/on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/rss 九一星空无限 Start your day informed. Early Edition with Ryan Bridge is a fast-paced news programme. Setting the agenda for the day, Early Edition with Ryan Bridge is Sat, 23 Aug 2025 04:37:18 Z en /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/sam-ackerman-sports-commentator-previews-the-second-rugby-championship-clash-against-argentina/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/sam-ackerman-sports-commentator-previews-the-second-rugby-championship-clash-against-argentina/ The All Blacks are demanding a discipline improvement as they count down to the rematch against Argentina in Buenos Aires.  After having the better of the penalty count nine to four in the first half of the opening win, the tally was 12 penalties a piece at fulltime.  The All Blacks also copped two second half yellow cards, one of which went to centre Billy Proctor and he says the need to tidy their discipline up.  Sports Commentator Sam Ackerman told Ryan Bridge the team will definitely be wanting to play more consistently in this game, as the Argentinian side can not be taken lightly.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 Aug 2025 23:09:47 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/david-cunningham-squirrel-mortgages-ceo-on-first-home-buyers-dominating-the-market/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/david-cunningham-squirrel-mortgages-ceo-on-first-home-buyers-dominating-the-market/ A notable shift in the housing market as first home buyers have the highest share of purchases in two decades.  The Cotality Monthly Housing Chart shows first home buyers account for 27% of market activity in July, a 5% jump on the long-term average.  It also finds existing homeowners trading up or down, remain at historically low levels.  Head of Squirrel Mortgages' David Cunningham told Ryan Bridge there's less pressure on buyers to instantly throw an offer on a home.  He says interest rates have gone down, KiwiSaver balances are higher, and there's less competition.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 Aug 2025 23:03:51 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/john-wineera-retired-lieutenant-colonel-and-defence-expert-on-the-new-planes-helicopters-defence-spend/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/john-wineera-retired-lieutenant-colonel-and-defence-expert-on-the-new-planes-helicopters-defence-spend/ Our defence aircraft could soon be playing cat-and-mouse with submarines following a multibillion-dollar investment.  The Governments putting $2.7 billion towards two new Airbus A321 planes to replace older planes.  Five Seahawk helicopters are also being bought, equipped with anti-submarine torpedo systems.   Retired Lieutenant Colonel and defence expert Josh Wineera told Ryan Bridge the helicopters will bring military combat to the next level.  He says they're essentially a submarine-hunting aircraft, but can also carry out other tasks.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 Aug 2025 22:41:05 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/vincent-mcaviney-europe-correspondent-on-the-israeli-military-beginning-first-stages-of-ground-offensive-in-gaza/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/vincent-mcaviney-europe-correspondent-on-the-israeli-military-beginning-first-stages-of-ground-offensive-in-gaza/ Israel's military has begun the first stages of a planned ground offensive in Gaza City, causing Palestinians to flee. It's pressing ahead with its plan to occupy the war-torn city despite international criticism. New Zealand's one of 27 countries demanding Israel give foreign media access to Gaza to cover the “unfolding humanitarian catastrophe”. Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Ryan Bridge Israeli hostage families are concerned about the 60-thousand reserve force soldiers to set foot in Gaza. He says they think hostages will be executed or caught up in the firing, while soldiers try to access the tunnel network where it's believed the rest of Hamas remain. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 21 Aug 2025 18:14:27 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-22-august-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-22-august-2025/ On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 22nd of August 2025, The Government's gone shopping for some new planes and helicopters, at the tune of $2.7 billion, retired Lieutenant Colonel and security expert, Josh Wineera shares his thoughts.  New data from Cotality shows people getting on the property ladder are actually at the highest share of purchases in the last two decades, David Cunningham from Squirrel Mortgages tells Ryan Bridge what he's been seeing.  The All Blacks take on Argentina again in Buenos Aires, Sports Commentator Sam Ackerman tells Ryan what we can expect.  Plus UK/ Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Israel preparing for a new offensive to take over Gaza City.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 Aug 2025 18:08:22 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-ive-had-it-with-small-carparks/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-ive-had-it-with-small-carparks/ We should all be happy, the weekend’s finally here. But there’s an issue of major national significance I need to get off my chest: I have had it with car parks so small, you couldn’t fit a shopping trolly in them. What exactly do they think we’re driving? Go-karts? No. People are buying big cars. Utes that cross the white lines.  Station wagons that hang out the backend, blocking the road. Enormous SUVs that do both. The Spinoff wrote about this the problem last week - the Civic in Auckland is one of the worst offenders.  Yesterday I saw a pregnant woman trying to squeeze herself, a handbag, and an unborn baby out of sedan in a carpark building. She was literally using the handbag to protect her belly from the car door. Are we trying to send them into early labour?  Apparently new cars are getting 1cm wider every two years. People like bigger cars because they feel safer. We’re also getting way more obese so literally can’t fit in Honda Civic anymore. Safety features take up lots of room. Side impact protection technically takes up a lot of space. Are councils and Wilson’s doing anything about this?  Or are we expected to bend, fold, and stretch our way into our cars if we want to leave Westfield mall? Are they going to pay for our Physio appointments? Should we take yoga classes? Colchester Council in the UK this year spent a million pounds repainting the white lines to make their bigger. Good on them.  I have a theory: panel beaters, the global insurance industry, and parking building designers are actually criminal cartels, conspiring to make us all scrape and dent each other. Forget the Comancheros - they’ve got nothing on these guys.  One things for sure, we cannot let them win.  We must fight. We must band together and put a stop to this madness before there’s no parking spaces left at all. Just think, our children couldn’t enjoy simple pleasures like visiting the mall. Our grandchildren will grow up in a world where people just drive around all day, looking for parks, fighting over parks, then giving up and going home. Is that the future you want for your family? To spend the rest of their lives in a car? I sure don’t. So join me in this crusade for common sense. Together we can help that pregnant woman. We can save our bad backs, our dickey knees, the elderly!  We can stop these crooked cartels. We can start a movement to save the lives of elderly, injured, fat, and pregnant people, not just here, but around the world. Thu, 21 Aug 2025 18:01:46 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/julian-leys-building-industry-federation-ceo-on-fletcher-buildings-financial-loss/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/julian-leys-building-industry-federation-ceo-on-fletcher-buildings-financial-loss/ It's been another tough year for Fletcher Building.  The construction giant's announced a net loss of $419 million, compared to a loss of $227 million last year.  It's pondering selling its residential and development division and continues to consider offers for its construction division and other subsidiaries.  Building Industry Federation CEO Julian Leys told Ryan Bridge Fletcher’s loss underscores the broader downturn they’re seeing across the whole sector.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:17:23 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/john-battersby-massey-university-senior-fellow-on-the-report-from-the-security-intelligence-service/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/john-battersby-massey-university-senior-fellow-on-the-report-from-the-security-intelligence-service/ The fact a terrorist attack on New Zealand remains a future possibility is coming as no surprise to one security expert. A Security Intelligence Service report states we're facing one of the most challenging national security environments in recent times.   It's kept our terrorism threat at low, indicating an attack is realistically possible.  Massey University's John Battersby told Ryan Bridge he's often been critical of Kiwis' complacency.   He says all of the things listed in this threat assessment have existed for quite some time.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 20 Aug 2025 22:58:03 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-on-reserve-bank-cutting-the-ocr/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-on-reserve-bank-cutting-the-ocr/ A steady slide to the OCR is gently flowing through to households.  The Reserve Bank's cut the cash rate from 5.5% to 3% over the past 13 months and is also signalling further possible cuts on the way.  Assistant Governor Karen Silk says many people have been fixing on higher short-term rates while they hold out for lower long-term rates.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Ryan Bridge it’s important that monetary policy can stimulate the economy, and the Reserve Bank has made a clear decision to ensure interest rates can fall further.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:19:38 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-what-the-ocr-says-about-the-state-of-our-economy/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-what-the-ocr-says-about-the-state-of-our-economy/ Remember just a few weeks ago how Sir John Key wanted 100 point cut from Reserve Bank? We'll, they've almost given him what he wants.  It's easy to be an armchair critic of the boffins down at Number 2 The Terrace - "They should have gone for 50." "Club 25 was too cautious."  But markets listen as much to the guff after the big cut announcement as much as they do the actual announcement. Need proof? Already retail banks have started slashing mortgage rates, both variable and fixed.  That's on top of the cuts they already made last week, pricing in yesterday's 25.  Some of the big ones will, in the coming weeks - I reckon we'll get down to 4.5% on short-term fixed. Look how the currency markets reacted - these guys were surprised.  Coming out with what is essentially a triple shot to 2.5% by Christmas sends is sending a strong signal. It's easy to get caught up in the hysteria of calls for double shot all at once, but the bank can have its cake and eat it too. Get businesses and households spending without risking inflation, which is touching cloth on 3%. Yes, they do look through near-term stuff. But there's also heat in the provinces - it's not all about Auckland. And remember the days of Orr where the Reserve Bank hiked the rate quick as a sherpa up Everest before nosediving it back down again? You can achieve the same outcome without risk overcooking things again.  It's only six or so weeks till the next call. If they need to do more, they can do more then.  There's no doubt we've had a Q2 recovery blip, but we've had promising July manufacturing and improving services data out last week. The message is clear: we're walking back to Everest base camp, not running.  And given the over and under cooking that went on under Orr, that's probably the right speed So, I'm with the four in Club 25 with a caveat - for now.  Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:14:39 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-21-august-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-21-august-2025/ On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 21st of August 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis shares her thoughts on the Reserve Bank cutting the OCR by 25 basis points to 3%.  A violent extremist attack in New Zealand is a realistic possibility, according to the NZSIS Massey University security expert John Battersby gives his take.  Fletchers suffered a net loss of over $400 million last year, Building Industry Federation Chief Executive Julian Leys tells Ryan what their poor performance mean for the industry as a whole.  Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on US and European military planners beginning exploring post-conflict security guarantees for Ukraine. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE   Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:08:16 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/kelly-eckhold-westpac-chief-economist-on-ahead-of-todays-ocr-announcement/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/kelly-eckhold-westpac-chief-economist-on-ahead-of-todays-ocr-announcement/ Economists are expecting a 25 point basis cut from today's OCR announcement, but it could be the last one for a while.   The Reserve Bank will announce it's decision at 2pm.   Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold says last time around there were more notable arguments among the board. He told Ryan Bridge at least one member of the board didn't want to cut last time around.   Eckhold says with those sort of debates going around, it makes further cuts less certain.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 19 Aug 2025 23:18:00 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/margaret-cooney-octopus-energy-chief-operating-officer-on-the-new-electricity-authority-rules-for-generators/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/margaret-cooney-octopus-energy-chief-operating-officer-on-the-new-electricity-authority-rules-for-generators/ Changes for our electricity sector could just be small steps in levelling the playing field.  New Electricity Authority rules will require generators to sell energy to everyone at the same rate.  This will stop our big four companies, known as gentailers, offering themselves discounts and limiting competition.  Octopus Energy Chief Operating Officer Margaret Cooney told Ryan Bridge she's afraid new rules won't crack down enough on the big four.   She says there's been lots of small steps, but it would be good to actually get to the nub of these issues.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 19 Aug 2025 21:08:38 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/kyle-brewerton-aucklands-remuera-intermediate-principal-on-only-a-quarter-of-year-8-students-achieved-curriculum-writing/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/kyle-brewerton-aucklands-remuera-intermediate-principal-on-only-a-quarter-of-year-8-students-achieved-curriculum-writing/ Belief changes to class sizes and staffing are needed to improve writing achievement at intermediate level. The Government's launching a new digital tool for students sitting below the standard and introducing more professional development in literacy.  New data shows only a quarter of Year Eight students achieved their curriculum writing level last year.  Auckland's Remuera Intermediate Principal Kyle Brewerton told Ryan Bridge these poor figures are due to a lack of resourcing. He says there's big class sizes and little staffing, while in high school it's vice versa. LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 19 Aug 2025 18:15:26 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-20-august-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-20-august-2025/ Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 20 August. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. Tue, 19 Aug 2025 18:08:25 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-what-can-nicola-do-about-inflation-contributors/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-what-can-nicola-do-about-inflation-contributors/ Electricity and groceries are your two big ticket inflation targets. Punters want to pay less for both. There are nuclear options available: Cut the gentailers in half by force. Those pro-wrecking ball argue if you force them to separate out the generation side of the business from the retail, you’d create more competition and lower prices. You could do a similar thing with the supermarkets. One idea is to force Foodstuffs and Woolworths to sell 120 supermarkets and a third of their six distribution centres to a third player. Hey presto. The duopoly’s dead. Long live Queen Nicola. Now we’re still waiting to see what cat Willis will pull out of her shopping bag on this. She has advice and considering the options. Here’s what I think she’ll do: We can get clues from the way they’re handling electricity, which is basically minor changes to bits and pieces around the edges on stuff like the super peak hedging contracts, and if things don't change, look out - we'll regulate. We'll be meaner and tougher. There's still the Frontier report of course, which Cabinet will decide on by next month. In the mean time, you tinker and threaten. Sound tough enough that voters know you’re serious, but not actually go DEFCON 1 and risk spooking markets in which you’re actually trying to attract investment, particularly offshore.  Plus, Chris Quinn told my show the other day they’d lawyer up to high heaven and fight anything like that. Messy.  So on supermarkets I reckon they’ll tinker. Options on the cards? Put supermarkets on the fast-track list, ban pocket pricing, and empower existing franchises to be more independent - buying their stock from wherever they like, setting their own prices, etc.  Slap a threat to legislate for the nuclear option across the headline of your press release if the tinkering doesn’t happen or isn’t working.  Throw the ball back in the duopoly’s court.  This would simultaneously satisfy ACT (who hate the nuclear options) and the politics of perception.  It goes further than Labour went, but doesn’t risk the court battles and potential for major changes not actually working to bring prices down. Which is the whole point.  One thing’s certain, whether it’s electricity bills or checkout prices, the chances of a return to the good ol’ days of pre-Covid prices when we could butter the toast and fire up the heated towel rail with gay abandon are slim to none.  Tue, 19 Aug 2025 18:03:40 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/lesley-yeomans-australian-correspondent-on-qantas-being-fined-90-million-for-illegally-firing-workers/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/lesley-yeomans-australian-correspondent-on-qantas-being-fined-90-million-for-illegally-firing-workers/ Former Qantas workers are claiming victory over its $90 million fine for illegally sacking more than 1800 workers.   The court's found outsourcing baggage handlers, cleaners, and ground staff in 2020 was done to curb union bargaining powers.   Qantas says this judgment holds them accountable.  Australian Correspondent Lesley Yeomans told Ryan Bridge $50 million of the fine will be going to the Transport Workers Union, and what happens with the other $40 million will be decided at a later date.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 18 Aug 2025 23:26:27 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/matt-montgomerie-forsyth-barr-senior-analyst-on-a2s-profit-increase-purchase-of-the-pokeno-plant/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/matt-montgomerie-forsyth-barr-senior-analyst-on-a2s-profit-increase-purchase-of-the-pokeno-plant/ Another dairy sector shake-up.  Infant formula and dairy company a2 Milk is buying the Yashili plant in Pokeno and selling its majority stake in the Mataura Valley plant in Gore to Open Country Dairy.  A2 Milk's announcement comes as it reports a 21% rise in profit, off the back of a 9.3% rise in revenue.  Forsyth Barr Senior Analyst Matt Montgomerie told Ryan Bridge a2 has stood out over the last couple of years, consistently exceeding expectations despite operating in a relatively tough formula market in China.  He says the decision to acquire the plant in Pokeno is quite a big step in continuing that growth pathway.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 18 Aug 2025 23:21:21 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/malcolm-fleming-certified-builders-ceo-on-the-govt-changing-liability-rules-for-building-consents/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/malcolm-fleming-certified-builders-ceo-on-the-govt-changing-liability-rules-for-building-consents/ Praise for new building consenting rules.   The Government will change liabilities, holding parties responsible for their share of work.   Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming says the building guarantee or building system should be mandated.   He told Ryan Bridge that will add cost to the price of building, but it's minuscule in the scale of things.   Fleming says on a $500,000 project, a guarantee would cost just $1,500.   LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 18 Aug 2025 22:59:26 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/nick-harper-feature-story-news-us-correspondent-on-trump-and-zelensky-meeting-at-the-white-house/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/nick-harper-feature-story-news-us-correspondent-on-trump-and-zelensky-meeting-at-the-white-house/ A reasonable chance of the Russia-Ukraine war ending if a trilateral meeting with both country's leaders occurs. This comes from Donald Trump ahead of today's big meeting at the White House. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived, along with several European leaders.  Russia's President Vladimir Putin met with Trump on Saturday, and Trump says he'll have a phone call with him after today's talks.  Trump says the whole world is tired of the war, and they’re going to get it ended. Feature Story 九一星空无限 US Correspondent Nick Harper shares the latest.  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:23:09 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-the-coalition-needs-to-tighten-its-agenda/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-the-coalition-needs-to-tighten-its-agenda/ In the last week we’ve had a smorgasbord of small, seemingly minor stories hitting the headlines. Helmets or no helmets for cyclists. Which name comes first on the cover of our passports. A ban then reversal on marshmallows in hot chocolates from the coffee machine at hospitals.  Not a single one of these stories is significant on their own.  But they’re the kind of stories people remember because they either simply make no sense or appear to be a colossal waste of time. Most working families can’t afford to even use their passports right now. A Hawaiian holiday - nope. The only ones dusting off travel IDs are moving across the ditch! Is this the stuff your average punter wanting to feed their kids actually cares about?  No.  The Clark Government got bogged down by a bunch of these silly little things. Think the size of shower heads and light bulbs. Instead of asking officials whether little Johnny should be allowed to ride a bike without a helmet (something no decent parent would allow anyway), why not keep your eyes on the big stuff? No shortage of that around. Just yesterday Fitch warned our AA+ credit rating could be out at risk if we Get slack on fiscal discipline See a further correction in the housing market (which isn’t completely off the cards)  See another spike in unemployment (also not out of the woods yet) It’s not that the Coalition is not focussed on these things - certainly more focussed than the last. Just there’s a bit too much noise around on little things that don’t actually matter to the swinging middle that National needs if they want to finish the big jobs they’ve set out to achieve.  Distraction is the enemy of progress. Passports and helmets are distractions and lately, there’ve been too many of them.  Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:18:54 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-19-august-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-19-august-2025/ On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 19th of August 2025, Trump is meeting Zelensky and EU leaders at the White house to discuss peace talks, US Correspondent Nick Harper has the latest.  Forsyth Barr analyst Matt Montgomerie shares his thoughts on A2 Milk posting a $200 million profit and purchasing Yashii NZ's plant in Pokeno.  The Government's made some changes to building consents, Certified Builders CEO tells Ryan about the difference it'll make.  Plus Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans has the latest on Qantas now facing a $90 million penalty for outsourcing ground staff during Covid.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:08:18 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/sue-chetwin-grocery-action-group-says-statsnzs-inflation-figures-are-higher-than-they-should-be/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/sue-chetwin-grocery-action-group-says-statsnzs-inflation-figures-are-higher-than-they-should-be/ Following the food inflation figures from Friday, Foodstuffs has challenged StatsNZ’s numbers.  On Friday, StatsNZ reported a 5.0% rise in the year to July.  But Foodstuffs is reporting a 3.4% year on year increase – arguing they have a clearer measure of grocery prices.  Sue Chetwin from Grocery Action Group told Ryan Bridge that StatsNZ is including restaurants and takeaways in their reporting, which is throwing off their final stats.  LISTEN ABOVE  Sun, 17 Aug 2025 19:25:47 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/gavin-grey-european-correspondent-on-europes-leaders-moving-to-discuss-ukrainian-security-with-donald-trump/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/gavin-grey-european-correspondent-on-europes-leaders-moving-to-discuss-ukrainian-security-with-donald-trump/ Europe's leaders are rallying together to discuss Ukrainian security with Donald Trump.   Over the weekend Vladimir Putin met with the US President in Alaska, which concluded without any movement.   Now, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France's Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky are some of the leaders meeting in Washington tomorrow to continue discussions.    European Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge their biggest fear will be the press conference being ambushed again, like it was for Zelensky last time.   He says Europe wants to show solidarity no matter what happens as a result of negotiations with Russia.  LISTEN ABOVE Sun, 17 Aug 2025 19:08:04 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-18-august-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-18-august-2025/ Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 18 August. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sun, 17 Aug 2025 18:08:23 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/brad-olsen-infometrics-principal-economist-on-debt-nearing-1-trillion/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/brad-olsen-infometrics-principal-economist-on-debt-nearing-1-trillion/ We are well on our way to a collective one trillion dollars in debt. In the year to the end of May, New Zealand hit just over 870-billion in gross debt - up 5.4 percent from almost 830-billion last year. It represents an average of just over 160-thousand dollars in raw debt for every person in the country. At the current rate of growth, New Zealand will hit the trillion dollar landmark,  inside the next three years. That rate has eased in the past two years as the Government has sought to curb borrowing, and the housing market has been flat. Sun, 17 Aug 2025 18:05:22 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-the-gen-z-stare/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-the-gen-z-stare/ I went out for lunch to a cafe the other day and our table was served by a couple of waiters who all seemed to have a similar vibe about them. They just. Did. Not. Seem. To. Care. No smiling. No banter. No small talk or polite conversation.  Just this blank look on their faces. You sit there and think “did they hear me”? You ever so politely repeat yourself in case they didn’t.  But they did. They got it. There’s just no engagement. Face colder than a which's tit. No refills of your water. No "would you like another coffee? Like, hello!? Is anybody in there? Is anyone home? Why are you all moving so slowly? Shouldn’t you be rushing the joint taking orders and filling coffees?  When I was young it was drilled into us: when you’re waiting tables and taking orders. You work your way up from "dish pig" to front of House. You basically run round busy as a bee, trying to impress your boss, trying to win your guests over. Taking wagers of who might get a tip.  Can I help you, sir?  What more can I get you?  You’d help the elderly into their seats.  You’d bend over backwards to make everyone happy.  And these guys are on atleast $23 an hour.  And I know what you’re thinking. Maybe I’m the a-hole. Maybe I’ve forgotten mum’s many sermons on good manners and etiquette?  So I asked the people who I was out to lunch with. They all thought the same thing. I asked friends who are teachers. I asked parents with kids around that age. Guess what? They’ve all noticed the same thing happening. Hell, there’s even a tiktok trend called ‘the gen Z stare’…. Which describes what I saw at the cafe…  the vacant look a Gen Zer gives in response to a question or statement. If it’s in tiktok then it must be a thing, right? So the question is why? Was it covid? Was it everyone wearing masks? So much of how we communicate is through facial expressions. Maybe they’ve missed out in years of social queues and norms? Is the smartphones? Is it both? Or, maybe, just maybe, they just don’t give a shit? Maybe we have on our hands a generation of young people who don’t really think they NEED to be bothering with mundane things like work.  Disclaimer: this is is obviously not an entire generation of young people. And some people are just shy. I get that. We've all had excellent experiences. But... ya know.... is this a thing you too have noticed?  Sun, 17 Aug 2025 18:01:36 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/josh-kronfeld-former-all-black-previews-the-rugby-championship-opener-against-argentina/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/josh-kronfeld-former-all-black-previews-the-rugby-championship-opener-against-argentina/ A reversion to a largely first-choice team for the All Blacks as they open the Rugby Championship against Argentina on Sunday morning in Cordoba.  The return of captain Scott Barrett from a calf injury headlines the side, while Du'Plessis Kirifi gets his second straight test start at openside flanker.  Although the New Zealand side has never lost to the Argentinian team at their home, former All Black Josh Kronfeld told Ryan Bridge that there’s always a chance.   He says they’re giant killers, having beaten all of the top 10 nations, and it all depends on who turns up where.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 14 Aug 2025 23:07:33 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/toni-waterman-us-correspondent-on-the-meeting-between-donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/toni-waterman-us-correspondent-on-the-meeting-between-donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin/ Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are gearing up for tomorrow's highly anticipated talks in Alaska.   The US and Russian presidents will discuss ending the war in Ukraine, with suggestions a second meeting could follow if it goes well.   The Kremlin's already dangling financial incentives, saying there's untapped potential in US-Russian relations.  US Correspondent Toni Waterman told Ryan Bridge there are reports Trump is considering granting Russia access to Alaskan natural resources, as well as potentially allow them to access rare minerals in the territories it occupies in Ukraine, among other things.  She says in Trump’s mind, this would be an incentive for Putin to take negotiations seriously.  LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 14 Aug 2025 22:56:29 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/richard-dawkins-federated-farmers-meat-and-wool-chairperson-on-sheep-and-beef-numbers/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/richard-dawkins-federated-farmers-meat-and-wool-chairperson-on-sheep-and-beef-numbers/ The country's red meat sector may struggle to reach a goal set by the Government to double exports by 2034. Data from NZ Beef + Lamb's found breeding ewe numbers have dropped by nearly two-percent, while beef cattle numbers were up 4.4-percent. It reveals 2.6 million units of sheep and beef stock have been lost due to afforestation over the past eight years.  Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Richard Dawkins told Ryan Bridge the rules don't extend to land where most beef and sheep farms are. He says it appears they're siding with polluters over producers, because a simple solution would be to extend it to all land use classes. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:19:36 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-the-real-reason-kiwis-are-crossing-the-tasman/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-the-real-reason-kiwis-are-crossing-the-tasman/ What's the point in us having more affordable property prices for first home buyers if young workers are jetting off to Australia in search of a better tomorrow?  There's a perverse logic to this, but across the Tasman right now, where our flying Kiwis are headed, they're experiencing something of a property boom.  It's the opposite of the stagnant or falling prices we're seeing here, where homes in most regions are now considered, technically at least, affordable.  In Sydney the median prices of a new pad is predicted to increase 7% this year to $2.1m NZD by June 2026.  If you want to be a Melbourne hipster, prices will be 6% higher in a year to $1.2m. They've not got a problem which we know all too well - prices are squeezing out first home buyers.  You can't get on the ladder for love nor money, look at the new loans from banks.  Landlords: 200k new loans over the year - that's the most since 2022. First home mortgages, they're down to $116k. Because they're cutting interest rates, houses are more affordable for those with equity - i.e. existing homeowners and landlords.  Typically, this is seen as a problem - you want people to have a stake in their country and the best way to do that is owning a piece of it.  But property is inextricably linked to the success of our economy, falling and flat house prices here are not actually a great news story.  The wealth effect of the biggest asset most of us own informs our spending habits. When we feel richer, we go swipe the credit card. When we don't, we don't.  So the question is: is it better to have affordable homes in a country in which young people can't find a job, or are you better off in a country where homes are less affordable but wages are higher and the economy's stronger?  The answer lies in the number of Kiwis who're voting with their feet and buggering off across the Tasman.  Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:15:20 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-15-august-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-15-august-2025/ On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 15th of August 2025, All eyes are on Alaska ahead of a crucial meeting between Trump and Putin, US Correspondent Toni Waterman is in Alaska and has the latest.  The All Blacks are taking on Argentina in Córdoba, former All Black Josh Kronfeld shares his thoughts ahead of the game. Sheep and beef cattle numbers are improving, Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chairperson Richard Dawkins shares his thoughts.  Plus UK/ Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on President Zelensky visits Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street.   Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:08:20 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/matt-ball-nz-property-investors-federation-pr-advocacy-manager-on-the-property-resale-profits-hitting-a-decade-low/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/matt-ball-nz-property-investors-federation-pr-advocacy-manager-on-the-property-resale-profits-hitting-a-decade-low/ Times are tough for property owners as they see the lowest resale profits in over a decade.  Cotality’s latest Pain & Gain Report shows 89.4% of homes sold above their purchase price last quarter – the lowest since 2014.  Christchurch was the most resilient of the main centres, with 4.9% of Q2 resales made at a loss, well below the national average of 10.6%, while Auckland recorded the highest proportion of loss-making sales at 15.9%.  NZ Property Investors Federation’s Matt Ball told Ryan Bridge this is only a problem for those who are being forced to sell.  For property investors, he says, unless you bought at the peak and have to sell for some reason, this is just another cycle to ride out.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 13 Aug 2025 23:37:00 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/andy-england-darfield-high-school-principal-on-ncea-level-1-achievement-falling-secondary-teachers-strike/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/andy-england-darfield-high-school-principal-on-ncea-level-1-achievement-falling-secondary-teachers-strike/ NCEA Level 1 achievement's dropped to its lowest level in a decade, while all qualifications saw improvement.  In 2024, achievement in Levels 2, 3, and University Entrance went up for the first time since 2020.   Student's completing Level 1 continued to drop, and Māori also fell further behind.  Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Ryan Bridge there've been problems with the qualification since its introduction.  He says there's been a lot of tinkering for teachers to get their heads round and some of the introduction texts were awful.  And secondary teachers will soon swapping their pens for pickets.  Post Primary Teachers' Association members will put down the tools next Wednesday, rejecting a 3% pay increase over three years.  Public Service Minister Judith Collins says the union didn't even have a counter offer.  PPTA member and Rangitoto College teacher Paul Stevens says the offer is essentially a pay cut during a teacher shortage.  He says it means wages don't even match inflation.  England told Bridge with an incoming NCEA overhaul he gets where teachers are coming from.  He asks what would you say if your boss offered to pay you less and work harder.  LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 13 Aug 2025 23:18:29 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/brooke-van-velden-minister-in-charge-of-covid-19-inquiry-on-chris-hipkins-and-jacinda-ardern-not-appearing/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/brooke-van-velden-minister-in-charge-of-covid-19-inquiry-on-chris-hipkins-and-jacinda-ardern-not-appearing/ The ACT Party's laying into the former Ministers who lead our Covid-19 response for refusing to front public hearings.  Labour leader Chris Hipkins, and former Ministers Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, and Ayesha Verrall have declined to appear as part of the Royal Commission's Inquiry.  Commissioners are confident it won't hamper efforts. Act's Brooke van Velden, who's in charge of the inquiry, told Ryan Bridge these Ministers stood publicly and made huge decisions about people's lives. She says it's confusing for many members of the public who are still feeling the effects of the Covid lockdown.  LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 13 Aug 2025 18:17:34 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-what-has-chris-hipkins-got-to-hide-over-covid/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-what-has-chris-hipkins-got-to-hide-over-covid/ Yesterday they wheeled out three excuses for not fronting up and answering questions about why they went so hard on lockdowns and mandates, which they then papered over with $66 billion in spending —second in the world only to the US— thereby helping fuel the inflation we're all now paying the price for taming.  First we heard they wouldn't attend the public hearing and give public evidence because they were worried about how the public might react - that some might use their videos to spread misinformation.  The Inquiry itself basically said this was nonsense because the public interest in them appearing outweighed the risk of some nutter altering their testimony video and sharing it on Facebook.  Then Hipkins fronted for a stand-up with another reason - I already answer these questions on a daily basis.  Which, again, makes no sense. If you were worried about videos being doctored of misinformation being spread, would it not apply as much to those comments in the media —which are of course videoed and published— as it would to video livestreamed from a public inquiry?  Then there's the excuses provided to Inquiry itself. They were worried about blowback from the public online, that it might turn into some sort of which hunt.  This is, perhaps, the most egregious and insulting one.  During the Covid years, they were more than happy to troll members of the public from the podium of truth.  They were more than happy to engage in a little witch-hunting of their own, be it Charlotte Bellis, the border crossers, the river of filth.  They used the media to hammer their opponents as conspiracy theorists, anointed many public enemy number ones while they were in control of the narrative.  And that's really what this is about.  Controlling the narrative. The wall-to-wall coverage and 1pm podium sermons cynically helped secure them an historic majority in 2020.  As the old saying goes, you can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. These guys know they've been found out - most recently by that embarrassing Treasury report. And now that they can't control the narrative, it looks like they're running for the hills.  Wed, 13 Aug 2025 18:12:44 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-14-august-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-14-august-2025/ On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 14th of August 2025, Jacinda Arden and Chris Hipkins won't show face at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19, Minister responsible Brooke Van Velden shares her thoughts.  Property owners are seeing the lowest resale profits in over a decade, Matt Ball from the NZ Property Investors Federation tells Ryan why.  New NCEA achievement data shows mixed results, Darfield school Principal Andy England breaks it down.  Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on the Trump and Putin meeting.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  Wed, 13 Aug 2025 18:08:23 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/richard-briggs-energy-efficiency-and-conservation-authority-gm-of-delivery-and-partnerships-on-heat-pumps-saving-gas-cutting-bills/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/richard-briggs-energy-efficiency-and-conservation-authority-gm-of-delivery-and-partnerships-on-heat-pumps-saving-gas-cutting-bills/ More heat pumps in households could cut energy bills by a total of $1.5 billion a year.  A report by the New Zealand Green Building Council has found replacing gas and electric heaters with heat pumps could save 40% of gas produced, each year.  It's also revealed this could protect thousands of  jobs, with three mills closing in the last year due to soaring energy prices.  Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s Richard Briggs told Ryan Bridge heat pumps are about 3.5 times more efficient than a resistive heater.  He says the upfront cost is quite expensive, but they are significantly cheaper to run.  LISTEN ABOVE  Tue, 12 Aug 2025 23:08:33 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/penny-simmonds-vocational-education-minister-on-treasury-warning-government-about-te-pukenga-de-merger/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/penny-simmonds-vocational-education-minister-on-treasury-warning-government-about-te-pukenga-de-merger/ The Vocational Education Minister assures its Te Pukenga de-merger is responsible, despite Treasury raising concerns. 九一星空无限talk ZB can reveal it urged the Government to seek reassurance that allowing polytechs to go back to governing themselves would help their finances. The mid-March paper warned the financial situation would be the same, if not worse, than before the merger. Penny Simmonds told Ryan Bridge if they did nothing, Treasury would be right, but they haven't sat on their hands. She says they've spent 18 months with financial advisors working with each polytechnic, getting rid of excessive staffing levels and non-viable programmes. LISTEN ABOVE Tue, 12 Aug 2025 18:18:44 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-labours-getting-protest-votes/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-labours-getting-protest-votes/ People aren't telling pollsters they'd vote for Labour because they'd actually vote for Labour. Labour hasn't got any policies - they're an empty vessel.  It's captain is still, according to most recent polling, less popular than the current Prime Minister.  It's a protest vote. They're telling the PM to hurry up and do something else to rescue the economy the last lot, and a trade war, have suppressed.  You don't throw the baby out with the bath water and back a team that has no plan.  That clown that's running in the Wellington Mayoral race has more policies than Hipkins. He wants to turn the Basin Reserve into a swamp.  Sure, it's mad, but at least it's something.  Late last year and early this year, the recovery was on-track.  We then got hit by Trump's Liberation Day. Confidence and investment took a massive hit, the markets were in freefall, remember? That's thrown everything off course.  Now, you can argue that National went too hard and fast on cutting spending and stopping infrastructure.  But at the same time, they were voted in to stop wasteful spending on dumb projects. That's what we asked them to do - many think that hasn't gone far enough.  Just yesterday we learned of 100 jobs to go at the Reserve Bank, which under Adrian Orr, wanted a budget of a more than billion bucks and twice the staff they started the pandemic with.  Does that sound reasonable?  This comes down to a question of who is best placed to invest in this country. The private sector or the state? The answer is, of course, a bit of both. But's chicken or the egg stuff right now. One thing's for sure, if the only thing capable of keeping this country afloat is government borrowing, then we'll only ever end up back in this same position. Over and over again.  The medicine needed to dig us out of this whole is nasty. Completely unpalatable. But the disease its treating is worse.  Tue, 12 Aug 2025 18:11:55 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-13-august-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-13-august-2025/ On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 13th of August 2025, Treasury warned the Government that breaking up Te Pukenga could leave polytechs worse off, Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds tells Ryan Bridge why they decided to go ahead anyway.  A report from the Green Building Council shows Kiwis could save up to $1.5 billion on their annual energy bill if we moved to full heat pump adoption.  Major America's Cup changes are coming, Interim CEO of yachting New Zealand Raynor Haagh tells Ryan the difference it'll make to the sport.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on a US woman who was hired as a killer and tried to shoot a man in the UK at point-blank range. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE   Tue, 12 Aug 2025 18:08:18 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/glyn-lewers-queenstown-mayor-on-the-influx-of-tourism-in-the-city/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/glyn-lewers-queenstown-mayor-on-the-influx-of-tourism-in-the-city/ It’s believed our trans-Tasman friends are keeping tourism strong in Queenstown.   Skyline Operators, who run the luge and gondolas, have seen international luge rides increase by 32.6% from 7.46 million in the last year to close to 10 million.   Gondola rides have also risen more than 21%.   Queenstown Mayor Glyn Lewers told Andrew Dickens they're crossing the ditch in numbers.  He says the latest stat from the airport shows routes from Aussie are up 145% on pre Covid numbers.   LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 11 Aug 2025 23:05:01 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/len-houwers-major-gas-users-group-spokesperson-on-businesses-struggling-with-high-gas-prices/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/len-houwers-major-gas-users-group-spokesperson-on-businesses-struggling-with-high-gas-prices/ Major gas users are looking to the Government for help, with many struggling with high prices.  A survey by energy management company Optima and Business NZ reveals gas prices have risen by more than 100% on average in the past five years.  Nearly half of industrial and commercial users have had to make cuts as a result.  Resources Minister Shane Jones is seeking advice whether rationing gas supplies is possible.  Major Gas Users Group spokesperson Len Houwers told Andrew Dickens Jones has proposed a triage-like system.  He says Jones is exploring reserving gas for industrial users instead of electricity companies.  LISTEN ABOVE  Mon, 11 Aug 2025 22:59:47 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/john-battersby-massey-university-defence-and-security-studies-professor-on-whether-to-recognise-palestine-as-a-state/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/john-battersby-massey-university-defence-and-security-studies-professor-on-whether-to-recognise-palestine-as-a-state/ The world's eyes will be on New Zealand over the next month as it weighs up a decision to recognise Palestinian statehood.  Australia's declared it will recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September.  It's following suit behind other Western countries including the UK, France, and Canada.  Massey University defence and security studies professor John Battersby told Andrew Dickens there's widespread public opinion that something has to be done to pull Israel's action back.  He says there's internal dissent within Israel itself over the effect of its actions, so any move in this direction may be able to temper that.  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 11 Aug 2025 18:19:10 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-12-august-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-12-august-2025/ On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast 2025 Tuesday 12th of August, the government's deciding whether to formally recognise Palestine as a state, Massey University's John Battersby tells Andrew the difference it will make.  Queenstown tourism is booming; Mayor Glyn Lewers shares his thoughts.  There's a call for the Government to take immediate action in the gas sector as supplies reach a crisis point, major gas users group spokesperson Len Houwers tells Andrew what the Government can do.  Plus, Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans has the latest on Australia recognising Palestinian statehood.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE   Mon, 11 Aug 2025 18:08:25 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/andrew-dickens-the-issue-of-recognising-palestine-as-a-state/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/andrew-dickens-the-issue-of-recognising-palestine-as-a-state/ So the big question of today is whether New Zealand should join other nations in recognising a Palestinian state.  Now this is a much bigger question than it seems. For some it's easy - call Palestine a state and then they have a legal foothold to fight for some land I guess. And in a way, we already have done that by calling publicly for a two state solution to the conflict in the Middle East. But it's easy to confuse nations and states.  States have a multi-layered definition. A state is a political and legal entity with sovereignty over a defined territory and population. It's focus is governance, law, and authority. So many of those provisos are missing. Obviously there is no defined territory. Or maybe there was, but it's been pretty much destroyed now.   There is no authority that is recognised by most, with Hamas having lost the mandate in the eyes of many countries and the Palestinian Authority long since discredited.  A state can easily be confused with a nation, which is a group of people who share common cultural elements such as language, ethnicity, history, or traditions. Māori are a nation of people within New Zealand. Palestine can be a nation, but that doesn't mean land.  And that's where the rubber really hits the road. It's hard to recognise a Palestinian State when there is no land for it to belong in. Declaring a Palestinian State is therefore a piece of global virtue signalling. A stance with little of no practical application other than political pressure on Israel. New Zealand and its Government has been accused of kicking the can down the road because it's going to consider it's position over the next month. To be fair, we are. But this is a delicate move which on the outside seems so easy to many, but is full of pitfalls.  And seems to be putting the horse before the cart when we don't know where this state would be in the world.  Mon, 11 Aug 2025 18:04:31 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/catherine-delahunty-former-green-party-mp-on-what-the-green-party-needs-to-do-if-they-want-to-lead-the-government/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/catherine-delahunty-former-green-party-mp-on-what-the-green-party-needs-to-do-if-they-want-to-lead-the-government/ The greens want to lead the next government.  Co-Leader Chloe Swarbrick admits they’ve got ‘work to do’ - with the party polling just under 10% and Labour in the early 30s.  Former Green MP Catherine Delahunty told Ryan Bridge that Green will need to ‘team up’ with smaller parties if they want to push Labour out of the spotlight.  LISTEN ABOVE  Sun, 10 Aug 2025 19:23:35 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/karl-dean-federated-farmers-dairy-chair-on-new-work-visas/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/karl-dean-federated-farmers-dairy-chair-on-new-work-visas/ Federated Farmers says two new visas provide a clear pathway for seasonal international workers. Experienced workers like rural contractors can apply for the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa, which is available for up to three years and allows them to return on the same visa. The Peak Seasonal Visa will be for up to seven months.  Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Karl Dean told Ryan Bridge it's a welcome change. He says normally they'd get workers in on a working holiday visa for a year, but this makes much clearer what they're here for. Sun, 10 Aug 2025 18:39:15 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-putin-and-trump-decide-their-fate/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/opinion/ryan-bridge-putin-and-trump-decide-their-fate/ You've got to feel for Zelensky on weeks like this.  Friday's the big day. Putin will fly to Alaska and meet Trump for cup of tea and biscuit.  They'll negotiate the terms of ceasefire for what the Russians are calling a 'Ukraine crisis', rather than a bloody war they started.  The body count is as astonishing as the fact there's a war raging in Europe in 2025.  One million Russian soldiers killed or injured. 400k Ukrainian casualties, including between 60 and 100k dead.  Moscow now occupies 20% of the country.  And the guy responsible for this hellfire is not being dragged by soldiers into an international criminal court to face charges, he's about to be welcome, wined and dined by the most powerful man in the world to discuss terms for a ceasefire, which includes keeping land he's not entitled to.  If we put ourselves in Ukrainian shoes for a second, if war returns to the Pacific theatre.  It would be like Washington and Beijing meeting to decide that China can keep and occupy all the land north of Auckland simply because they took it.  And you're meant to sit back grateful that at least the fighting will stop?  Ukrainians certainly aren't ready to roll over on territory.  The Europeans are huddling round Zelensky now to give him some moral support.  But, they need more than huddles and handshakes to bandage over what must feel like an insult to their country and sovereignty - two global superpowers meeting far, far away in Alaska to decide their fate. Sun, 10 Aug 2025 18:23:17 Z /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-11-august-2025/ /on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/full-show-podcast-11-august-2025/ On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Monday 11th of August 2025, two new work Visas are on the way, Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Karl Dean tells Ryan about the difference it'll make.  The Green party wants to lead the next government, Former Green MP Catherine Delahunty shares her thoughts.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on a joint statement issued by EU leaders on Trump's meeting with Russia.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE   Sun, 10 Aug 2025 18:08:18 Z