Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

According to an article in the NZ Herald this morning, fewer people want to be teachers.    Teacher education is still a popular field of study, but both Canterbury and Otago Universities have seen a decline in teaching student enrolments over the past four years.  Provisional data shows Canterbury has 964 students enrolled in a course in 2025, down from 1281 four years ago.  Otago has followed a similar trend, with student numbers dropping from 620 to 495 in the same period.  National Polytech, Te Pukenga, has seen the lowest number of first year teaching students since it formed in 2020.  It’s not the best news when we are facing a teacher shortage is it? PPTA President Chris Abercrombie said the downward trend is extremely worrying.  I’m not surprised by this trajectory.   All we seem to hear about are issues around pay, conditions, and the challenge of changes to the curriculum.   And then there are the parents who don’t have the time to support their children

The education sector's hopeful further investment into school classrooms is on the way.  New data shows 368 state schools had more students enrolled than their official classroom capacity last year – almost 1500 are at capacity.  Education Minister Erica Stanford announced $100 million for school property, with new schools and classrooms in Auckland.  PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Ryan Bridge it's got to be supercharged, so more schools can get re-locatable classrooms when they need them.  He says schools are trying to find interesting solutions to the problem – he's heard of one using a Masonic Lodge over the road to help.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our economy could take a knock, with volatility in the global trade environment.   Infometrics has revised its GDP forecast for next year from 2.6% to 1.0% per annum, in anticipation of reduced exports stemming from Donald Trump's tariff policy.  The annual inflation rate is expected to have risen from 2.2% to about 2.4%.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge they’re not too worried about a slight increase in inflation, as the domestic part of inflation should fall substantially this quarter.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you been keeping up with this senior doctor's strike? There's a couple of things that don't add up.   Yesterday we spoke about the average salary for these unionised senior doctors.  Simeon Brown says it's a total package worth $343,500.  The union hit back - they said the number was made up.   Which it's not. It's the total package including superannuation and overtime penalties, etc.  Now, for most Kiwis, when you apply for a job, that's the number you'd work off. When somebody asks how much do you get paid in a year, do you just say your base salary?   No, you'd say your total package amount. Second bit is around the actual staffing, cause this does not make sense.   We hear from doctors that they're so short-staffed - not enough specialists, not enough doctors, etc. So short staffed that they're on their knees and the system's broken.   But Ministry of Health says there are more senior doctors now than when National came into office.  And what's more,

A former New Zealand health boss says the Government's new list of health infrastructure priorities adds nothing new. The plan to pump $20 million into infrastructure includes general maintenance and specific projects across the country.  Former Health New Zealand Chair Rob Campbell says there's no meaningful detail in the plan. He says the Ministry of Health is good at producing lists, but not so good at producing outcomes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dairy owners say they're seeing the Government's tough on crime approach make practical impacts.   The Government's claiming it's already exceeded its goal of 20 thousand fewer victims of violent crime, well before its 2029 deadline.   It admits the data is volatile and subject to change.   Dairy and Business Owners Group Chairperson Manish Thakkar told Ryan Bridge he's seeing less violent crime in its stores.   He says there's still work to do, but thanks the Government for its work so far.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prepare for more price rises.  Data due out tomorrow is expected to show the inflation rate has risen again, from 2.2% to about 2.4%.  One contributing factor is food price inflation, which is now back up at 3.5%.  Vegetables New Zealand Chair John Murphy told Ryan Bridge that while fresh produce prices have fallen in the past 12 months, that trend isn't likely to continue.  He doesn't see them coming down any further, and they could well go up.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Customs now has two remote controlled vessels to help combat drug smuggling around our coastline.  Tahi and Rua were launched yesterday and can be at sea for up to 100 days using renewable energy.  A recent Government report shows Customs seized 55 kilograms worth of methamphetamine in 2015 - now 90 kilos gets stopped every week.  Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation Chief Executive Sherelle Kennelly told Ryan Bridge the boats are an important addition.  She says it's a sustainable technology to try to stop these illicit drugs entering the border.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 16th of April 2025, The Government's patting itself on the back for hitting its violent crime reduction target four years early, Dairy and Business Owners Group Chairperson Manish Thakkar shares his thoughts on the numbers.  Food prices have increased 3.5% on last year, Chair of Vegetables NZ, John Murphy shares his thoughts.  New submarines have been launched to intercept class-a drugs before they get into the country, Sherelle Kennelly from Customs Brokers and Freight Fowarders Federation of NZ tells Ryan Bridge how the operation will work.  Plus, Gavin Grey from the UK has the latest on British Steel's blast furnaces set to continue running after the UK government secured delivery of key raw materials. 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.

So we have senior doctors going on strike. We're in the midst of a global trade war - not that we're allowed to call it that anymore, Winston. We have inflation potentially picking up again. We have a lot going on in this country, not to mention around the world. And yet there I was, sitting down to watch the news last night, and the second lead story was about whether women or people could get pregnant. The fact is nobody in the story said it was solely women who get pregnant. Casey Costello herself says nonbinary and trans people can get pregnant, too. Which is true - they may have been born female, but they identify as something else. The question is whether mass communications issued by Health NZ should speak of pregnant women to make things clear. Here's the thing about it - the story I watched included exactly zero of these people who are so offended by the term pregnant women. The midwives union preferred women. The Government preferred women.  Even Chris Hipkins said women was fine for mass commu

Auckland Council's set to put $352 million into purchasing homes in high-risk flood zones.   More than 1200 properties will be bought by the end of the year, and a large amount of the land will be retained for flood resilience.  Auckland Council Group Recovery Manager Mace Ward told Ryan Bridge it's a significant investment in future resilience for Auckland.  He says over $1.2 billion will be put in between Crown and Council funding.  Ward says there’s an opportunity for development, and around 30% of the properties could be redeveloped for residential use.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's uncertainty over whether a newly proposed sex education curriculum has assigned topics across the appropriate age and stage.  The Government's new curriculum will see children learning about puberty in Year 5 and menstruation in Year 6.  High school students will also learn about sexual violence and STIs.  Auckland Primary Principals' Association President Kyle Brewerton told Ryan Bridge it's important for primary students to learn about puberty.  He believes it would be more beneficial talking about menstrual cycles in the younger years and include the boys too.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luxon’s stuck. Poor old Luxon, he's stuck between a rock and a hard place really, isn’t he? And it's only going to get worse as we head into next year.   Just when he's done dealing with David Seymour on the Treaty Principles Bill - he never wanted to go with but agreed to get into government. That was shut down on Thursday and now the fire kicks off - he's having to hose that down too.   He's been hosing it down since last Friday now.    That's Winston and his big noting about how to deal with Trump, right.   The phone calls that Luxon hastily arranged to avoid being in the House for the death of the Treaty Principles Bill are the same phone calls that have now started this tussle with Winston?   He just can't win.   Either way, there's coalition land mines to step on.   Here's the thing, Winston first made these comments last Thursday.   He said Luxon should have called them or whatever the words were.   So, he should have just picked up the phone, called th

Thumbs up for the Government's tourism campaign.  It's putting 13.5 million dollars into Tourism New Zealand, targeting markets like China, Australia, the US, India, Germany and South Korea.   Arrivals in February were down this year overall.  Tourism Holdings Chief Executive Grant Webster told Ryan Bridge it's the right time to invest.   Webster says Kiwis often think people just come here, but New Zealand's less than 1-percent of the world's tourism meaning we have to compete. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, The Government has put new sex education guidelines out for consultation, Auckland Primary Principals' Association President Kyle Brewerton shares his thoughts.  Auckland Council's voted on the future of land destroyed by floods, Auckland Council Group Manager for the Tamaki Makaurau recovery office tells Ryan Bridge about the plan they've come up with. The Government's coughing up $13.5 million for a new global marketing campaign to attract tourists to New Zealand, Tourism Holdings Chief Executive Grant Webster shares his thoughts.  Plus, Donna Demaio from Australia has Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's reaction to the Opposition’s diss rap track that criticises Labor.  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.

The Government wants to change our drivers licensing system, but AA believes more improvements are needed to have a greater impact on the youth road toll.  Among the changes are removing the full licence test, more consequences for drivers who commit traffic offences while on their learner or restricted licence, and a zero-alcohol limit for everyone until they reach a full licence.    AA Road Safety Spokesperson Dylan Thomsen joins the show to discuss the proposal.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia's ambassador to the UK isn't denying allegations that Russian sensors have been hidden around Great Britain in an attempt to track UK nuclear submarines.  Andrei Kelin said that while he did not deny Russia was attempting to track British submarines, he rejected the idea that such activities presented a threat to the UK. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey joins the show to discuss the allegations, and Scotland's ferry fiasco.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been another bad day in the office for Liam Lawson who finished 13th in Formula One's Bahrain Grand Prix.  Two separate incidents with Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg saw Lawson slapped with 15 seconds worth of time penalties.  Sports Reporter Andrew Alderson joins the show to discuss the Kiwis race, the Golf Masters live, and V8s over the weekend.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast 2025 Monday 14th of April 2025, The Government wants to change up our drivers licensing system, AA Road Safety Spokesperson Dylan Thomsen shares his thoughts.  The documentary following the trial of Phillip Polkinghorne was released last night, the projects producer Polly Fryer tells Andrew Dickens about the process behind it.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  Plus, UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Russia's ambassador to the UK refusing to deny allegations that Russian sensors have been hiding in seas around Great Britain in an attempt to track UK nuclear submarines.  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.

The producer of the newly released Polkinghorne documentary is denying claims from its namesake, the TV show is tabloid clickbait.  The three episodes explore the eight-week trial which saw Auckland eye doctor Phillip Polkinghorne found not guilty for the death of his wife Pauline Hanna.  Producer Polly Fryer told Andrew Dickens it's played no part in the judicial process and doesn't shy away from his lifestyle choices.  Fryer says portraying a side of life not often seen doesn't make it clickbait, and Philip himself has said he's not on trial for morality issues.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.