Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

ZB Sports Andrew Alderson joins Ryan Bridge to wrap the weekend in sport. Lando Norris eased to a Singapore F1 Grand Prix win despite twice hitting a wall. The win lets Norris eat further into Max Verstappen’s lead in the overall championship. Plus, the Black Caps chances of a test cricket win over Sri Lanka remain alive heading into the final day. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research has revealed New Zealand lawyers and law students are the unhappiest professionals globally. Compared to international lawyers, those in New Zealand revealed higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress and psychological distress. Law Association Vice President Julie-Anne Kincade KC tells Ryan Bridge lawyers are needed in high stress moments and deal with a lot of pressure. Kincade questions the small sample size of the survey with just 800 of NZ’s 10,000 included. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday the 23rd of September. The government says there has been a 57% reduction of families living in emergency housing motels since December, so what are community housing providers seeing on the ground? Community Housing Aotearoa Chief Executive Paul Gilberd joins the show. A new study has sound New Zealand's lawyers and law students are the unhappiest in the world. Law Association Vice President Julie-Anna Kincade speaks to Ryan. McLaren have extended their lead in the F1 constructors championship with a win from Lando Norris. Andrew Alderson has your weekend sport wrap. 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.

A former department store owner is said to have raped and sexually assaulted a string of women who worked for the chain. More than 20 women have claimed they were sexually assaulted by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, five of whom have said they were raped. The women say the assaults were carried out at the company’s offices, in Al-Fayed’s apartment in London, or on trips overseas. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge that Harrods not only failed to intervene, but also helped cover up abuse allegations when Al-Fayed was in charge. The department store’s current owners say they’re “utterly appalled” by the allegations, and the store sincerely apologises. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are coming up to a big test this weekend, facing off against Australia in the first match of the Bledisloe Cup. It’s been almost two weeks since their back-to-back losses against South Africa, so what went wrong and do they have the time to fix it? Former All Blacks captain Ian Fitzpatrick told Ryan Bridge that if the All Blacks can start like they did against the Springboks in Johannesburg, then they’ve got a good chance. He said you can say what you like about the previous games, but this is a different beast altogether. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are expectations that cuts to the Official Cash Rate are now going to keep on coming. Yesterday's Stats NZ figures show our GDP contracted 0.2% in the three months to June. In the March quarter, 0.1% growth was recorded. ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley says the numbers show inflation's falling within the Reserve Banks expectations. He told Ryan Bridge they're now going to continue cutting the OCR to get it from 5.25% to around 3%. Tuffley says if they cut a quarter every meeting, we'll reach that target by October next year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A barrister has doubts about increasing the threshold for the right to a jury trial. Currently a defendant can choose between a jury or a judge-alone trial in cases where the maximum penalty is two or more years in jail. The Government's seeking feedback on increasing this to three, five, or seven years, in a bid to address court delays. Philip Morgan KC told Ryan Bridge he questions the number of jury trials that will drop because of the threshold change. He says that's because he thinks the number of jury trials where the maximum penalty of the offence is two or three years in jail, is very small. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've not seen Luxon this tetchy and brassed off before. "Guys, no disrespect, but it's not about the frickin targets, it's actually about the outcomes, and the outcomes here are actually reducing violent crime." He was being asked about the national gang list which the cops have been sanitising. Hygienically cleaning it apparently to remove the dead and those who've said goodbye to thug life. The reason he's worked up is the targets: they're off track and he's being peppered, or assaulted, depending on how you look at it, with questions. This morning in the Herald, beneficiary numbers are projected up, not down. The Jobseeker target is a reduction of 50,000 people, but the forecast is an extra 11,000, which is set to peak in January 2025. So the question for the government, and all of us, is whether the targets are worth it? Politically for Luxon they're clearly causing some frustration. Is the political cost of constant updates and inquisition worth the end result? The answer is of course yes. Ask anyone who's successful how they got there and they'll usually say small, intentional planned steps in a particular direction. Things don't just happen in life - you make them happen. We all have targets in our own lives. Where do you want to be in ten years? I want to run a marathon by the time I'm 40, I want to retire at 55, whatever. If you don't set a target, it'll likely never happen – that's what happened with the last lot. Make no mistake, these targets will be the making or breaking of Luxon. The key issue that will unseat him 2029. He's set the goals, now he needs to meet them, and perhaps be a little more relaxed about the questions along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 20th of September. New Zealand's GDP has dropped, but it's not quite as bad as the forecasts. So where to from here and when will we start to see growth? ASB's Chief Economist Nick Tuffley joins the show. A new solution to tackle backlog in the count system - the Government wants to reduce the number of jury trials to save time. KC Phillip Morgan speaks to Ryan about the proposed changes. Former All Blacks Captain Ian Kirkpatrick speaks to Ryan about NZ's chances of winning against the Wallabies this weekend, following two back-to-back losses against South Africa. Christopher Luxon's getting a bit tetchy and brassed off by questions about his targets - he's set the goals, now he needs to meet them, and perhaps be a little more relaxed about the questions along the way. 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.

Technology is at the forefront of priorities for the new Retail Crime Advisory Group. The group will offer the Government ideas on law and order legislation. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has appointed four sector leaders alongside dairy and business owner group leader, Sunny Kaushal. They include Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young. She says enabling facial recognition technology is of particular interest to the sector. She hopes it can be implemented with robust privacy safeguards. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An economist says another GDP contraction today would be in-line with the idea we've been in a rolling recession for almost two years. The March 2024 quarter showed just 0.2% growth. BNZ is picking a 0.4% contraction in the second quarter. Chief Economist Mike Jones told Ryan Bridge the Reserve Bank's anticipating a 0.5% contraction, so it would take a real clanger to throw it off course. He says the bigger piece of news for interest rates in New Zealand and the Reserve Bank might be what the US Federal reserve does with interest rates. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The White House says it wasn't aware of the simultaneous pager explosions across Lebanon before the attacks. Thousands were injured and at least 12 killed when pagers, used by political group Hezbollah, detonated yesterday. Today —a day later— at least nine people are dead and 300 injured after walkie talkies exploded. Hezbollah believes Israel is responsible US correspondent Benji Hyer told Ryan Bridge there was a quick phone call between the defence secretaries of Israel and the US minutes before pagers started exploding. He says Israel told the United States they would be conducting an operation in Lebanon, but no further details were shared. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The eight week murder trial of Philip Polkinghorne is nearing a verdict, with the jury beginning deliberations this morning. The judge summed up the case yesterday. The Auckland eye surgeon's accused of killing his wife, Pauline Hanna; his defence argues she took her own life. Herald reporter Craig Kapitan told Ryan Bridge the jury only has two decisions - if it was murder or suicide. He says it likely won't be a quick decision, and if the jury need to deliberate past today, court won't sit tomorrow. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tory Whanau's admission she sold her car to help keep on top of the bills is ironic, given she's the mayor of a city now famous for its double-digit rate hikes. Wellington City Council saw an 18.5% rise this year and 13% the year before. Wellington Regional Council is up 25% this year. They reckon over the next four years many will be paying an extra $3000 a year. I hope the Mayor's got a bike she can sell, or some furniture, or a nice handbag - something she can whack on Trade Me to stay afloat. People are commenting that a salary of $190,000 a year is more than enough to live on in Wellington. I don't know her personal information and frankly I don't want to, this is not about her. This is about us, voters. Taxpayers and ratepayers. We're all in this forced ship being sailed by captains half of us didn't vote for on what can sometimes feel a bit like the Titanic. We can all work more, work smarter, invest more, grow our eggs a bit more, and many of us do. The median net worth of a kiwi household in 2021 was around $400,000. Some take great risks to grow theirs, and they deserve the rewards. Many fail and we don't talk about that much. Many have mortgaged their family home, and you'll find them inside there at night time, light on in the bedroom, not sleeping with the stress of how they'll make it work. Keep the lights on, innovate, keep staff on, hire more staff, even. Others work one, two, three or more jobs to improve their lot. And most people aspire to create more wealth, not out of shear selfishness, well some do, sure. But for most it's about providing for their family. Leaving something behind for their kids. Being set-up so their husband or wife is taken care of if they die early. For most, wealth is not evil, it's actually the act of loving those around you, those you care for. Which is why when politicians come knocking, demanding the so-called 'wealthy' pay more not just in income tax, but also taxes on imaginary money i.e. wealth taxes and the like, we get so tetchy. We're like my dog when you try get close while she's eating dinner – bark. Get away. It's mine. Hands off. The irony in this story is that Tory Whanau is part of the Greens who advocate for exactly this type of approach. They say tax is love, not wealth is love. And sure, when money is spent well and services delivered, maybe tax is love. But cycle bridges to nowhere, half a million-dollar bike racks, contractor and consultant money scrambles, they don't feel like love to me. They feel like abuse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 19th of September, GDP data is coming out today, and the forecasts aren't good. Ryan speaks to BNZ's Chief Economist Mike Jones. The jury is out on the Polkinghorne murder trial. When could we see a verdict, and what are the chances of a hung jury? NZ Herald Court Reporter Craig Kapitan joins the show to explain. The new Ministerial Advisory Group for retail crime has some new members, so what are their plans and how are they going to make a difference? Retail NZ's Carolyn Young speaks to Ryan. 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's an urgent need to promote resilience among Aotearoa's youth. A new paper from Auckland University's think tank Koi Tū reveals 21% of 15 to 24 year olds are experiencing high levels of psychological distress. It highlights suicide as the leading cause of death among youth and notes our suicide rate is one of the highest in the developed world. Researcher Seungyeon Kim says we need programmes and spaces that help our young people to connect and feel safe. She says parents and caregivers can focus on having interactions that are warm, attentive and responsive to the young person's need. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a belief the economic climate is to blame for more youths fronting court over criminal charges. The Ministry of Justice's annual criminal convictions and sentencing statistics reveal more than 1,700 youths between 10 and 17 years of age had charges finalised in court. It found theft was the most common offence type. Youth Development worker Aaron Hendry told Ryan Bridge a key driver is poverty, and the Government's policies are creating an environment where these crimes would increase. He says more young people are being pushed into hardship, so it's not surprising to see the data. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report has found Government vastly overestimated the cost of new home insulation standards. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk is considering rolling back the H1 insulation requirements brought in last year amid reports they add up to $40 thousand to build costs. But research by New Zealand Certified Builders and others, shows the requirements can add as little as $2,200 to the cost of a three-bedroom house. Research author Nick Clements told Ryan Bridge the Government's approach looked at the very maximum, which isn't realistic. He says they instead looked at the minimum they could do to meet the standard. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's why we should care about what sounds like a bit of an obscure trip from some U.S. officials to Beijing this week. They are going to meet to talk to their counterparts about a wave of Chinese goods flooding world markets. China, obviously, has enormous manufacturing capacity and enormous machine behind it, and the output has gotten too large for the world to absorb. The strategy by China, they reckon —and this is why the U.S. officials are going there— the strategy is demand at home is a bit weaker for them, so they pump up production and they ship the excess offshore. The idea is they would build more resilient supply chains throughout the world, they'll get us hooked on cheap goods. I mean, we're like crack addicts at a dollar store, aren't we? Think about Temu, Shein, those types of websites. In the process they are squeezing other manufacturers around the world – including the United States, which is why they're sending a delegation to go and say “stop that please”. It's also why you're seeing a tariff response from Europe, from the U.S., even some friendly Asian states like Indonesia are starting to put tariffs on China. The goal seems to be to subsidize these manufacturers, flood the market around the world, build resilient supply lines, hook us in on these cheap goods and in the process, destroy the competition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 18th of September, Kiwi youth are facing more criminal charges according to the latest justice figures. Youth development worker Aaron Hendry joins the show to discuss the findings. New insulation standards could cost as little as $2,200 extra for a new build 3-bedroom house, but why is that so much lower than the $40,000 to $50,000 the building and construction minister says it would cost? YourQS author Nick Clements joined Ryan to explain. New research has found that in 2022 and 2023, more than one in five 15-24 year olds experienced high levels of psychological distress. So how do we build resilience in our kids? Research author Dr Seungyeon Kim explains. 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.

It’s not just New Zealand who’s been experiencing an icy start to Spring. Australia has seen record low temperatures across the southeast, with an icy blast catching several states unaware. Canberra marked its coldest September morning on record, with Monday hitting –6.9C, and many regions were hitting below 0. Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge that the system has come almost from Antarctica, and the temperatures are sitting about five to eight degrees lower than average. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More children in this country are being hospitalised for preventable diseases. A new Cure Kids report reveals hospital admissions for respiratory, skin and rheumatic conditions, mental health issues and dental diseases, remain unacceptably high. It identifies social factors —like child poverty, housing conditions and inequitable access to care— as key drivers, and notes Māori and Pasifika children are disproportionately affected. Chair of Child Health at Auckland University Stuart Dalziel told Ryan Bridge that we need to look at which children we’re failing, and if there is a failing on the basis of race, we need to ask why. He said that the answer may not be specifically race-targeted policy, but there does need to be policy, and we need to be very clear about where there is failings so they can be corrected. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More profit appears to be on the horizon for dairy farmers, with conditions faring better than expected. Dairy NZ's lifted its revenue forecast to $8.84 per kilogram of milk solids, with a break even of $8.09. Head of Economics Mark Storey says the combination of improved farmgate milk prices and declining interest rates show a healthier situation for the sector. But he says the costs of electricity, feed, and maintenance have kept driving farm working expenses up. He says overall expenses are staying stubbornly high, so the inflation hasn't come out of the system just yet. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour says the Government's achieving nothing with its reforms to sentencing laws. The Government's first quarterly report on public service targets shows rates of people victimised had risen by June, by 30 thousand people. It aims to reduce that by 20 thousand within the next six years. It's bringing sentencing law reforms to Parliament this week to reduce discounts and add aggravating factors. Labour Justice Spokesperson Duncan Webb told Ryan Bridge there's no substance to it. He says they're simply giving the rules a quick coat of paint and adding nothing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon has reason to smile this morning – there are two sets of data to cheer about. First, the poll. He's shaking off that slightly cringe CEO moniker and cementing himself as a man with a plan, in charge, across most of the issues, and not allowing himself to become too distracted by the inevitable noise that comes with running the ninth floor. The latest taxpayer's union curia poll is out, it has National up 1.4 to 39% That's an extra seat from National, NZ First also get another, while there's also no change for ACT. Safe across the line for the coalition, with 67 seats. Preferred Prime Minister is getting interesting. Chippy's gone off a cliff, the trend is down, but this result’s a shocker – he's down 6.1 points to 12.6%. Luxon? 32.7%. Chippy is now almost within margin of error with, not Luxon, but Chlöe on 7.2%. The other numbers today, NZIER's quarterly consensus data. Not so great for us, at least in the short term. Big fat zero GDP growth in the year to March. That's depressing. We've had almost two years of recession, or close to now, and people just want this country firing again. That's where Luxon will be happy to see this prediction: 2.2% growth expected in the year to March 2026. And we know what else is happening in 2026, right? An election. It's humble, not runaway, but after these past years it's electoral fairy dust. People don't generally vote on race relations, the politics of envy or climate change. They vote on how rich they feel and who might make them richer. Luxon, at least on these numbers, would appear to have the upper hand on that front. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 17th of August, the Government's first quarterly target check is out, and it's not looking too good. The target to reduce crime is at risk, and Luxon's blaming the previous government for making it harder to achieve. Labour's Duncan Webb speaks to Ryan about the results. Cure Kids’ State of Child Health report paints a grim picture – Stuart Dalziel joins the show to explain what the report found. Things are looking up for our dairy farmers according to Dairy NZ's quarterly economic forecast. Head of economics Mark Storey takes us through the numbers. 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.

Over in the UK, Labour's leader was using private donations to pay for his wife's wardrobe. She had personal shoppers, clothes and alterations for campaign events and after the campaign as well. Keir Starmer's wife, Victoria, was dressed to the nines, apparently. It wasn't declared as a donation, but has now been declared as a donation.David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has been wheeled out to explain it. "In our country, there isn't a budget for the Prime Minister's clothes, or his wife's clothes. In some countries, there's a substantial budget. I've just come back from America, where there is a substantial budget to ensure that the US President and the First Lady, their appearance, can never be challenged." I think we should publicly fund our leaders wardrobes. I'm just going to put it out there, I think we should. It's important how we look on the world stage. In the world of geopolitics and diplomacy you need to look good. You need to look sharp and you need to need to look smart. We don't want to be looking like some crackpot banana republic when we're going to these events, do we? I think it should be publicly funded, and the rules for politicians at the moment aren't really clear on on whether you are allowed to use your allowance for clothing or not. I think just as a they're representing us, we need to look good. I'm not against publicly funding their wardrobes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eight people have died while trying to cross the English Channel from France to England in a rubber vessel. It's the second deadly incident involving a migrant boat in the Channel in as many weeks. UK correspondent Gavin Grey rescue services identified 60 people on the vessel. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri has won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The race ended behind a safety car after a collision between Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Red Bull's Sergio Perez as they fought for third. ZB sports reporter Andrew Alderson recaps the race. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hopes worrying new figures can help the health sector improve the outcomes of respiratory disease. A report has found more people suffer from respiratory diseases than previously known, going from one in seven to one in five Kiwis each year. Asthma and Respiratory Foundation Medical Director Bob Hancox says while it shows New Zealand's not doing well, the new research is important. He says it gives experts a better understanding of how big the issue is. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A union's labelling the Education Minister's changes for reliever teachers a knee-jerk reaction to the current shortage. Erica Stanford's changing who can gain a Limited Authority to Teach - allowing about 200 teachers who no longer hold registration to work as relief teachers. It means both experts who aren’t qualified teachers and previously registered teachers, can come into classrooms as relievers. PPTA President Chris Abercrombie says the change is essentially just putting in warm bodies to fill the gaps. "They're looking after kids, not teaching kids or educating kids, not helping them - they're just looking after them. These kids deserve more." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday the 16th of September. The PPTA aren't happy with short term changes the Education Minister has made to the sector. President Chris Abercrombie speaks to Ryan. The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation say more Kiwis are being diagnosed with respiratory diseases, so what's causing the rise? The foundation's Medical Director Professor Bob Hancox joins the show. Oscar Piastri takes first place in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the America's Cup challenger series wraps up and the Black Ferns lose to England at Twickenham - Andrew Alderson has your weekend sport wrap. 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.

The use of coal and gas to generate energy has increased sharply due to falling hydro lake levels. Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment data from April to June shows that coal produced 883 gigawatt hours of electricity. That's a more than a 500% increase on the same time last year, and it’s the first time since 2021 that coal produced more electricity than wind. Low hydro lake levels mean electricity generated from renewable sources dropped to 81% of total generation, an 8.6% drop compared to same time last year. Otago University Senior Research Fellow Kimberley O’Sullivan told Ryan Bridge that while we do have to go somewhere, it’s time to stop looking underground for the solution to our problems. She said that we need to get smarter about the things such as housing, and we could solve a lot of problems by increasing insultation and making homes more energy efficient, as well as adding solar panels. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Space milestones are only going to keep on coming, with the first ever commercial space walk mission. Billionaire Jared Isaacman and engineer Sarah Gillis have become the first civilians to walk in space. The Space X mission also put the total number of people currently in space to 19, tying the record set in 2021. Auckland University's Spacecraft Missions Director Chris Jackson told Ryan Bridge the number's only going to increase with SpaceX and NASA's future plans. He says they want to populate the Moon, which will put a lot more people in space across a lot of different places. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kamala Harris was wearing audio earrings during the debate this week. Did you hear about this? Yeah, she was cheating. They looked like pearl earrings, but they also look like audio earrings. You can buy them, and you can have your staff feed you information in real time during a debate, they can coach you live. Yeah, it's real, I read it on the internet. That's the problem, isn't it? On some corners of the internet there's the dog-duck-immigrant conspiracy thing, there's the trans migrant prisoner sex change thing, and now there's the Kamala earrings thing. Misinformation, disinformation, conspiracies, whatever they are, they seem to be everywhere at the moment. Kamala Harris is pushing the conspiracies too, remember she said during the debate that Trump would implement project 2025 if elected, he says he won't. Isn't that the same thing? Just lies, just making stuff up? Don't get me wrong, I do love a good conspiracy, especially the bizarre ones you get out of the States, but I would never go nuts online trying to prove one. The internet's screwed our brains in that way, what would have once just been a word of mouth, rumour, or gossip now spreads and presents itself as real news and is lapped up by millions of people. The biggest problem I reckon, we have two cohorts of internet users, ones who have lived the most of their lives without the internet and they place a lot of faith and trust in what's being written and said because that's how we used to operate, remember? And then there are those who are URL natives who know full well the absolute crap and the shite that you get online – which is not to say it's a generational thing because, you know, people at both ends can get caught out. But we are supposedly living right now in the enlightened age where the internet would democratise information, make it accessible to all of us. We'd all be better informed and better off with all the knowledge of human history available at the click of a finger. And what have we done with that? Cats, dogs, ducks, and audio airings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The nurses union says there's not enough health staff to meet health targets. The Health Minister's laid out his plans for delivering health targets set in March. Dr Shane Reti's discussed increasing public hospital beds and operating theatres and using private hospital capacity more. He's confident the Budget and resources are already in place to deliver them. Nurses Organisation President Kerri Nuku told Ryan Bridge the whole workforce is understaffed and chronically underfunded. She says it's fine to have ambitious plans, but if there aren't the people or resources to implement them, it'll fail. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 13th of September, the government's revealed how they will reach its health targets, but health workers are raising concerns. Kerri Nuku from the Nurses Organisation joins the show to discuss. Extra coal and gas was needed over winter to generate electricity with low lake levels in the South Island, should we be concerned about the reduction in renewable generation? The University of Otago's Dr Kimberly O'Sullivan talks to Ryan. The first privately funded spacewalk has ended successfully. Is this the start of space tourism? University of Auckland's Head of Space Operations Chris Jackson joins the show. 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.

Today marks the anniversary of the September 11th tragedy in the United States. 23 years ago, nearly 3000 people died at a number of sites across the US, and memorials and moments of silence are held on the anniversary every year. US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Ryan Bridge that a number of political figures were in attendance at this morning’s memorial at the World Trade Centre in New York, including Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A heated exchange between the two US presidential hopefuls - with many saying Kamala Harris got under Donald Trump's skin The pair faced off over inflation, abortion and foreign policy in a high stakes debate in Pennsylvania. US Pollster Henry Olsen told Ryan Bridge that debates in the past have had a minor effect on the polls, but this race is so close that even a minor effect could transform Harris from an underdog to the favourite. This debate could have an impact on the polls, he said, but we won’t know for at least another week. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People seem to think Kamala Harris made a fool of Trump in the debate, but real fool was us, New Zealand. Within 24 hours of the debate we got news of 230 jobs lost due in part to an energy crunch caused by moral grandstanding on climate change. That's 230 jobs, but up to 1000 people including families. That's half the population of Raetihi and Ohakune. Shane Jones calls it the hollowing out of regional NZ, and there's much more to come. We also had news Methanex is consulting on mothballing, indefinitely, one of its two remaining plants. Why? You guessed it - in part it's moral grandstanding on climate change. More on that in a second, but first back to the debate. This is the most left, progressive political leader in America, Kamala Harris, boasting about fracking. "I will not ban fracking. I have not banned fracking as Vice President of the United States. And in fact, I was the tie breaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act which opened new leases for fracking." And here, Kamala Harris boasts about record domestic oil production while she and Biden were in charge. "We have had the largest increase in domestic oil production in history." Drill baby, drill. Meanwhile, we're basking in nuclear free moment bliss down here at the bottom of the Pacific. Sending manufacturing jobs and regional jobs off to the slaughterhouse. And yes, climate change is real, etcetera. But why would we cut our noses off to spite our faces, when the most progressive, climate conscious contender to run the world's largest economy, and biggest user of oil, is boasting about drilling for it? Sitting watching that debate yesterday it wasn't Trump I thought looked stupid, it was us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another blow for regional New Zealand and the manufacturing industry is being seen as potentially devastating. Methanex is proposing cutting staff and moving from two plants to one. Earlier this week Winstone pulp confirmed plans to shut, putting more than 200 jobs on the chopping block after soaring energy prices. Energy Resources Aotearoa's John Carnegie told Ryan Bridge the system is going from crisis to crisis - something he believes is predictable following the oil and gas ban. He says it leaves a hole in the confidence of investors. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The global shortages of orange juice is good news for our local growers. The world's largest grower Brazil has been hit by drought and disease, bringing juicing orange yields down by at least a third. That, combined with lower yields on the East Coast due to Cyclone Gabrielle damage, has left New Zealand with a shortage of orange juice. Orange grower and Citrus NZ board member Matthew Carter told Ryan Bridge it's been quite profitable for those growing here. He says juice grade fruit usually would be worth around 50 cents a kilo, and that's nearly doubled over the last couple of years. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 12th of September, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have faced off in their first debate, less than two months out from the election. Famous pollster Henry Olsen joins Ryan from the U.S. to discuss it. Methanex is proposing to scale down operations to just one plant - what does it mean for the energy sector? John Carnegie from Energy Recourses Aotearoa joins the show to give his thoughts. Have you noticed a shortage of orange juice in the supermarket? We check in with a grower and ask what's happening with the industry. 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.

The Major Electricity Users' Group says consumers are grossly over-paying for power. Electricity prices have risen over the years, both businesses and average citizens struggling to afford their power bills. Chair John Harbord told Ryan Bridge the companies are producing the same amount of electricity, while making record profits. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a belief a social media ban could benefit young people. Australia's holding an age-verification trial in coming months, but it's unknown what the cut off age will be, or how it will be enforced. Christopher Luxon has also expressed interest in the idea. Parenting expert Nathan Wallis told Ryan Bridge there's a correlation between social media and youth mental health issues. He says if things like social media are banned, it may be revealed as the major cause of the country's mental health crisis in teens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US presidential debate looks to be a chance to get to know the candidates. Vice President Kamala Harris is facing off against Donald Trump for the first time at 1pm our time in Pennsylvania. No notes are allowed, and microphones will cut off when each candidate's not speaking. Former US Ambassador to New Zealand under Barack Obama, Mark Gilbert told Ryan Bridge many polls show people still don't know Harris. He says this will be an opportunity for her to be seen, as more than 50-million people are expected to tune in. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A wild, bizarre, and highly entertaining media scrum took pace in Wellington yesterday, culminating with an MP saying he didn't mind swimming in other people's sewage. Yes, human waste. A chaotic caucus run with Labour's Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor. He was asked why Wellington's dying - with cafes closing down, etcetera: "There's not enough to do along that waterfront, there's been stopping things from happening. You can walk a long way there, there's no cafe, there's nowhere to actually get a coffee." Greg, Greg, Greg. Why don't they just put more cafes in? These things require business investment and a profit to be had. Could the reason there aren't enough flat whites at Queens wharf be because 1) Labour hiked minimum wage beyond affordability, 2) helped drive inflation sky high through unrestrained government spending, and 3) told everyone to stay home and out of the CBD and the office. So far so normal, an MP struggling to grasp the realities of running a small business. Here's where it all gets a bit messy - literally. He says the solution is get more people, tourists, residents, whoever, down to the waterfront and even in the water. A reporter kindly points out the water's often not safe for swimming due to human waste from bad pipes. "Are you talking about the same harbour that gets polluted when there's heavy rain due to the bad pipes?" "It doesn't stop people from swimming in there does it?" O'Connor replies. Another reporter asks, "Would you swim in the harbour if there's sewage in there?" "Yeah I do, I do swim in the harbour." Okay, so don't worry about the faeces in the water. Jump in! Then, here's the best part, lets' blame the journalists for reporting on the wastewater. "Is there a warning at the moment? I don't know." "No, you are allowed," one of the reporters says. O'Connor replies: "You are allowed, so why bring this up then? So a Wellington positive is that you can go and swim in Wellington Harbour today, is that what I'm hearing from you? Good, report that. Well done guys." The world according to Greg O’Connor: you can't beat Wellington on a good day. A good day being one with no wind or rain, no poo in your harbour, and perhaps a coffee cart down at the waterfront. There's a new slogan in that somewhere. Wellington - take a chance on me. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 11th of September, the Electricity, gas, waste, and water services industry saw a 36% rise in sales in Q2 compared to the same time last year. It comes on the same day that Winstone Pulp International announced their closure due to soaring energy costs. What does it mean for our big electricity users? John Harbord from the Major Electricity Users Group speaks to Ryan. It's a big day in the U.S. as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will face off in what could be the only debate ahead of November's election. We're live to the U.S. with Democratic Party Member Mark Gilbert. Our Aussie neighbours are looking at banning social media for kids, and Christopher Luxon says he's open to doing the same here. Could it work, and how would parents police it? Parenting expert Nathan Wallis joins the show to give his thoughts. Would you swim in polluted water? Labour MP Greg O'Connor says yes, and Ryan has some words of advice for him. 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.

A global manhunt is underway for a man who allegedly poured boiling hot coffee on a nine-month-old baby in Brisbane. Police say the 33-year-old has fled the country since the August 27th incident in a Stones Corner park. Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge detectives believe the man escaped less than a day before he was identified. She says the man was aware of police methodology and was conducting counter-surveillance activities, making the investigation very complex. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a drive for change in the construction industry on the back of a spike in suspected suicide rates. In 2023, 80 construction workers died from suspected suicides - a jump from previous years. MATES in Construction Research Manager Lauren Donnan says mental health across the board is improving, but high workloads, job instability, and a lack of support remain key stressors. She says 15 to 24-year-olds and Māori workers can be particularly vulnerable. Donnan says we need to understand there are key pressures and groups within the industry at higher risk, where we need to target more support. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.