Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The Former Buller Mayor turned New Zealand First candidate thinks the party's mining policy will win over West Coast voters.  The party's policy will see 50% of the royalties from each mine returned to the region where the mine's located. The party also wants to review mining rules, limiting the role of Government agencies like the Department of Conservation. West Coast Tasman Candidate Jamie Cleine told Ryan Bridge that he's looking to change the minds of the Coast's Labour supporters. He believes Labour have been failing to support what was its traditional heart - miners.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 30th of March 2025, Ryan asks Minister for Regulation and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour on his quest to cut red tape to help NZ's fuel resilience.  He also asks about the rumour the government is about the shelve the LNG terminal.  Former Buller Mayor Jamie Cleine talks why he's standing for New Zealand First - and whether the party's mining policy will win over the West Coast.  Plus Andrew Alderson talks through Liam Lawson securing another points finish at the Japanese Grand Prix - and where to now for Tiger Woods.  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.

David Seymour is hunting for red tape to cut in an effort to stretch New Zealand’s fuel stocks further. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regulation has asked businesses and the public to dob in any rules or regulations that could be getting in the way of an effective fuel response. Seymour says stripping back unnecessary bureaucracy could help keep fuel flowing and ensure supplies are used where they matter most. He told Ryan Bridge there's already been a few tips from members of the public worth exploring.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First’s mining policy hits all the right notes but ultimately is not worth the paper it’s written on. I’ll tell you why. On the whole, Kiwis don’t mind a bit of mining, so long as there are good jobs to be had in the right place — preferably not the middle of Milford Sound. Last year, the Government took in more than $250 million in royalties. But there was a poll we spoke about on this show just a few weeks ago: half of voters don’t think we get a good enough deal — a fair enough return — from mining companies. To pacify this problem, New Zealand First wants to give half the royalties back to the regions where the resources come from. It might get them blue-collar votes on the Coast, but it won’t fix the big problem we have, which is investment confidence. If you’re an international player with options and a world in front of you, the disruption, civil disobedience, and political uncertainty on display here don’t go unnoticed. It’s all very well having these pro-mining policies and fast-tracks, but if the threat of a Labour–Greens government hangs over your permits, what are they really worth? Prospectors have just been given a reminder of this in NSW, a state built on coal. Despite it being one of the state’s top exports, the Labor government is banning new mines. Much like the Labour–Green "Just Transition” for jobs in Taranaki, Labor NSW has invented the "Future Jobs and Investment Authority" to magic up replacement roles for miners in the Hunter, Central West, Illawarra, and North West. You’ll remember how well that went for us here in New Zealand. The irony of all of this is that the workers’ unions don’t like it. They’ve called out Labor there. They may back New Zealand First on the Coast here. But ultimately, it’s all rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, because to have jobs you need investment. To have investment you need certainty. To have certainty you need bipartisanship — which we don’t have.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been revealed the documentary on the disappearance of Tom Phillips will screen on Netflix.  He and his children were missing for four years, and the saga ended with a shootout in September, killing the fugitive. Dame Julie Christie is creating a documentary on the case with the help of the Police and has been granted exclusive access.    Massey University’s James Hollings told Ryan Bridge the primary concern with Netflix screening the documentary, is that it will play out overseas.  He says the case has a lot of legal tangle and suppressions surrounding it, and it’s hard to know how that will play out or if it will be respected overseas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new cruise terminal in downtown Auckland is set to be a game changer.  The large terminal precinct is part of a $200 million “big ships” development project.  It'll also be able to receive cargo vessels carrying 10 thousand containers by the end of next year.  Cruise Association Chief Executive Jacqui Lloyd told Ryan Bridge it creates a dedicated 'welcome' area for people disembarking off ships.  She says they’ve been using temporary spaces for the last twenty years, and having a dedicated space for customs, transport, and check-ins is really important.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A union for scientists says its vital New Zealand's keeps some extra helium on hand to ensure cancer scanning treatment can continue at full capacity. Health officials are closely monitoring how the Middle East conflict could affect access to medical items. Minister Simeon Brown has been seeking advice, particularly around the supply of helium, which is critical for MRI machines. APEX national secretary Deborah Powell told Ryan Bridge there's no current supply issues and everything is operating as normal, but it's important to look ahead. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 27th of March 2025, The Government's getting advice on a potential helium shortage which is needed for MRI's, Apex National Secretary Deborah Powell shares her thoughts. Downtown Auckland's getting a new cruise terminal, NZ Cruise Association CEO Jacqui Lloyd tells Ryan Bridge how this will boost the cruise industry.  It's been revealed the documentary about Tom Phillips is going to be on Netflix, Massey University Journalism Programme Lead and former news editor, James Hollings shares his thoughts.  Plus, UK/ Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Trump criticising NATO again for their efforts in the Iran war and the UK is facing the biggest hit to growth from the Iran war out of the G20 major economies, according to an influential global policy group. 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.

For the second year in a row, Donald Trump has rained on the parade of our economic recovery. The economists this week have been beavering away, updating the economic forecasts. We'll kiss goodbye to up to a third of our growth for the year. What was 3% is now 2%. Groundhog day. This is exactly what happened last year with tariffs. The recovery begins in earnest, there are signs of life, then Trump posts on Truth Social and the world comes crashing down. If Kamala Harris was in the White House our economy would probably be up on the foils by now. Recession would be a distant memory. Life probably be better for your average Kiwi. A Harris presidency could arguably have been much worse for America's fortunes, but who cares, we live here. The question is whether the midterm elections are going to actually change anything for Trump, and by extension, us.  And the short answer is basically no. Even if the Republicans lose the midterms, Trump still has the power to start wars and do tariffs. The courts have slapped some down, but he’s found other ways of doing things Trump is the Commander-in-Chief and doesn’t need Congress to blow stuff up. He didn’t with Iran. No sign-off either for his blockade of Venezuela. Same goes for deposing of Maduro and threatening Greenland. Under the US Constitution, the military reports to the president. As for the tariffs, you just find some national security reasons to impose them —there's an unfair trade imbalance, a fentanyl crisis— and you're in business. So for those hoping that November‘s midterm elections would put Trump back in a box and keep a lid on his tactics, you're out of luck. Sure, a hostile Congress would have more power. They can withhold funding for wars and create legal problems for tariffs. But it's no silver bullet to the executive powers which Trump is using and we're paying for. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising jet fuel prices are continuing to cause flight cancellations, but the Government is confident we still have steady supply coming into the country.  Jetstar has now followed Air New Zealand in scaling back both domestic and international flights.  Associate Transport Minister James Meager says there's 43-days worth of jet fuel either onshore, or on its way.  He told Ryan Bridge there's no need for anyone to panic.  Meager says we normally like to have about 50 days on fuel on hand, but there's nothing to indicate the orders we've placed aren't on the way.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are calls to power up the energy sector's workforce so it doesn't short-circuit.  A report by two industry groups —Energy Resources Aotearoa and the Electricity Engineers’ Association— has found the current size of the workforce is a constraint on growth.  It recommends a new energy workforce governing body and a more bipartisan approach on energy to ensure job security.  Electricity Engineers Association Chief Executive Nicki Sutherland told Ryan Bridge there's no crisis yet, but there could be in the future.  She says the sector is fundamentally tied to prosperity, so we need to ensure we have the right plans in place now.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greenpeace says the Government’s partial backdown on controversial fishing rule changes don't go far enough.  Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has U-turned on a plan to allow commercial fishing companies to sell some undersized fish to reduce wastage.  It follows concerns the move would deplete fishing stocks.  Greenpeace Oceans Lead Ellie Hooper told Ryan Bridge the rest of the Government's proposed changes still reads like a wish-list for the trawling industry and would limit public input on key decisions.  She says there's also the issue of cameras on boats, and under this bill, footage would be locked up and unable to be accessed.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 26th of March 2025, Associate Transport Minister James Meager tells Ryan what the government plans to do to support the aviation industry around the fuel shortage.  A new report’s warning we need a lot more workers in the energy sector and fast, Electricity Engineers' Association CEO Nicki Sutherland explains why.  Commercial fishers won't be allowed to catch and sell popular undersized fish after a Shane Jones walk-back, Elle Hooper from Green Peace shares her thoughts.  Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on the US deploying 2,000 more troops to the region, at the same time there are reports White House has drawn up 15 point peace plan for the war to end and Savannah Guthrie appearing back on the Today show to talk about her mother's kidnapping.  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.

Everyone keeps asking why the world feels so hectic at the moment.  If life were a movie, they'd call it One Battle After Another. Winston Peters, Judith Collins, and their counterparts in Europe and elsewhere all agree we’re living in the most dangerous era since the World Wars. But why? Yes there’s Trump, he’s unpredictable and a bit nuts, but Trump is really just a symptom of a wider problem, which is basically the decline of America. The last death rattle of a superpower who knows its time is almost up.   China’s military spending grew from one sixth to one third of America’s in the past decade. India is about to overtake Germany as the third largest economy in the world. The Russians are still hammering Ukraine, four years into a European war. Now Iran. But the world has lived through bigger wars before. It's survived bigger battles. It survived the Spanish flu, Covid. What’s really changed that makes this feel more doomsday is basically two things: globalisation and technology. It took us thousands of years to invent the wheel, yet in just the past six months we’ve created the most popular open-source technology project humanity has ever seen in OpenClaw; an AI personal assistant that can run your entire life at the click of a button. We invent new technologies and the technologies now invent things themselves. They reshape labour markets and entire economies. And warfare. All you need now is a couple of $30k drones and a few speedboats to hold the world to ransom, not nukes and a standing army. We’ve made global trade and air travel so efficient that we’ve come to rely on it more heavily than ever before. We close our own oil refineries and import it instead. So when someone catches a flu in China, or oil gets choked in the Middle East, we’re buggered.  News travels fast. We know what's happened as soon as it happens. And so too do we get the effects of crisis and chaos. Maybe the world only feels so dangerous because we’ve made it such a small one?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s believed businesses will hold off on hiking prices for as long as possible as rising fuel prices risk pushing inflation up.   Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman says fuel prices are likely to lead to higher inflation and weaker growth over the coming months.  She says it's too early to say how much that will push up inflation across the board, or whether the Official Cash Rate will need to be hiked earlier than expected.  BusinessNZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard told Ryan Bridge there was discussion with suppliers to make any price increases as a result of fuel transparent, so they won’t get baked in.  She says businesses are preparing for the worst, but things at the moment aren’t too bad.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disbelief in Hawke's Bay as another major food producer prepares to cut back.  McCain's confirmed it plans close its Hastings vegetable processing plant early next year.  The move follows Heinz Wattie’s plans to shut its Hastings packing site, along with factories in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin.  Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Will Foley told Ryan Bridge locals thought they were better off than regions like Canterbury, and they thought McCain was still going strong.  He says this has come as a complete shock, and farmers will be digesting what this will mean for them over the next year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are concerns over the Government's fuel relief package missing benefit-dependent households. It's unveiled a temporary $50 weekly tax credit for about 143 thousand eligible working families with children as the Iran war sends fuel costs rocketing. Another 14 thousand families will get support at a lower rate. Green Party Social Development Spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March told Ryan Bridge beneficiaries are often having to drive and some have kids. He says it's people who are already struggling to make ends meet. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 25 March. 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.

That’s the real question we should be asking ourselves this morning. Remember, the Government’s running a deficit. A structural one. They spend more than they earn in taxes.  The up to $400 million in yesterday’s package comes from the operating allowance. New money.  The Government claims this is like a cheque account, but that’s disputed. The Taxpayer’s Union says given the fact the books are in the red, new spending is basically funded by borrowing. Therefore, it’s more like a credit card than a cheque account. We do have a Budget in May where cuts will come. But remember the forecasts for their tax break are also dependent on forecasts for growth, and growth is being hit by oil, too. That means they won’t earn as much as they thought they would. Add to that the fact borrowing costs are roughly 20% higher than they thought they would be back in December, and the spending starts to look a little shaky. $50 per family is not the real number we should be taking about this morning, the number we should be talking about is $5,600 per household. That’s roughly how much we are going to spend next year servicing our debt. That’s before all this extra cost.  Think about that.  Look around your household. Your family. That’s five and half grand a year, just in interest! More than we spend on schooling our kids through primary and secondary. Debt servicing is now the fourth-largest line item on the Government’s books, according to Treasury. The more we spend, the longer it takes till we even start paying down that debt. That magical, mystical date has been pushed out till at least 2030.  It’s like waiting for Taylor Swift to announce a concert at Eden Park. Would be amazing. I’d be there. But will it ever actually happen? I’m not saying people don’t need petrol money today, but is anyone asking at what cost tomorrow?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ20 has triumphed, but the administration disaster at New Zealand Cricket continues.  Former Black Cap Dion Nash —understood to have been against the local franchise league that has been provisionally accepted— has resigned from NZC's board.  A statement says Nash was no longer aligned with the future direction of the organisation.  NZ Herald Sports Reporter Alex Powell told Ryan Bridge that it’s not surprising to see Nash falling on his sword.  He says it was sort of known behind the scenes that he was the one board member really against NZ20, and without him, they could’ve come to this conclusion a few months ago.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra's confident it will be able to make the best of bad global circumstances.   The dairy giant has reported a 2.8% lift in first-half net profit to $750 million.   It's also announced a 20 cent increase in the farmgate milk price with a midpoint now sitting at $9.70 per kilo of milksolids.   Chief Executive Miles Hurrell says the war in Iran creates uncertainty.    Fonterra Co-operative Council Chair John Stevenson told Ryan Bridge that farmers are certainly worried.  He says the key thing will be seeing how the company deals with the war and the potential impact.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls for New Zealanders to remain level-headed at the pump as the Government moves to improve our fuel supply.   It's changing fuel specifications so importers have the option to bring in fuel refined to Australian standards.    The announcement comes as petrol surpasses four dollars a litre at some stations.   Transporting New Zealand CEO Dom Kalasih told Ryan Bridge we don't need to be discussing rationing yet.  He says there's been some short-term disruptions at some truck stops, but we have six weeks left of fuel in the country with ships on the way.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 24th of March 2025, the Government's announced its first change to help us from running out of fuel, Transporting NZ CEO and Former Z Energy Logistics Manager Dom Kalasih shares his thoughts.  NZ Cricket's made the decision to move ahead with NZ20, NZ Herald Sports Journalist Alex Powell tells Ryan what this means for the game.  Fonterra's posted a $750 million profit; Fonterra Co-operative Council Chair John Stevenson shares his thoughts.  Plus, Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans has the latest on fuel shortages across the ditch and thousands of journalists at the ABC are going on strike from Wednesday.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anyone expecting a lolly scramble from the Government today is going to be disappointed. At best, one or two old Werther's Originals. As we’ve been talking about for the last few weeks, this government can’t, politically, splash cash when oil’s forcing inflation up. The $60 billion borrowed and spent during the pandemic, half not actually on Covid expenses, was fuel on the fire of an already raging inflation inferno.  The Reserve Bank and Government were both blowing into the same sail. It got us up on the foils for a while but ultimately just delayed the pain we’re now still feeling. The new Governor, imported from Sweden, will give a key speech later this morning after the market opens with a hint of how they’ll react to the latest international catastrophe to reach our shores. Any whiff the central government is planning to borrow and spend to cushion the blow would complicate her job. The reality is, when the shite hits the fan, things get messy. Somebody has to pay. There is no free ride, no free bus, no free train. If we don’t pay today, we’ll pay tomorrow.  And let’s not forget, we’re now officially on notice from at least one of the big rating agencies. We need to be cutting, not borrowing.  Balancing the books, not setting them on fire. Again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Romanian woman and Iranian man have been arrested after allegedly trying to enter the Faslane Naval Base in Scotland.  And, a UK minister says Israel's claims that Iran has missiles able to reach London and Paris cannot be substantiated.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge, "the government and ministers have been saying there is no assessment to substantiate those claims that Iran has long range missiles. "And as one minister said, even if they could, why would they?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Optimism the Government's electric vehicle charger investment will benefit Kiwis. More than 52-million-dollars is being spent to more than double chargers nationwide, in a bid to boost uptake. Co-investment from ChargeNet and Meridian Energy lifts the total to more than 110-million.  Imported Vehicles Association Chief Executive Greig Epps told Ryan Bridge the Government’s worked closely with the industry over the past year. He says there's been an industry stakeholder group discussing how this could be done, and surveys completed on the existing number of chargers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 23rd of May 2025, The government wants to double ev charging points via interest-free loans, Imported vehicle association CEO, Greig Epps shares his thoughts.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  The government’s making moves to prevent dog attacks, Northland MP Grant McCallum tells Ryan what he wants to see it review. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on a UK minister saying there is "no assessment to substantiate" Israel's claim that Iran has long-range missiles capable of reaching London and an Iranian man and a Romanian woman have been charged after allegedly trying to enter the Faslane naval base, home to the UK's nuclear-armed submarines.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston's driving a dump truck through Luxon's political strategy. Luxon‘s strategy is to let his ministers do the talking. He says his strength is picking his team. And there's good reason, he has competent ministers; finance, justice, police, education, Chris Bishop, Todd Mclay on trade, Nicola Willis - she's taking control, taking the bull by the horns on the fuel crisis, which is his COVID. But as a voter, this leaves a power of vacuum at the top.  Luxon has been cutting back media appearances. And when he does appear, performances the haven’t been great, by his own admission. If Winston polls at 12% on election day, or higher, New Zealand First MP could make up a quarter of the cabinet. That’s why we met Alfred Ngaro yesterday, because he was a minister. That’s also why Winston was looking at Stuart Nash, although that looks to be a dead duck after the unfortunate comments about women's genitalia.  The most powerful part of Winston's pitch to voters yesterday was not so much the policies, which we knew about, as it was experience.  In a time of crisis, as we battle international headwinds, experience matters.  It didn’t hurt did it came from a foreign minister who's been round since Moses was a linebacker.  Now, if you're voter, and you think the National leader is a a bit too much MIA. Or NA.  Then you're left thinking about picking a cabinet, not necessarily the one man or woman to lead them all . And if Winston wields the power, and Luxon knows his failure in leadership is communication, what would be the harm in a year of two, during the next term of this coalition, of Winston Peters as Prime Minister.  Luxon's political strategy creates a certain power of vacuum, and Winston would, I'm sure, be more than happy to fill it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allowing less pure fuel into the country could shore up supply.   Finance Minister Nicola Willis has asked fuel importers what specifications could be relaxed to make it easier for them to get more in.   Waitomo Group Chief Executive Simon Parham says there could be a relaxing of the rules to allow more sulphur content in our diesel.   He told Ryan Bridge that we only allow fuel with less than 10 parts per million sulphur content.  Parham says the US allows 15 parts per million and Australia has relaxed to 50 parts per million.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A three-decade surge in how much unhealthy food we eat.   New research from Auckland University, published in the Globalisation and Health journal, shows New Zealand's imports of ultra-processed food increased from 16 kilograms in 1990, to 104 in 2023.   Past studies show about 70% of packaged food in our supermarkets is ultra-processed.  Nutritionist Nikki Hart told Ryan Bridge it's often disguised.   She says it's canned food, crackers, and biscuits that are presented with a health claim.  Kids are also feeding into unhealthy food branding, Hart saying products are designed to catch their attention.   She says there's a lot of money and time going into it, as our rates of child obesity rise.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday’s “disappointing” GDP data gives the Reserve Bank more scope to delay a hike to the Official Cash Rate, ANZ senior economist Matthew Gault says.  The RBNZ’s next monetary policy review announcement is on April 8. It had been picking 0.5% GDP growth for the December quarter, but GDP rose just 0.2%.  Gault told Ryan Bridge ANZ had expected the Bank to be reasonably cautious about the oil price shock compared to other central banks.  “Definitely inflation will rise with oil prices going up as much as they have. But the real concern for the Reserve Bank will be whether that increase in oil prices spills over into generalized inflation, things like wages and other prices.  “And with the economy in a relatively weak state, we think they'll be less worried about that than places like Australia where the economy is firing more strongly.”  Gault said the Government was being “sensible” not to push inflation higher with fiscal stimulus in response to oil prices.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 20th of March 2025, the government's acknowledged a "big shift" in the government's messaging around the war in the Middle East, Waitomo Group CEO Simon Parham, tells Ryan what oil company's are doing to assist with the oil shock.  A New study highlights just how unhealthy our eating has gotten, Nutritionist Nikki Hart shares her thoughts on why we're importing so much processed foods.  ANZ Senior Economist Matt Gault tells Ryan what the disappointing GDP result means for the state of our economy.  Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on prices of gas and oil rising sharply due to strikes on Iran's South Pars field and the King's opened the world's longest coastal footpath which stretches around the entire coast of England.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Joe Kent this week’s voice of reason? Is he the guy speaking truth in the fog of war? He spoke to Tucker Carlson, and the podcast is worth a listen.  He’s a MAGA guy. He was a Trump guy. But this week he turned his back on his President. He quit his job as America’s top counter-terrorism official. He was a soldier. He served in Iraq. His wife was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria. He’s no snowflake. He just doesn’t want the US getting bogged down in wars it can’t win.  It’s one thing to bomb the hell out of a country. But when the dust settles, the troops go home, the victory banners are unfurled, then what? In Iraq - a power vacuum and ISIS. So, in calling this out, in quitting, is Joe Kent a hero or a traitor?  The FBI’s now investigating him, but that’s not unusual. Look at Jerome Powell (Fed Chair), John Bolton, right down to Jimmy Kimmel, who was investigated by the US TV regulator after criticising Trump. Only time will tell whether there was a pressing need to start this war we’re all paying for. But history tells us it won’t end just because a US President says so.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes to refugee law could put asylum seekers at risk.  Under proposed Government reforms, immigration officials would be able to consider crimes committed by refugee applicants.   The changes also introduce stricter rules, including mandatory biometrics appointments.  NZ Association of Migration and Investment Chair Simon Laurent told Ryan Bridge the new rules could have serious consequences for asylum seekers.  He says if they don't show up for the appointment, it appears their claim will be thrown out.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An aviation expert believes the chances of a Westport to Wellington route returning in the future are slim.  Westport is on the brink of losing its only direct air link to the capital, with flights set to be axed by May unless financial support is secured.  Regional carrier Originair stepped in to maintain the route after Sounds Air withdrew from the service in 2024.  Aviation Industry commentator Irene King told Ryan Bridge people just aren't using the route much during the week.  She says it might be sustainable for sort of unscheduled casual operations but will be very difficult to get someone in there for scheduled flights.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 19th of March 2025, Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold shares his forecast for GDP data out today.  Westport’s losing its only air service, Aviation commentator Irene King shares her thoughts. The Government's cracking down on criminal migrants and refugees, Immigration lawyer and Chairman of the New Zealand Association of Migration and Investment, Simon Laurent shares his thoughts.  Plus, US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the latest on the Senate hearing on worldwide threats and the confirmation hearing of Markwayne Mullin, Trump's pick to replace Kristi Noem.  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.

Westpac's chief economist is still holding out hope New Zealand will weather financial headwinds from the Iran war.  Stats NZ's releasing data for the December quarter just before 11am. Westpac and ASB have forecast 0.4% quarterly growth, while BNZ and Kiwibank suggest 0.3% and ANZ 0.2%. Kelly Eckhold told Ryan Bridge everyone's looking forward to the conflict's impacts, but he's optimistic.  He says we have strong commodity prices and the exchange rate's helping us out, meaning we're better placed than we could have been.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Old, yes. Backward looking, by its nature, but not irrelevant. We’re tipped to grow around 0.3%-0.4% for Q4 2025. It would mark, barring any surprises, the second straight month of per capita growth on the trot.  That means average income and standard of living was ticking up on a per person basis, albeit from a low base. This is important because it tells you we're on the move. We're fighting back against the recession. Some say the number is now irrelevant because of the war and oil supply, but there are reasons to be optimistic. We’re looking at alternative supplies. Our current stocks are described as stable. The Reserve Bank is likely to leave interest rates where they are in three weeks.  And there’s a fork in the road, if inflation bumps, there’ll be temptation to hike rates later. But we can still grow at a clip under 3% if two things happen: 1. We don’t panic buy and self-fulfil a fuel shortage2. We learn lessons from Liberation Day. Trump's actions are chaotic and often quickly reversed. TACO.  The tariff shock wasn’t so much about a direct affect, it was a knock to business and consumer confidence.  People spent less and business paused hiring and investing because of the uncertainty. And that blew over. Yes, this is different and involves more balls in the air, but the fundamental lesson is the same. If we freak out, if we let uncertainty rule our lives, we exacerbate the very problem we’re trying avoid in the first place. So I’m relatively optimistic. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. So much is of economics is basically human feelings, when it boils down to it.  So when today’s GDP read comes out, let’s take stock of where we’ve been. Let’s pat ourselves and our businesses on the back for our contributions. That number’s not irrelevant, it was hard fought.  Confidence is key. If we think we can do it again, we will.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BNZ’s chief economist Mike Jones says Treasury’s previous worst-case inflation forecast for this year of 3.7% is probably too conservative.  Annual food costs climbed 4.5% in the year to February but Jones told Ryan Bridge BNZ's 2.9% consumer price index forecast for the first quarter hadn’t changed.  “It's the second quarter that's really going to bear the brunt of the spike in petrol prices that we are seeing. So we've got a 3.8% forecast for Q2 and inflation stays above 3% now for the rest of the year on our numbers.”  Finance Minister Nicola Willis on Monday said Treasury had given her a worst-case scenario of 3.7% inflation by the end of the year, assuming a long conflict in Iran - up from the current 3.1%.  But Jones said that could now be “a bit light” - though he did not believe inflation would go above 4%.  “Of course, we've probably had the benefit of a few more days and maybe even a week of information and what we've seen in the current environment is that forecasts and assumptions are going out of date pretty quickly.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China remains vital to our education sector, but the market is shifting.  A new NZ China Council report shows Chinese students make up about a third of revenue, spending nearly $60 thousand a year.  But it warns families are increasingly price-conscious and weighing up other countries.  Executive Director Alistair Crozier told Ryan Bridge New Zealand must keep visa processing world-class and offer more flexible study options.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Wednesday the 18th of March, Beef mince and Steak are driving the latest spike in food prices, BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones shares his thoughts.  Resource Minister Shane Jones is putting money into geothermal; Mercury Energy CEO Stew Hamilton tells Ryan how big of an impact this will have.  We’re in a global scramble for Chinese students and the stakes are high, New Zealand China Council Executive Director Alastair Crozier shares why.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits UK to agree a new defence partnership aimed at tackling cheap attack drone attacks and an English council bans any more memorial benches saying it's overwhelmed by them. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mercury Energy believes geothermal has a huge role to play in the future of the country's electricity industry. The Government's released a strategy on how to double the use of geothermal energy by 2040.  It's also ring fenced $50 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund for the development of geothermal energy projects.  Mercury Chief Executive Stew Hamilton told Ryan Bridge the power just one of its geothermal sites produces is enough for around 150 thousand houses. He says it also produces clean, reliable energy 24 hours a day, no matter the weather or season. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hopes that whoever takes the reins at Fonterra can continue the current CEO's good work.   Miles Hurrell will leave the company in six months to ensure a smooth transition.   Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Karl Dean says the next CEO should continue Hurrell's approach to honest communication.   He told Ryan Bridge farmers have been told that a spade’s a spade, and that’s what needs to continue.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A view the Government's proposed changes to alcohol laws is a needed re-balance for licence-holders.  The Bill would only let people object to a premise's licence application, if they live or work in the same council area or live within one kilometre.   It also gives applicants a right of reply to objections.    Hospitality New Zealand Head of Advocacy told Ryan Bridge the current licensing process has led to some vexatious objections from those outside of the area.   He says applications aren’t often declined because of objections, but it does add unnecessary time and cost to the process.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Treasury has released numbers on the potential fallout for the New Zealand economy from the Iran war. It estimates that under a worst‑case scenario — a conflict lasting until the end of the year with elevated oil prices — inflation would rise from 3.1 percent to 3.7 percent. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says that number is too high - but is lower than Australia's current inflation - which is sitting at 3.8 percent.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge forecasting in this climate is difficult.  He says other spikes in oil prices have led to higher inflation - but this will all depend on how long the conflict lasts.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 17th of March 2025, ASB's Chief Economist Nick Tuffley talks the "worst case scenario" for the New Zealand economy from the Iran war.  And Ryan explains why he agrees with Nicola Willis' call to not splash the cash in response to the Iran crisis.  Hospitality NZ want the government's liquor law changes to go further - they tell Ryan what exactly they want.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 1pm presser and Covid‑style alert levels. This fuel price spike is bringing back bad memories from those dark days of lockdown. But a few facts help put things in perspective. There are a lot of scenarios and best guesses floating around, but the reality is we’re not yet short on fuel. That’s at least weeks away, we’re told. The economy is in recovery, and even the worst‑case scenarios still have us growing at a little under 3% — about half a percent off pre‑war predictions. The other big difference is the response. Interest rates, even if inflation hits the high 3s, aren’t expected to shoot up dramatically or immediately, because demand falls as people put less petrol in the Honda. If you live rurally, or don’t have a Grey Lynn tractor — a.k.a. a Tesla — the price of fuel will sting. But it won’t cause the sort of catastrophic, long‑term damage that lockdowns and Covid supply disruptions did.Nicola Willis, who fronted yesterday’s 1pm media event, made it pretty clear that excise cuts and other expensive relief (think cost‑of‑living payments) aren’t off the table — but they’re not top of the list either. This government is a different beast from the one that came before it. They’ve learned the lesson — one we’re currently paying for — about splashing the cash to stay popular. They’ve resisted demands for stimulus despite two bitter years of recession. Spending big when inflation is about to spike would completely undermine their political credibility. Which means that when something bad happens — which it is, or is about to — we’ll feel the effects in real time. And that’s no bad thing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump called on the UK, China, France, Japan, South Korea and others to send ships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open - but his request has been met with little response.  Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian, David Smith, told Ryan Bridge, "there's been some reporting suggesting that Donald Trump was warned this is a possibility by his military planners, and his response was it'll be okay." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 16th of March 2025, we get the latest on the Iran War as it enters its third week. Donald Trump has requested allies help open the Strait of Hormuz - UK Correspondent Gavin Grey tells Ryan whether Europe is likely to help.  Ryan has some advice for the Labour Party - don't automatically agree with the unions.  And Andrew Alderson celebrates Liam Lawson's brilliant weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix. 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.

Last week ended with a bizarre situation where Labour effectively came out against a pay rise for teachers. They did this because that’s what the unions wanted. And what the unions want, the unions usually get. Union strategy 101 is getting everyone who’s not a member to become one. The tactic is peer pressure. If you can deprive non‑union members of a pay rise while dragging out pay negotiations, that’s leverage. Labour last week got rid of Willow‑Jean Prime, who scored an F in the portfolio. Ginny Anderson has been lumped with it at a time when National is seen, across a bunch of polls this term, to be either better or at least as good as Labour on education. Which is saying something. Like health, it’s usually the purview of the left. But something’s shifted, and Ginny probably needs to take a good, hard look at which battles she blindly follows her comrades into. Charter schools are another example. I was reading at the weekend about the breadth of subjects and students these schools cater to: seven Māori schools, a Pasifika girls’ school (which we’ve featured on the show), autism‑focused schools, French, sport, Cambridge. Last week the principals’ union said all those schools — there are 19 applicants so far — should be closed.The money, they said, should be put back into the mainstream system. They don’t believe schools are failing certain cohorts of young people, which is the very reason charter schools exist. To an average parent, an average person, but most importantly, an average voter, this looks political, not practical.I think most Kiwis accept that mainstream schooling doesn’t work for everyone. Most also accept that teaching needs to be better paid, regardless of union affiliation. To rail against these things just because your union mates demand you do so is hardly going to win back public support in an area where ground has clearly been lost.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.