing tact on Iran, with negotiations set to commence on Friday in Pakistan and the Artemis crew heading back to Earth after reaching the far side of the Moon.  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.

Should we welcome a ceasefire? Yes, of course. Should we count on it holding? No, of course not. The Iranians now control a strait they didn’t control before the war, and the Israelis are still dropping bombs in Lebanon even though this ceasefire apparently says they shouldn’t be. In fact, both sides now seem to be claiming they're talking about completely different 10-point plans. These are the things you can’t control. But on the things we can, does anybody else feel a bit relieved about the grownups we have in charge at home? Nicola Willis has risen to the occasion. Clear, concise, across the detail, and realistic about what Government can and can’t do to fix everybody’s problems. You’ll remember when this all kicked off I said they had few political choices given how hard they fought Labour’s Covid spending and its effect on inflation. The targeted, temporary, timely motto seems to have, for now, been the right one. Cometh the hour, cometh the woman. If there was to be a leadership spill in National, her performance in this crisis has out her top of the list of contenders.  And Winston Peters, for all the cries and pleas for him to thump Trump, to criticise and protest, to play the role of the ICC, he’s held his nerve and kept his thoughts to himself. Some argue that shows weakness.  But most Kiwis know what he’s doing is protecting us from the wrath of a very sensitive and vindictive President. This situation is far from done and dusted, but it’s shown us we have competent political and diplomatic leaders who are realistic about they can’t and can’t control.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A think tank's warning the way we appoint public agency leaders is hindering the Government from governing.   The New Zealand Initiative says consecutive governments struggling to fulfil their promises is due to elected ministers being unable to choose a department's chief executive.  Executive Director Oliver Hartwich says the Public Service Commissioner makes the appointment, which can happen before a minister is elected.   He told Ryan Bridge that ministers may be forced to work with department heads appointed during the previous government's term, who may not be happy with you and vice versa, and that doesn’t work well to implement the Government’s agenda.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is expected to play it safe today as it releases the first Official Cash Rate since the Iran war began.  Economists predict it'll remain at 2.25% until later this year.  ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Ryan Bridge the conflict is very much inflationary and bad for growth.  She says until it's clear whether higher interest rates are required to head off persistent inflation or not – the best thing to do is stay in 'wait and see' mode.  The OCR will be released at 2pm.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump's rhetoric is becoming more violent as he issues a grave threat toward Iran. The US President says 'a whole civilisation will die tonight' unless the Strait of Hormuz reopens, warning US forces will demolish Iranian bridges and power.  But Tehran is holding steadfast.  The Guardian's defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh told Ryan Bridge Iranian infrastructure's already being bombed.  He says Israel's blown up eight bridges across Tehran's rail network.  US forces also bombed targets on Kharg Island overnight, which exports most of Iran's oil.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 8th of April 2025, the Reserve Bank will deliver it's first OCR since operation epic fury, Anz Chief Economist Sharon Zollner what she thinks the bank will do.  There are calls for ministers to have more control over the agencies that they are responsible for, NZ Initiative Executive Director shares his thoughts with Ryan.  Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor at the Guardian, shares his thoughts on Donald Trump's peace deal deadline.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on London’s most popular music festival cancelled after the UK government blocked Kanye West's permission to travel to the UK and JD Vance has travelled to Budapest to back veteran Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a key European ally of the Trump administration, ahead of tough parliamentary elections on Sunday.  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.

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: this war in Iran has been a total balls-up from Trump.  He's cried wolf three times on his ultimatums. He's said one thing and then in the next breath said exactly the opposite.  Now he's talking about ending an entire civilisation.  White House officials have described him as being in a 'defiant' mood. Wars aren't generally won on moods, they're won on strategy and execution.  The gameplan for Iran has been sorely lacking.  Even Nigel Farage says Trump's gone too far with his rhetoric. Tucker Carlson is calling on the military to disobey Trump's orders, refuse to carry out his bombing.  The reason this is all for nothing is because Trump could blast Iran's military infrastructure 'till the cows come home and still not get every drone, every speed boat, every regime-loving terrorist out there. And all it takes are a few of them to hold the world to ransom via the Strait.  So Trump ups the ante. He talks tough. He threatens to end civilisation.  And what have the Iranians done? They've cut off diplomatic talks with the US.  Which means we're now in very dangerous territory. Remember for them to win, or claim they've won, all they have to do is survive to live another day.  Which leaves Trump either ending an entire civilisation, which he won't do because it could end the world, or backing down. Again.  Either way, not a great outcome for a strongman like him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Alderson joined Ryan Bridge to discuss the sporting news from the Easter weekend.   On the agenda was the railway-crossing incident at the Tour of Flanders, Charlisse Leger-Walker becoming the first Kiwi woman to win an NCAA basketball title in the US, and the performance of the Wellington Phoenix Women.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump says almost nothing is off limits as he threatens to obliterate Iranian civil infrastructure.   The US President's demanding Tehran reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 1pm tomorrow or the country will be 'living in Hell'.  Tehran has meanwhile rejected a last-ditch temporary ceasefire proposal, calling instead for a definitive end to the war.   Feature Story News Correspondent Kate Fisher told Ryan Bridge there does seem to be diplomacy happening in the background, but at the same time, the rhetoric is very aggressive.  She says it doesn’t sound like the rhetoric or violence is being dialled down, but diplomacy is happening.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An interesting article in the Herald yesterday about army training at Waiouru.  The troops are singing from the same song sheet as Winston and Judith in terms of how threatening the world is at the moment. Senior Army commanders were quoted saying the pressure on our defence force is greater than at any time in recent memory.  They’re getting billions of extra funding for equipment and kit and houses on base that aren’t mouldy, but in order for any of that to be useful, you need soldiers.  You need personnel.  In order to get personnel, you need people who understand the importance of the task at hand, and I just don’t think enough young people, people of my generation and younger, actually get it. Look no further than Germany, where they’re protesting over a requirement for men aged 45 and younger to inform the Government of their whereabouts if they leave the country for three months or more. It’s similar to a rule they had during the Cold War and is basically preparing for a time when they may need a return to conscription, compulsory service. Norway, Sweden, Türkiye, Denmark, and Finland (to name a few) already do this. The Korean pop band BTS just celebrated the end of their military service with a concert in Seoul. But overwhelmingly in the West there’s antipathy and/or ignorance of the threats our leaders tell us we're facing. It's like we don't quite believe there are any. How do you teach the wellness generation, the influencer youths, the zoomers, that in order to enjoy the comforts of liberal democracy, sometimes you have to fight for them? That you may have to make sacrifices.  We’ve not been to war. We’ve not experienced war. We don’t even want serious criminals going to boot camps, let alone us! There's a general feeling that wars are fought in faraway lands by somebody else, when evidence is mounting that one of these wars might one day soon be fought closer to home and the others might actually be us! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Students are worried the fight for jobs is getting even harder as public sector roles dry up.  There were just over 485 graduate roles in November 2023, down to 192 last November.  It comes after a significant push —led by the Government— for cost savings.  Victoria University Students Association president Aidan Donoghue says finding work is a huge concern, and more are looking overseas for jobs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 7th of April 2025, Feature Story News Correspondent Kate Fisher shares the latest from Washington as Trump addresses the media on the latest with the Iran war.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  There's more concern our young talent is flocking across the ditch, Victoria University of Wellington Student's Association President Aidan Donoghue shares his thoughts.  Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest reassurance on fuel supplies for Australia and a lucky teen escapes with just a bite in a shark attack.  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.

Fire and Emergency's board is reportedly getting a pay rise while firefighters are striking for the same thing.  The Post is reporting Fire and Emergency NZ’s deputy chair and board members are in line for boosts of up to 79%.   A departmental briefing recommended Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden approve the large increases in December.  Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams told Ryan Bridge this highlights what have been systematic issues with a total failure of governance and insight within the organisation.  He says the organisation has seemingly lost its community service ethos.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 2nd of April 2025, Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian shares his thoughts what will come out of Donald Trump's address to the nation.  NASA is set to send four astronauts on their way around the moon, Executive Director of the New Zealand Astrobiology Network Haritina Mogosanu tells Ryan how big of a deal this is.  Fire and Emergency board members are getting a payrise of up to 80% this year, it comes as firefighters fight for pay rises themselves, Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams shares his thoughts.  Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on Trump telling the UK's The Telegraph he is strongly considering pulling out of NATO and the US Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments on whether some children born in the US have a constitutional right to citizenship.  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.

Astronomer's are over the Moon with excitement as NASA's first crewed lunar mission in 50 years is only hours away from take off. The launch window for Artemis II begins at around midday New Zealand time.  It'll last about 10 days, with four astronauts circling the Moon, taking them further into space than ever before. Astrobiology Network Executive Director Haritina Mogoșanu told Ryan Bridge NASA isn't in a rush to land on the Moon like it was with the Apollo missions. She says the last moon landing was a military operation and during a space race. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The American President's doing a live presser today on his war.  The Australian Prime Minister's just wrapped a live address to the nation on the oil shock. And here, our Prime Minister is making his own announcement about a cabinet reshuffle.  It's a bit of an odd time to do it.  He's got Reti and Collins leaving, so he had to do it some point. The day before Easter Friday means he wants to spray and walk away for the weekend.  The good news is there's plenty of talent to promote - the likes of James Meager and Chris Penk. Which is a contrast to the Opposition where the pool is quite shallow. Water comes up to your ankles. For Luxon, getting the right team around him is not just important for running the country, it's his entire election strategy. His pitch to voters is basically that he's the HR department. He prides himself on putting the right man in the right job.  The fact he's doing it today also suggests that he's not listening to the press gallery, who criticised him for opening Christchurch's new stadium while Nicola Willis was left to front oil crisis stand ups and pressers.  This is not necessarily a bad thing. He's doing other stuff. Like reshuffles, thank you very much. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland councillor says people shouldn't read too much into yet another change to Auckland's density plan.  The Government revised the Super-city's minimum housing capacity for a second time yesterday, settling on 1.4 million after continued push-back in some suburbs.  Last month it reduced it from two-million homes to 1.6-million.   Councillor Richard Hills told Ryan Bridge the latest number just feels like political game playing.  He says legal requirements mean it'll likely end up near 1.6 million regardless.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes thawing our frosty relationship with the Cook Islands shouldn't be too tough for the Foreign Minister.  Winston Peters is meeting Prime Minister Mark Brown on his home turf after an Auckland meeting last month.  Relations have been tense since the Cooks didn't consult with New Zealand on a partnership deal with China, despite our free association arrangement.  Former Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff told Ryan Bridge Peters should have the upper hand.  He says Brown has an election this November and it's really unpopular among Cook Islanders to think they'd lose their New Zealand passports.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All signs are pointing towards inflation going up - as the Middle East conflict causes business confidence to plummet.  ANZ's latest Business Outlook survey shows most firms expect costs to increase as economic insecurity sets in.  Most anticipate they'll raise prices in the next three months. Retail and construction had the sharpest slides in confidence.  Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges told Ryan Bridge after the tariffs last year, this feels like a sense of deja vu. He says this survey was from early days of the war - so things will likely get worse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember the outrage over bureaucrats working for home, even though Covid was a distant memory?  The Government came in and said they should all pack their lunch and go back to work. Problem is, this isn't happening.  As you'll know from listening to this show, ACC has already staged a backdown, now MBIE is doing the same.  To her credit, Fleur Fitzsimons at the PSA union, has lawyered up and successfully argued workers' collective contacts allowed them to work from home. Now, the policy to restrict WFH, or what they call 'flexible work', is heading for the bin. Some ACC staff only have to be in the office two days a week - the equivalent of a weekend at the office. Days off, or at home, are usually Fridays and Mondays, conveniently.  This is all in spite of the fact management at ACC said staff are less productive and it's a culture killer.  Now I don't blame the workers here, or the Union. They're exercising their rights and won before it even got to Employment Relations Authority.  Good on them.  But for anyone who runs a business in the private sector, or works in one, this sort of stuff makes your blood boil.  If it's good enough for us, why not them? Do they really work as much or efficiently at home? Why was this clause written into their collective contracts the first place? Surely, once they expire, the next offer of work might require workers to actually turn up for work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 1st of April 2025, Former Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff shares his thoughts on Winston Peters heading to the Cook Islands this week for the first time since 2024. Business confidence been punched in guts amid the global uncertainty, Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges shares his thoughts. The Government's reducing the housing density plan yet again, Auckland City Councillor Richard Hills tells Ryan why.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on a man jailed for 10 years and three months after his bully dog mauled his mother-in-law to death and extra UK troops, along with further UK air defence systems, will be deployed to the Middle East. 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.

Banks' forecasts of an economic contraction in the second quarter are probably right, independent economist Cameron Bagrie says.  ASB’s revised outlook shows the bank expects annual GDP growth of 1.3% this year, down from its previous forecast of 2.9%, thanks to higher fuel prices hitting consumer spending.  It expects the economy to contract by 0.3% in the second quarter and expand by 0.3% in the third, with New Zealand’s economic recovery now “unlikely” before 2027.  Bagrie told Ryan Bridge those forecasts were a “central scenario” but there was a lot of variance, as nobody had a firm idea of how long the war would last.  The economy would likely move backwards in the next quarter, and GDP per capita was still down 3.4% from its peak three years ago.  While that didn’t technically qualify as a recession —which requires going backwards for two quarters in a row— “it’s still going to feel like it’s pretty tough out there”.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Construction and manufacturing workers are out the door, with more opportunities in other industries or abroad.   Stats NZ finds the overall number of filled jobs ticked up 0.3% from January to February.   But close to eight thousand jobs in construction and manufacturing have disappeared in the past year.  Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Ryan Bridge most building work's now in the renovation space.   He says new builds have fallen away quite a lot, so well qualified workers are moving across to renovations and small commercial work.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns life-saving kidney care is underfunded across New Zealand. Dialysis - a vital treatment for thousands - can take hours, with some patients travelling long distances or managing care at home without any medical support. Health New Zealand admitted to 1News there's been a lack of funding in renal care in some parts of the country.  Kidney Health New Zealand General Manager Madi Keaytold Ryan Bridge every hospital unit is struggling. She says Christchurch Hospital's come forward with concerns care may have to be rationed - and every unit would be feeling similar pressures.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 31st of March 2025, Ryan talks to Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie about the nerves facing the NZ economy as the Iran War continues.  We hear about how underfunding of life-saving kidney care in parts of the country is impacting patients.  And Ryan argues Auckland's City Rail Link needs to hit the ground running and be running at full capacity from opening day.  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.

As far as conditions go ahead of a grand opening, you couldn’t do much better than a petrol price spike for the City Rail Link. Construction and testing will be finished within three months. Then it’s handed over to operators, who need another three months. So we can use it from September. Trains will depart every four to five minutes under the city. The cost? $5.5 billion. Half of that is funded by the Crown, so Gore — you’ve pitched in here. What’s more, Wayne Brown reckons the operational costs mean what would have been a zero per cent rates increase this year will instead be seven per cent. So it’s pretty bloody important — given the scale of the capital and operational spend, and the size of current petrol bills — that this thing happens: 1. As quickly as possible2. As conveniently as possible On the latter point, transport experts — train people — are sounding the alarm bells. That’s because AT is talking about a transitional timetable for the first six months, meaning fewer trains than we were promised. On the Western Line, train spacing could mean commuters end up waiting longer for their service than they do currently under the old system. That would be a disaster. This thing needs to sing in full voice from day dot — that’s when people will stress‑test it. First impressions are everything. If there’s no material difference from day one, people may simply write it off. So the pressure is on to get the CRL up and running sooner — and then operate it faster than the speed of sound. Achieving the goal of transforming drivers into train riders depends on it. And conditions have never been better.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.