Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Here's a question for your Monday morning.  If somebody came up to you on the street and asked for DOB, next of kin, phone number, personal address, your interests, sports and hobbies.... what would you say?  Bugger off. Why do you want all that? What will you do with it? Do you need it?  and yet, when some random business asks you this stuff while you're buying shampoo or a computer mouse on the internet, we happily give it away, hand it over, pay for our loot (using a credit card number and password, then promptly think nothing more of it.  The reason we do this is because we're asked to do it. And we often don't have much choice.  If you don't answer those pesky questions with the asterisk on them.... you can't get the thing that yo want. Even if you've paid.  Privacy Commissioner has a new survey out. Survey says F-off, basically.  Two-thirds say protecting their personal information now a major concern in their lives (yes, major. Presumably up there with death and a mor

A large social services provider is welcoming the Government's new cross-sector social investment approach.  The Social Investment Fund is receiving $190 million in this years budget, aiming to invest in social services early to prevent future harm and save costs.  Social Service Providers Aotearoa CEO Belinda Himiona told Ryan Bridge it allows the work to be tracked across different government agencies.  She says it allows them to tackle the hard cases, not just one contract dealing with a particular issue like education.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC are heading across the ditch for the first leg of the A-League semifinal.  They’re facing off against the Melbourne Victory at Melbourne's AAMI Park on Saturday, before returning home to Mt Smart for the second leg.   CEO Nick Becker told Ryan Bridge they want to go in there tomorrow night and lay down their intentions.  He says the team won’t take anything for granted.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 16th of May 2025, Social investment is getting a boost, Belinda Himiona from Social Service Providers Aotearoa CEO shares her thoughts on $190 million going towards a new social investment fund.  Putin didn't turn up for peace talks with Ukraine, Kyiv based foreign policy and security analyst Jimmy Rushton tells Ryan Bridge what happens from here.  it's all go this weekend for Auckland FC ahead of the semi-final clash against Melbourne Victory on Saturday, Auckland FC Boss Nick Becker tells Ryan what we can expect.  Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on the UK PM is in talks about sending failed asylum seekers abroad. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions have been raised over what can actually be achieved today with Russia and Ukraine both backing away from sending their leaders to peace talks in Turkey. After the Kremlin confirmed it's sending low-level official Vladimir Medinsky, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decided to send his Defence Minister instead. Zelenskyy says Russia isn't serious about real talks after he'd challenged Vladimir Putin to be there in person.  Kyiv based foreign policy analyst Jimmy Rushton told Ryan Bridge essentially, Putin had challenged Zelenskyy first. The timing of the meeting remains unconfirmed.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buongiorno! Italia is going to host the 38th America's Cup in summer 2027.  The Auld Mug once again heads to European waters - the first time the Italians will play host. They've had the World Series but never the big one. It'll be Mt Vesuvius in the background, not Rangitoto. Pizza lining the bellies of fans, not fish and chips. Auckland has missed, which we already knew. Athens has missed out. Giorgia Meloni's excited. Luna Rossa, obviously pumped.  But the question for you this morning: do you wake up feeling jealous? Was there a pit of disappointment in your stomach? Do we lambaste our messily, stingy government for not prioritising a sailing race?  My feelings are, well it's nice they have somewhere to sail and good luck to them.  But I don't feel FOMO. We were on the hook for tens of millions of dollars - Wayne hasn't got his bed tax, yet.  Politically, it was the right call, too.  Imagine with this announcement coming a week out from Budget Day the outcry from the unions a

A US parole board will decide next month if infamous brothers serving life sentences can be freed, after their sentences have been reduced.   Erik and Lyle Menendez killed their parents in 1989.   An LA judge has now resentenced the pair to "50 years to life", with time served making them instantly eligible for parole.   US Correspondent Toni Waterman told Ryan Bridge the brothers have always maintained they killed their parents as they feared they would be killed after years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father.  She says that over the years, family members have come out and advocated for them.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stage is set in Turkey for a potentially historic meeting in a few hours between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's personally attending and has challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to do the same.  It has now been confirmed that Putin will not attend the meeting, but the Kremlin had previously refused to confirm either way.  BBC Senior Russia Reporter Olga Ivshina told Ryan Bridge that Putin follows his own logic – which is quite unpredictable.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Signs of systemic failures when it comes to our children.   UNICEF's Innocenti research reveals New Zealand's recorded the highest child suicide rate of 36 countries, and ranks last for mental wellbeing.   It also finds we have one of the highest rates of child obesity and bullying.   UNICEF Aotearoa's Tania Sawicki Mead told Ryan Bridge that although some of the decrease in life satisfaction can be attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, it wasn’t the only factor.  She says that the suicide rate didn’t shift significantly enough over the period pre- or post-Covid to make a dent in the statistics.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Speaker of the House is reminding MPs the rules of the House must be followed. The Privileges Committee have suggested three Te Pati Māori MPs be temporarily suspended from Parliament, ranging up to 21 days, for their role in a haka over the Treaty Principles Bill. Te Pati Māori says these suspensions are the longest in Parliament's history. Sir Lockwood Smith told Ryan Bridge members need to think before they ignore the rules. He says the three-week suspension and missing part of the budget debate will hopefully make people take notice. The recommendation will be put to the House next Tuesday and likely pass.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s a few c-words for your Thursday morning: communist, coalition, and crash. Crash, because that’s what’d happen to the economy if we lived in the Green utopia complete with the $88-billion tax train wreck.  Coalition, because that’s what you’d get if Labour shacks up with their neighbours on the far left. Hipkins yesterday first claimed not have read the manifesto. Whatever.  This is the manifesto of a party he could well be sitting round the cabinet table within a year from now.  He then refused to rule out anything in it. It won't rule out the hammer. And I won't rule out the sickle.  The Greens are by far Hipkins' biggest Achilles heel, and therefore Luxon’s greatest strength.  Remember the hit in the polls Labour took over "defend da police"? Here's the thing about us New Zealanders, your middle voters, we may not right now be affected by the inheritance taxes, wealth taxes, higher income taxes, the company tax hikes which would put them amongst highest in the developed world

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 15th of May 2025, Putin still hasn't confirmed he'll turn up to a meeting with Zelensky in Turkey, BBC Senior Russia Reporter Olga Ivshina has the latest.  The privileges committee has suspended the Te Pāti Māori Co-leaders and MP for Hauraki-Waikato Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke for the haka in Parliament.  According to a Unicef report New Zealand has around three times the average rate for youth suicide - the worst out of 36th high-income countries, Unicef Director of Communications Tania Sawicki Mead shares her thoughts.  Plus US Correspondent from Feature Story News Toni Waterman has the latest on The possible release of the Menendez brothers and Trump announcing deals with Qatar.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cyber threats are estimated to have cost New Zealanders $1.6 billion last year.  New data from the National Cyber Security Centre has revealed half the country has been the target of online scam in the last six months.  Up to 830,000 experienced some financial loss.  Director of Mission Enablement Michael Jagusch says good cyber security practises can reduce harm.  He says it includes using two-factor authentication and having long, unique passwords on main accounts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's backtracked on requests for a ceasefire to come before talks with Russia.  He's set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey this week to discuss the Ukraine war.   This comes as Western allies in the 'Coalition of the Willing' have offered a US backed 30-day cease-fire proposal to Russia, alongside the threat of sanctions.   Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge it's still uncertain if the meeting will take place, but Zelenskyy is hopeful.  He says Zelenskyy hasn't won the introduction he'd hoped for, as he requested a ceasefire agreement first, and a meeting second.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meridian Energy's denying its purchase of Flick Electric is a takeover by New Zealand's big power companies.  The power gentailer is paying $70 million to Z Energy for Flick's 41,000 electricity customers and the brand.  It'll increase Meridian’s market share to 18%, maintaining its position as our fourth largest electricity retailer.  Meridian Energy Chief Customer Officer Lisa Hannifan told Ryan Bridge this isn't about market consolidation.  She says Flick wanted to leave the market to focus on transport and EVs, so they're pulling out of New Zealand and Australia.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 14th of April 2025, The government's looking at changes to the Kiwisaver scheme, Kiwisaver and Superfund expert Jonathan Eriksen shares his thoughts.   Half of New Zealanders were the target of online scam and fraud last year National Cyber Security Centre's Director of Mission Enablement Mike Jagusch tells Ryan Bridge what to look out for.  Meridian has bought Flicks, Chief Customer Officer Lisa Hannifin tells Ryan what this will mean for the energy sector.  Plus Uk Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on A man who has served 38 years in a UK prison for the murder of a woman having his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after new DNA evidence emerged. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand will pass an economic milestone in 2028, with the Government making it's first ever Super Fund withdrawal. The Finance Minister revealed yesterday they'll begin offset superannuation costs by withdrawing $32 million from the New Zealand Super Fund. From 2031, withdrawals are expected annually.  Superannuation expert Jonathan Eriksen told Ryan Bridge it's exactly what the Superfund was set up to do. He says it's up to $80 billion currently and is generating returns of 10% per annum, with 1% of that being $80 million. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the Budget we got the same message we got from a barefoot, jandal wearing Chippy on day one of his post summer break. More debt. Borrow more and spend more.    Name an issue, pick a portfolio, any portfolio, where Labour has not criticised the government for cuts and promised to restore spending to pre-Willis levels.  The latest example is pay parity, but that is just the latest in a long and growing list of items on the wishlist.  In case they didn’t get the memo, Kiwis voted for cuts at the last election. If we’re doing our bit, the government ought to do its bit. That’s the politics of it. The economics have been up for debate. Net core crown debt has more than doubled on pre-Covid to $182 billion or 42.6% of GDP. Like our tourist arrivals, debt has unfortunately not returned to normal pre-Covid levels.  Some of this is inflation but much of it is not. There’s spending that went too far and got baked in. A couple of things to note. Yes, government debt is low compared

A former Police officer says it's beyond him why Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming would ever access porn on a work device.  McSkimming had been suspended on full-pay since December.   He was under a criminal investigation by police on unrelated different allegations, the nature of which can't be reported.   Our newsroom understands while investigating the original complaint, detectives allegedly discovered porn on one of his electronic work devices.  Former crisis negotiator Lance Burdett told Ryan Bridge it's shocking.  He says it's not the accessing of the pornography that's the problem; it's the fact it's on a police computer, which leaves it open to malware.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's Business Chamber CEO says we have nothing to lose by loosening transit visas for Chinese nationals.  Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's updated his Auckland Manifesto, laying out a Beehive to-do list.  It includes calling for the Government to reconsider loosening transit visas for Chinese Nationals, giving them more freedom for short stays in the country.  Simon Bridges told Ryan Bridge it would be an easy sugar hit for the economy.  He says he can't think of single reason not to do it, as China's a lot more developed and wealthy than other South-East Asian countries.  Bridges is also backing the mayor’s renewed call for a tourist bed tax in the city.   Browns calling for the Government to reconsider an Auckland tourist bed tax, adding a small levy on short term accommodation.  Bridges told Bridge it'll help bring in funding so more major events can come to the city.  He says both central and local government are failing Auckland when it comes to major events.&nbs