Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

New Zealand's tourism recovery has seemingly hit a snag. Overseas visitor arrivals reached 3.2 million in the year to June. That's up 27% from 2023, but still down 17% on pre-pandemic peaks. It comes as visa charges rise and hikes to the International Visitor Levy debated. Board of Airline Representatives Executive Director, Cath O'Brien told Ryan Bridge while other countries continue to recover, New Zealand appears to be stalling. She says the coming summer's airline schedule expects just 2% growth. O’Brien says it will bring fewer tourists, and it's counterproductive to steeply increase visa costs at the same time. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buying a house is hard, but still worth it. There's new CoreLogic data out this morning, it's a housing affordability report looking at median property values versus median income for households. Let's put all the detail aside for a second and cut to the chase. Basically, the good news for you, houses are worth 7.9% household income – they were worth 10 times. So that is good news. Also good news: the time it takes to save for a deposit is now 10 years. It's better than the 13 years that it took in 2021. So that's the good news. The bad news from the start of this morning: mortgage payments, 54% of your median household income, that is 10% above the average. So there's good news and there's bad news. It's hard but not impossible for most people, and still very much worth it. Long term values go up, there's the stability of owning your own place and there's great stories, like this Auckland 20-year-old Lewis Pollock who was in the news the other day. He left school early, worked in retail, became a manager. He works hard for his money and he saves, had no help from his parents and he's bought his first house at 20. He's a homeowner and he's saying to other young people, you can do it if you put your mind to it. Now, I know this is not possible for everyone, some circumstances just wouldn't allow you to be able to put the money aside to save. But for most young people it's hard but not impossible, and well worth the effort. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 14th of August, it's OCR day - will the Reserve Bank cut our official cash rate? Jarden's John Carran joins the show to discuss. NZ's 30-year gene editing ban is set to be lifted, taking GE out of just the lab. Michael Bunce speaks to Ryan about what it means for new products, productivity, and our economy. Tourism numbers are out for the June quarter and they’re still down from pre-pandemic times. Airline and tourism groups aren't happy about changes to visitor visa fees. 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 Australian Government is facing calls to go further with proposed restrictions on gambling ads. It's looking to ban ads during sports broadcasts, during children's programming, and online. But a 60-strong alliance —including former prime ministers John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull, and prominent figures from across the political spectrum— are calling for a complete ban. Australia correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge minor parties are also backing the ball, particularly the Greens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AA says the devil will be in the details when it comes to “time of use” charging. Transport Minister Simeon Brown says he'll introduce legislation by the end of the year which will see drivers taxed to use some sections of road at certain times. AA Policy Director Martin Glynn says while there are benefits, there are also kinks to be worked out. He says certain tweaks to the charge will likely be needed. Martin Glynn says people going to work or school at set times with no access to public transport need to be catered for. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's being accused of failing to learn from past mistakes with its new benefit sanctions scheme. It's announced new rules requiring beneficiaries to reapply more often. People who fail to follow the rules could see half their benefit put on a payment card can that only be spent on essentials. Youth justice consultant Shirley Johnson told Ryan Bridge we've had measures like this before and claims they didn't work. She says it feels foolish to go back and re-do what didn't work before, when other measures are already working and are very effective. Johnson said that while accountability's important, many young people are grappling with a challenging job market. She told Bridge that unemployment's going up, and it's currently twice as high for young people. Johnson says many young people are doing it tough and punishing them won't help. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every government is thinking ahead to when they next need to be re-elected. There's a risk here that the government is taking when it goes for sanctions on beneficiaries, when it goes for tougher requirements and criteria when it comes to social housing, for example, and you're starting to see some kick back already in response to some of these changes. If you're a centrist voter you might think those are reasonable expectations to put on social housing providers, to put on emergency accommodation criteria, to put on beneficiaries through sanctions or obligations. You might think those things are reasonable. On the other hand, you might think that seems a bit cruel. And actually, in an economy like this where jobs are hard to come by, I might find myself in that position. I don't want to have those types of obligations; I don't understand what those obligations are. So, there is a political risk to doing it stuff, but it's bread and butter for National and it's bread and butter for ACT, this is exactly what their base want what their supporters want and so they are doing it, but it does come with some political risk. One thing that the Government need to get on top of is retail crime. The Dairy Owner's group, this is based on police data, say that retail crime is up 17% under National. This is the coalition government that has said ‘we're going to crack down on retail crime’. The first five months of this year versus last year theft was up, robberies were down 5%, burglaries down 10%, but here's the one you need to worry about: acts intended to cause injury were up 4%. That is very bad, and you're seeing it with hammers and all sorts of things being used as weapons in shops. That, the Government needs to get on top of because they made a big promise, Mark Mitchell has talked a big talk, the numbers so far aren't tracking in their direction, and they need to turn them around. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a waiting game for the construction sector as the economic downturn continues to bite. The latest EBOSS Builder Sentiment Report shows 67% of builders are seeing less demand for their services. 70% feel industry conditions will continue to decline in the next 12 months. Construction Industry Council Executive Director Tommy Honey told Ryan Bridge everyone is waiting for economic conditions to pick up again. He says people are holding off selling their homes, which has resulted in fewer people renovating or building new homes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday the 13th of August 2024, new requirements and a traffic light sanction system have been introduced for beneficiaries, but what does it mean for our jobless youth? Congestion charging is on the way for our busiest roads. AA Policy Director Martin Glynn talks to Ryan about what it means for you. Construction confidence is down, and builders believe the slowdown in jobs will continue for at least another year. The Construction Industry Council's Tommy Honey 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.

Taylor Swift's upcoming London shows will go ahead after a foiled plot to attack her now-cancelled Vienna concerts. A 19-year-old with Islamic State ties has been arrested and confirmed they planned a terror attack involving explosives and knives. Two other teen suspects have also been arrested. UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge there's major security concerns for Swift's five Wembley Stadium shows, which kick off Thursday. “Naturally as you can imagine, high alert here in London as those teenagers are being questioned in Austria.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who are we to believe when it comes to kids in motels? It’s undeniably a disaster. At its worst, we had 4000 kids living in motels and emergency accommodation in New Zealand. And the last lot who said it was a complex problem that required complex solutions, they said it would take time, and we sort of bought that argument because it does seem incredibly complex. And then yesterday, the Government comes along and claims to have cut the number of households living in emergency housing by a third in six months. What’s more, they said in Auckland, they’ve almost halved the number of people living in emergency housing in three months. How can you halve the number of people in emergency housing in three months? Does that make sense to you? In Christchurch, it's gone from 285 to 183 in three months. They said they’d used intensive work to cut the numbers. I don’t know whether I’m just cynical but, do you believe that? Or do you think there’s some trick, some fudging of the numbers here or the categories that they're using, something like that. If all we needed was a bit of intensive work, surely we could have cut through that long waiting list a lot earlier. Kieran McAnulty on Three News last night had a crack at the Government. “They're both claiming credit for something they didn't do and they're also crying about something when they've made it harder for people to access it.” He then went on to say this: “The honest way to deal with the issue of emergency housing is to build more social houses. And that's the very thing the Government has pulled back on.” Wrong. There is another way that you can deal with the problem of an increase in demand for social housing, that's to grow an economy to get people into well paid jobs. Not everybody wants to be at the mercy of a failed social housing system, do they?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By Kris Shannon in Paris Ellesse Andrews has confirmed what this week already seemed clear – she is the world’s fastest woman on two wheels. The Kiwi claimed a second gold medal on the final day of the Paris Olympics, her victory in the individual sprint even more commanding than an earlier triumph in the keirin. Andrews won all nine sprint races she contested inside Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome. The 24-year-old eliminated the reigning Olympic champion, two former world champions and a rider who last year proved superior in the discipline. And Andrews accomplished it all with a level of ease rarely seen at the top level. That’s not to suggest there was anything simple about her achievements. But right now, Andrews is simply too fast, too strong and too self-assured to be beaten. That was the case in the keirin final earlier in the week, when Andrews led from start to finish and was never seriously threatened by any potential attack. The same was true in the individual sprint, whether riding from the front or recovering a deficit depending on her starting position. The two gold medals added to a silver won in the team sprint and left Andrews in elite Kiwi company. Only paddlers Lisa Carrington (three golds in 2021 and 2024) and Paul MacDonald (three golds in 1984) have recorded better medal hauls at a single Games. It also meant New Zealand would finish the Paris Olympics with 10 gold medals, after a record-setting penultimate day saw the team surpass the previous best of eight. With age on her side and considering her progression in the last 12 months alone, it’s safe to assume Andrews will return to the podium in four years’ time. In today’s final she swept aside Lea Friedrich, a rider who beat Andrews 2-0 in the sprint semifinals at last year’s world championships. Following the keirin final, coach and father Jon Andrews said he had expected a greater challenge from Friedrich in that event, after the German had been eliminated in a semifinal won by the Kiwi. It came a few days later but didn’t last for long. Gold medalist Ellesse Andrews celebrates her win in the sprint. Photo / Getty Images There was a brief moment in race one when it appeared Friedrich held the advantage. After the bell, she came around the bend high, and with a boost from the bank looked to be erasing the lead. Then Andrews rose from her seat, powered through the back straight and the race was over. The second was barely a contest. Starting behind her opponent, Andrews easily executed the manoeuvre attempted earlier by Friedrich, speeding clear as the German conceded defeat. Andrews glanced once over her shoulder, saw clear track and was able to raise one arm in celebration, the crowd rising to salute a new queen of the velodrome. Friedrich had set a new world record in qualifying, a mark Andrews previously lowered. But her coach said his rider was a different proposition when racing, and so it proved Andrews progressed to the final with seven wins from seven, eliminating Olympic champion Kelsey Mitchell in the 1/8 finals before sweeping former world champions Emma Hinze in the quarters and Emma Finucane in the semis. That brought more revenge for being beaten by Finucane and Britain in the team sprint final, the only time in Paris that Andrews has been conquered. Friedrich, meanwhile, needed a third ride to reach the final, as Andrews barely watched from her stationary bike. But no extra energy would have helped the German. Andrews, as she has been all week, was unbeatable. Kris Shannon has been a sport journalist since 2011 and covers a variety of codes for the Herald. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trade Minister Todd McClay is visiting India this week for the fifth time in nine months. He’ll meet with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, for talks around forestry, agriculture and trade between the two countries. It follows Indian President Droupadi Murmu’s visit here last week. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls joined Ryan Bridge. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Paris Olympics is coming to a close. Dame Lisa Carrington and Finn Butcher are leading out Kiwi athletes as the flagbearers for the closing ceremony, getting underway now. New Zealand now has 20 medals, including ten gold after a Bronze for Ally Wollaston and another Gold for Ellesse Andrews in the velodrome overnight. New Zealand Chef de Mission Nigel Avery told Ryan Bridge it's one of our best Olympic campaigns ever. “45 of our team will walk around with a piece of tin around their neck to get back to New Zealand. That’s huge — that’s about 20 percent of our total competing body, and so, it’s awesome.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Council-controlled water organisations will be able to leverage up to 500% of their operating revenues through the local government funding agency. The Commerce Commission will oversee it to make sure there is appropriate investment, maintenance, and delivery of water infrastructure for consumers long-term. Auckland Councillor Daniel Newman joins Ryan Bridge on Early Edition to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A state of emergency has been declared in the Kursk region of Russia, as a rare cross-border attack by Ukrainian troops continued on Wednesday. Taylor Swift has been forced to cancel three concerts in Vienne, Austria, after a bomb and knife attack plot by a teenager who had pledged allegiance to ISIS. More marches across the United Kingdom has led to more arrests for disturbances, with tough sentences handed out. UK and Europe correspondent Vincent McAviney joins Ryan Bridge on Early Edition to discuss all this and more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday the 9th of August, The Government's plan to replace Three Waters is out, it will allow council controlled organisations to borrow and invest in their local water infrastructure. Auckland Councillor Daniel Newman joins the show. New instructions for Oranga Tamariki - but is it going to make a difference? Charity BlueLight speak to Ryan. Would Government intervention make a difference to our struggling energy sector? Energy Resources Aotearoa have some suggestions and Chief Executive John Carnegie shares with Ryan. 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.

Electricity prices in New Zealand are about six times higher than Australia, this week sitting at around $700 per megawatt; while in late 2021 they were $100 per megawatt. Multiple large scale businesses are proposing the idea of shutting down as a result of the high prices, and the Government is now looking at possible intervention. Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie joins Ryan Bridge on Early Edition to discuss what that may look like. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Children's Minister Karen Chhour has handed Oranga Tamariki a new set of instructions to keep the agency accountable and transparent. Chhour has outlined five new measures she expects to be reported on every quarter, including the number of children able to to access a social worker. Bluelight Operations Manager Rod Bell joins Ryan Bridge on Early Edition to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We live in a world that is seemingly spilling over with hate and division at the moment. You don't have to look far to find it. Just in the past few days, you've got this 19-year-old Isis inspired terror suspect, planning to kill himself and as many Taylor Swift fans as possible. There's rioting and division on the streets of the UK. Australia has raised it's terror threat level. Remember that 16-year-old teenager who stabbed a religious cleric in Australia, suspected religious extremism behind it. You've got Trump's assassination attempt, remember this was only last month. It's almost like we've forgotten about that, because there's so much going on. They all have one thing in common - The internet. This 19-year-old is I would be mass murderer, he and his two alleged teenage accomplices, they were serious. They had chemical explosives, detonators allegedly, they were radicalised online. The UK riots, fuelled by false information about that stabbing suspect. They were all racked up, fired up by being on the internet. Where did it all happen? Online. Remember those seven teenagers arrested in April in Australia for alleged extremist ideology - all happened online. I could go on, but you get the point. Young impressionable minds, endless scrolling on social media and it's the wild west of content. Every kid has a mental health problem these days. Have you noticed that? Turn on the news, everyone's sad. And it's obvious, isn't it? The internet. Our phones. And what are we doing about it? This is what happens when you scroll on a phone and you argue with somebody and you don't look them in the eye. You don't talk to them face to face. You don't moderate your thoughts with body language and facial expressions and all those important things that I think help to make our debates a bit more human. We lose all that when we go online and when we scroll endlessly. Apparently we will spend between 10 years and 17 years of our lives scrolling on our phones. How sad is that? And for kids it's worse. What have I done about it? Well, I've deleted the social media apps, and not that I'm saying I'm going to solve the world, but I'm just seeing if I'll feel better about the world. And I wonder why more people aren't doing it. Maybe you are. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems like it's virtually impossible for families on a benefit to afford healthy food. Research shows two-children families receiving financial assistance would be 200-dollars short if they bought low-cost nutritional kai. Health Coalition Aotearoa spokesperson Sally Mackay told Ryan Bridge it's clear low-income families are doing it tough, with drastic increases in food parcel demands. She says they're most concerned about the impacts on children's learning when they arrive to school hungry. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a belief the US Democrats have a renewed sense of momentum and energy in the lead up to the Presidential election. It follows Democratic nominee Kamala Harris confirming Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Ryan Bridge thousands of supporters have packed out a Philadelphia auditorium to hear from the pair jointly for the first time. He says those in the crowd described the atmosphere as electric and compared it to Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's police spokesperson is calling out the Police Minister for refusing her request to meet with an Auckland police inspector. Ginny Andersen asked to visit the Albany police station, but Mark Mitchell's office said no. In a statement, Mitchell says he cannot support a generic request to visit a station, with no context, with a week’s notice. Andersen told Ryan Bridge she followed what she considers a well-established practice, which Mitchell himself has followed before. She says she and Chris Hipkins never made any attempt to block Mitchell's visits when he was in opposition. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been an increase in businesses asking for advice around redundancy and resizing is being seen by the Employers and Manufacturers Association. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in the June quarter, up from 4.4% the previous. It's one factor the Reserve Bank considers when weighing up whether to cut the Official Cash Rate. The EMA's Alan McDonald told Ryan Bridge businesses are asking them the right way to downsize because they don't have the work for employees. He says he'd expected it to start heading the other way, but they just hit a record 163 calls in the month of July. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday the 8th of August, the number of people who lost their jobs in the June quarter are up. Ryan speaks to the Employers and Manufacturers Association to see how businesses are feeling on the ground. A dispute between Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Labour's Police spokesperson Ginny Anderson - why won't National let Labour visit an Auckland police station? Ginny Anderson joins the show. The cost of groceries has risen at historically high rates over the past six years, and the cost of healthy food even more so. Health Coalition Aotearoa explain the research, and its impact on Kiwi kids. 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 are calls for the Government to reconsider privacy laws when it comes to retail crime. The Motor Trade Association is asking for bold changes after a rise in smash-and-grabs and drive off fuel theft. First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge retailers should be allowed to publish CCTV video of thieves on social media to deter the crime. He says currently it's against the law, and thieves are hiding behind it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank will be keeping a close eye on this morning's employment data as it mulls over next week's Official Cash Rate decision. Most economists expect the unemployment rate will rise. But they're now divided on whether the central bank will cut the OCR next week, next month, or in November. ASB senior economist Mark Smith told Ryan Bridge this morning's data should give them a steer on how inflation is tracking. He says as the unemployment rate rises and wage growth slows, inflation is likely to come down, meaning interest rates need to come down as well. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Prime Minister is in a war of words with Elon Musk as far-right protests continue across the country. Almost 400 people have been arrested following last week's stabbings at a dance class that killed three girls and left several wounded. The tech billionaire posted on his social media platform X saying civil war is inevitable, to which the Prime Minister's spokesperson says there's no justification for the comments. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge that Elon Musk has continued with his criticism of Sir Keir Starmer and his government. He says Musk posted a video of someone reportedly getting arrested for offensive comments online, asking if it's Britain or the Soviet Union. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smith and Caughey's has found a way to stay afloat. The long-running Auckland department store has revealed new measures to remain open, despite announcing a closure in May. It plans to reduce staff and pull back its operations to the Queen Street ground level store and online offering only. Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck says it's a real sign of confidence in the future of Auckland's city centre. She says the area is evolving as we speak, and it will help people to see the confidence and investment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The power was cut to my place last night. Don't worry, it was expected. It was a maintenance thing from one in the morning or midnight through till 5 a.m. The heating was off, it was chilly. I think it was six degrees in Auckland last night, not as bad as your zero in Christchurch, granted. But boy, does it make you think how important electricity is. You don't know what you've got till it's gone, you wake up, you know, freezing, you've got a cold foot hanging out the bed, you're fumbling around in your undies, trying to find undies because it's dark. It's quite important to have electricity, and you don't know how good it is till it's gone. So too for major Kiwi industries who are feeling the cold, hard reality at the moment of life without energy, without gas. There are two stories in the last couple of days that caught my attention. One was Methanex, which produces Methanol. They've got 270 staff, $640 million is what they're worth to the Taranaki economy, and closer to a billion to the national economy. 8% of Taranaki's GDP, and they are reviewing operations in New Zealand. They're running at half capacity. Why? A lack of gas. Dwindling supply from existing gas fields. The spot market is shooting up, going through the roof, wholesale prices are up. You can't get a contract. The business is the equivalent of stumbling around in the dark at the moment. There's no certainty, they can't get affordable contracts, so business is suffering. The other story: the largest employer in Ruapehu district, 250 people employed at this pulp mill and sawmill, they've paused their operations. Why? Energy costs, up 600 percent since 2021. There's a 14 day pause going on there while they consider their future. This is not good. Some are talking about a manufacturing exodus; this is what we're seeing. It will hurt small town, New Zealand and these are good jobs, these are jobs that feed families. Is this a surprise? No. In 2018 MBIE rang the alarm bells about the government's oil and gas ban. Quite loudly, I might add. This is a briefing paper from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment given to then Energy Minister Megan Woods. It said Methanex would not be able to operate at full capacity from 2021 and would stop completely after 2026. Methanex will require a new discovery if it is to continue operating in New Zealand over the medium to long term. So, we had the warning, now it is happening, and the government promised a just transition at the time. Where is that? Show me the jobs to replace the potentially hundreds that are on the line right now. Feels a little bit like we're fumbling around in the dark. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 7th of August 2024, labour market data is out today. All of our major banks are expecting a rise, but by how much? ASB's Mark Smith joins Ryan. The Motor Trade Association thinks they have a plan to help the Government to reduce retail crime - but are they asking for too much? Ryan speaks to First Retail Group. Iconic Kiwi brand Smith and Caughey's has backtracked on its plan to shut down all operations next year, what does its future look like? 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 US Presidential Election is less than 100 days away. Kamala Harris is expected to announce her pick for Vice President today ahead of their first public appearance together in Pennsylvania tomorrow. Presidential Historian Allan Lichtman has correctly predicted almost every US Election since the 1980s through a process called ‘The 13 Keys to the White House’. He told Ryan Bridge that while he hasn’t made a final prediction yet, a lot would have to go wrong for the Democrats to lose the election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lift in the terror threat level in Australia is in response to an increase in extremism, fuelled by conspiracy theories and anti-authority ideologies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed the level is lifting from ‘possible’ to ‘probable’ - meaning there's now a greater than 50% chance of an onshore attack in the next twelve months. Australian correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge the Prime Minister is adamant there's no intelligence of an imminent attack, but there is a need for a higher level of preparedness and alertness for agencies and the public. The Security Intelligence Service says New Zealand's threat level is low. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. stock markets had a bit of a panic attack overnight, I think that's the best way to describe it. Investors have been selling off, especially in tech stocks. The U.S. job data that came out on Friday seems to have freaked the horses. Losses are being clawed back slightly this morning, but everyone is on edge. Why? Well, it's the largest economy in the world. It affects us all, and it feels like we're all sort of teetering on the edge of an economic cliff at the moment. We're all at the mercy of our central banks and their rate cut decisions. Will they cut? Won't they cut? In this case you've got no cut last week from the Federal Reserve in the U.S. and you've got some bad data and oh, America's going to recession. If our Reserve Bank doesn't cut soon, then we'll probably have the same issues here. Bank of England, the European Central Bank, they have cut. Here's the thing I was thinking about this morning: we've got a mortgage at my house. We're going to refix, so, when the cuts happen I'm not going to be running out and splurging on the credit card. There'll be no new TV or couch at my house, there'll be no new car in the driveway, and I won't be going to fancy restaurants all the time. I won't be going to the clubs and making it rain cash, just because the rates have cut. This cost of living crisis, coupled with the technical recession that we went through, it's got me feeling a little sensible. I'm thinking more about saving, I'm thinking more about strategic investing. You never know when the next Government or Reserve Bank splurge might fuel the next big thing. You know, the lockdowns, then the loose purse strings, the prolonged high interest rates. So you got to be prepared for stuff. What does that mean for retailers who are falling over to their knees all around us? I think, sadly, things won't suddenly bounce back once Adrian Orr blows his whistle, it'll be a long hard slog yet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An education expert says we should be worried about low maths results. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon revealed data which he says shows that four out of five Year 8 students aren't at the expected level. He's bringing forward a new math curriculum to Term 1 next year, assessing twice yearly, and a $20 million boost for teachers' professional development. New Zealand Initiative researcher Michael Johnston told Ryan Bridge it's likely things have been like this for some time. He says the Government's action is necessary, but time will tell whether it's enough. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ambulance workers say the call to strike boils down to ensuring their voices are heard. 2,500 members from First Union and the Ambulance Association have voted on industrial action. Labour will be withdrawn for four hours across two days —August 20 and 24— amid calls for the Government to fulfil an election promise to renegotiate funding. First Union spokesperson Faye McCann told Ryan Bridge 95% of its members voted to strike. She says it's unfortunate and not the ideal situation. The Government says it will continue with the current contract for now. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 6th August 2024, more changes are on the way for our education system, but what's the thinking behind the policy decisions? NZ Initiative's Dr Michael Johnston joins Ryan to discuss. The U.S. Presidential Election is less than 100 days out, and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is expected to announce her running mate by tomorrow. Ryan speaks to Allan Lichtman who has correctly predicted almost every election since 1982. St John union staff have announced further strike action later this month, including a "withdrawal of labour". Australia has raised their terror threat level for the first time in a decade. We cross to Australia correspondent Donna Demaio. 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.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday the 5th of August - the Government has unveiled their maths action plan, a new curriculum for primary and intermediate school students from next year. Ryan speaks to a principal about the changes. Kidscan have the longest waitlist in their 19-year history. Chief Executive Julie Chapman is on the show. It's been another busy weekend in Paris - Andrew Alderson has the latest in weekend sport. Violence is continuing in the UK after the Southport stabbings. We cross live to UK and Europe Correspondent Kay Oliver. 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.

An Auckland principal isn't hopeful a new maths action plan will address the root problem. The Government is bringing forward a new curriculum to Term 1 next year, assessing twice yearly and establishing a $20 million boost for teachers' professional development. Laingholm Primary School principal Martyn Weatherill believes this isn't going to fix decades of under-funding. "Political interference in the teaching practice has caused the problem. Now politicians are saying political interference in the teaching practice will solve the problem. I don't see how that's possible." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's calls for the army to be deployed in the UK, where violent demonstrations are escalating for a seventh day. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has labelled the outbreaks as 'far-right thuggery'. They've continued to escalate since last week's stabbing rampage at a dance class left three children dead and several injured. This morning, 10 police officers have been injured trying to stop a group storming a Rotherham hotel housing asylum seekers. UK correspondent Kay Oliver says politicians from all sides agree this is violence, rather than protests. "We've got Hamza Yousaf, he's a former First Minister of Scotland, saying this situation is so out of control now that the army should be brought in." More than 140 people have been arrested across Britain so far. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Novak Djokovic has won an elusive Olympic tennis singles gold medal. A 7-6, 7-6 win over Carlos Alcaraz in nearly three hours has seen him become the fifth player after Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams to win the four majors and a Games individual title. ZB sports reporter Andrew Alderson explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demand for help from KidsCan has sky-rocketed in the last year. The charity is urgently appealing for donations as more than 10,000 children in 260 schools await help with food, shoes and clothing. Many don't qualify for the Government's free lunch scheme. KidsCan Chief Executive Julie Chapman says the wait-list has grown by more than 150 schools in the last 12 months. She says securing funding's a challenge. "We want to make sure that we're not taking them off for a short time, that we're able to support them for as long as they need it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are councils, local councils, regional councils? It should be a simple question. What is their purpose? I've always believed it's to take away my rubbish, put the street lights on. When I go to the toilet, you can take that away too. That's part of your job. Roads, rubbish, sewerage, swimming pools, maybe a library. Although we've got the internet now, so why do we need libraries? But that's a debate for another day. A big scrap in Rotorua, I was reading this over the weekend, over Gaza. Notices of motion, petitions, meetings, interrupted, staff involved. And I asked myself, what has Rotorua Lakes Council got to do with Gaza? They're calling for a ceasefire, and they're one of dozens of councils across the country who are doing this. A clip from mayor Tanya Tapsell's interaction with Councillor Maxwell, who was trying to get this over the line, has gone viral. "Councillor Maxwell, I rule that that is not an urgent item." Probably the first time anything from a council has gone viral. Don't get me wrong. Deaths and the extent of the retaliation by Israel completely out of whack, heart-breaking unimaginable suffering. I am not casting judgment here on the issue at hand, I'm simply asking is Netanyahu, is Biden listening to the thoughts of Rotorua Lakes Council? And if not, should they be talking about things like this? If councils were on top of the core business, this wouldn't matter to me. But you've got budget blowouts on a sewage scheme in Rotorua. You've got in Buller 31% rate increases, in Hamilton 19% rate increases. You've got an average of 15% rate increases across the country. Infrastructure problems, sewage running into the ocean and Tauranga. They've just held an election, the first time they could vote in five years and they were in the 30s in turnout. And you wonder why, people obviously don't have a lot of faith in their councils and what are they doing? And it's not just Gaza, there are other issues that councils often jump on like things to do with the UN. Is that your purview? We've got a permanent representative on the UN Security Council, a permanent representative who can make statements on our behalf on behalf of the government. Isn't that where you do it? Are they focusing on local issues, shouldn't they only focus on local issues after all, aren't they local councils? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's medal haul at the Paris Olympics has increased by a rowing trifecta of gold, silver and bronze. Lucy Spoors and Brooke Francis took the gold in the double sculls, the men’s four of Logan Ullrich, Tom Murray, Matt Macdonald, and Ollie Maclean dipped their oars in the spoils with silver. And their female counterparts Jackie Gowler, Kerri Williams, Davina Waddy, and Phoebe Spoors completed the podium with bronze. Kerri Williams told Ryan Bridge it hasn’t really sunk in yet. She said it was a bit of a sprint at the end as the leading team set a pretty hot pace, but they came out on the right side. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Northland businesses say Transpower needs to take responsibility for a fallen pylon and show face in Northland. Transpower's found contractor Omexom's team leader was distracted sandblasting, as unsupervised inexperienced workers removed the bolts from three legs at once. It says residents can contact their retailer for compensation, but they can't do anything for businesses. North Chamber Chief Executive Darryn Fisher told Ryan Bridge Transpower needs to stop avoiding this conversation. He's calling for them to put their big pants on, get up to Northland and explain why their negligence is putting their livelihoods at risk. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 17-year-old accused of the fatal Southport stabbings at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class has been named. Axel Rudakubana has made his first court appearance in the UK. British newspapers successfully argued the minor should be named, given public interest. Three children died and five more were critically injured in the attack earlier this week. UK Correspondent, Vincent McAviney told Ryan Bridge that Rudakubana has been remanded in youth custody. He says it's a complex operation, with the trial likely to take place early next year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A children's rights advocate says calls for changes to New Zealand's child safety systems go well beyond the 2021 death of Tauranga five-year-old Malachi Subecz. The Independent Children's Monitor has found recommendations made following Malachi's death haven't happened, and tamariki are no safer today than when he died. But, Save the Children's Child Rights Advocacy Director Jacqui Southey told Ryan Bridge, the problems —and calls for changes— are decades old. She says a recommendation for agencies to cross-share information and concerns is more than 20 years old, and yet we still fail to do it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you see the reaction to Donald Trump's comments yesterday? This is what he said about Kamala Harris' race: "She was Indian all the way and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she became a black person." What? The media rightly ran the story, and it was a big deal. Isn't questioning someone's race exactly what Rawiri Waititi did to Karen Chhour? Isn't that exactly what he did the other day in parliament when he asked what blood quantum are you? Couldn't the same be said of Kelvin Davis saying that Karen Chhour lives in a Pakeha world? She's Māori by the way. And what about Te Pāti Māori? They said Karen Chhour should have been raised by Māori caregivers instead of Pakeha ones. And claimed that she had disdain for Māori, for her people. This week they said she's just a puppet of her party and she was basically left in tears in the hallway to ThreeNews. "I'm still a person. I'm still a person and I feel like I'm getting that stripped away from me day by day in this place, I've had enough.” No apologies from Te Pāti Māori, no accountability. I just think it's sad. Put the politics to one side for a second, there's a woman crying in a hallway. Wouldn't you want to just say sorry, if what I had said had made you feel that way? Karen Chhour is not a bad person, you might disagree with their policies, sure, but also, her treatment in the media this week. I think she's been interrogated more about who bullied her than Julie Anne Genter ever was about actually bullying. It's a double standard. No wonder she's battling and struggling. Then Chippy turns around and says she's not fit to be a minister. Gaslighting much. Karen Chhour will be fine. She's a very strong individual. I guess it just annoys me because if the shoe was on the other foot, imagine, just imagine. And where's the Human Rights Commission? Where's their statement on this stuff? There'll be attack dogs on social media. You can, you can just imagine how it would play out if the shoe was on the other foot. I say, keep doing what you're doing. Karen Chhour, you're hard working, you're conscientious, and you can rise above it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 2nd of August, Gold, Silver, and Bronze for our rowers in Paris! Ryan speaks to medallist Keri Williams. Transpower says compensation is off the table for those impacted the major outage, which was caused by workers removing too many nuts of an Auckland power pylon. How are Northland businesses feeling about the news? Our child protection system hasn't changed enough since the death of Malachi Subecz in 2021, what does Save The Children think about the report? 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.

Kamala Harris is set to reveal her running mate in the coming days. The current Vice President will be holding her first rally with her new vice presidential nominee on Tuesday, August 6th US time. The rally will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the campaign saying it will launch a four day “battleground tour”. US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Ryan Bridge that the top contenders in this race are the Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. He said that while the rally is taking place in Pennsylvania, the campaign is telling people not to buy into that when it comes to the pick. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.