Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

The number of New Zealanders choosing to get divorced is outpacing those getting married.   Stats NZ data shows a 3% drop in marriages and civil unions last year compared to 2024.   In the same period, divorces were up 5%.   Family Lawyer Jeremy Sutton told Ryan Bridge marriages are more likely to end in divorce after 25 years.   He says if you're together for a longer period of time, you'll change and are more likely to get sick of each other.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renewed attacks by Iran and the United States threaten to see the war in the Middle East “spiralling out of control”.  The ceasefire seems to be on shaky ground, but some experts are saying that despite the optics, they are progressing towards a peace deal.   US Correspondent Toni Waterman told Ryan Bridge that proposals to end the war had been exchanged through the weekend.  “But certainly this announcement by the President [Donald Trump] on Sunday to start guiding these ships through the Strait of Hormuz has opened up another area in this conflict because the strait is really Iran's main leverage point right now.”  Trump’s new “Project Freedom” aims to help neutral commercial ships get out of the Persian Gulf, where they have been stranded by the closure of the Strait.  Waterman said experts were warning that even if the US successfully guided those ships through the Strait, it would not be a permanent solution as they would not return as long as fighting continued.  LISTEN ABO

What are your chances of getting divorced? The new Stats NZ numbers are interesting for a couple of reasons.  1. Fewer people are getting hitched. In 2025, 7.6 marriages per 1000 people. That's half of the rate in 2000 (15.5 per 1000). In 1971, peak marriage, it was 45 per 1000 people.  So basically, fewer of us are bothering to get married. I've got friends who are single and don't mind being single - that was far less acceptable in 1971.  2. We're getting married later in life. We used to put a ring on it around the age of 20, now we wait until we're into our thirties. This is part of a bigger trend. People still live at home with their parents when their 25 - it's common. They go to university, don't get proper jobs until they're sometimes in their late 20's or even early thirties. We're living longer at the other end of life, and it feels like we're stretching out childhood a bit at the beginning, too. Get a dog, live at home, complain about house prices, and then marry later

ACT leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour will campaign on new immigration policies. His proposed changes include stronger English language requirements, a daily levy, and a specialised enforcement unit targeting people who overstay their visas.  Immigration lawyer Marcus Beveridge called Seymour's policies 'superfluous'.  He told Ryan Bridge, "it's not really worth getting out of bed for this, because most of it's already here, it's super superfluous, it's posturing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fuel crisis is scuppering optimism in the retail sector.  The latest quarterly Retail Radar Report shows rising confidence at the end of last year has turned into anxiety about the future.  Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young told Ryan Bridge 66 percent of retailers don't expect to make their sales targets in the next quarter.   She says 29 percent aren't certain they can survive the next year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 4th of May 2026, Marcus Beveridge a Immigration Lawyer at Queen City Law shares his thoughts on David Seymour's new 6 point immigration plan.  Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on interest rate decisions last week in UK and ECB and US, the latest economic dictators and forecasts revised down due to oil prices and what governments are talking about doing, including on easing jet fuel problems for airlines. Retailers want Kiwis working from the office, not home, after the latest Retail NZ survey, Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young shares her thoughts.  Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on a man and woman dead and three others were injured in a "suspicious" explosion at a house in Bristol, and the US threatening to withdraw more troops from Europe after announcing plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get yo

I have good news and bad news for you this morning.  The good news, I was out shopping on the weekend, which means I didn't actually buy anything but drove halfway across town looking for a bed-head, couldn't find one that fit, and went home empty-handed.  But the good news is the shops I visited were full of people spending money. Hardware store. Full. Furniture store, less full but still busy. The Devil Wears Prada on Saturday night was 100% booked out for sessions running almost on the hour.  I've never rated Anne Hathaway's acting chops, but literally thousands of middle-aged women, glass of Savvy Bin hand, clearly did.  A survey out today says retailers are worried about the fuel shock, but I didn't see much reason to be freaking out o the weekend.  Now the bad news, all the stuff we buy in this country comes by sea.  All the trinkets and furniture and non-perishables come over the ocean, because we're a, yah know, an island. More than 80% of our trade is done on a ship, by

LIV Golf’s financial backer is pulling its funding after the current season.   Plays and staff will reportedly find out the decision today to axe the funding by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.  It’s reportedly cost PIF over US$5 billion to operate the series so far.  NZ Open Tournament Director Michael Glading told Ryan Bridge that the model was flawed from the get-go – you can’t just create teams out of nowhere.  He says if something sounds too good to be true, it is too good to be true.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a suggestion better quality visa applications are coming through, with more than nine in ten applicants being approved.  Data released to Newstalk ZB shows just over 65 thousand applications were declined in 2025 – down from over 83 thousand in 2024.  Last year's rejection rate was about 6.3%, compared to 7.3% for the two years before.  Immigration lawyer Pooja Sundar told Ryan Bridge there've been several changes in visa settings in the last few years.  She says people are also starting to understand how Immigration New Zealand's approaching decisions and are more prepared.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 1st of May 2026, still no answers for Mount Maunganui businesses following a council meeting on when the Mount will reopen, Beach Hut Cafe Owner Michelle Craig tells Ryan what happened during the meeting.  Saudi Arabia's pulling funding for the Liv Golf tour from next season, New Zealand open tournament Director Michael Glading shares his thoughts.  New Zealand's rejecting fewer Visa applications with the number now at a post-covid low, immigration lawyer Pooja Sundar tells Ryan what impact this is having.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest King Charles and Camilla's state trip wrapping up and Keir Starmer's address following the Golders Green attack on the Jewish community.  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.

Mount Maunganui businesses are frustrated at a perceived lack of progress in reopening the mount.   Hundreds of residents went to a community meeting last night with council and local MPs.   Mauao's been closed to the public since the landslide which killed six holiday makers nearly 100 days ago.   Mount Maunganui Beach Hut Cafe Owner Michelle Craig told Ryan Bridge reduced tourist numbers are really tough for businesses.  She says many are worried they won't be able to survive the winter months.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no reason parties on left and right in New Zealand politics can't work together to get stuff done.  This week we've seen it with the India FTA. It's essentially just deal-making.  It'll pass because a party not in government joined forces with two in government to make it happen.  We've seen it with a member's bill, put forward to Labour's Arena Williams, on international money transfers.  When you transfer money to somebody overseas, the banks and transfer companies can basically say what they like about fees and commissions then charge you what they like. They don't need to up front about it.  The bill would force them to tell you what they going to charge before you're charged, rather than find out once the money's left your account. It seems like pretty sensible law-making to me.  It passed its first reading this week. A Labour MP's bill.  National didn't support it. But that didn't matter, because ever other party in the House —including ACT and New Zealand Firs

Australia's starting to feel the economic effects of the energy squeeze stemming from conflict on the other side of the world.   Annual headline inflation surged to 4.6% in March, up from 3.7% in February.   It's the country's highest inflation rate since September 2023, when the economy was bouncing back after Covid.  Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold told Ryan Bridge that New Zealand’s inflation is unlikely to reach the same peaks.  He says New Zealand economists are predicting a peak of around the mid-4s, whereas Australia’s are expecting it to go well over 5%.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is about to test its readiness for foot and mouth disease with a farm simulation next month on a Taranaki farm.  It'll be followed by a national exercise including everything from mock on-farm detection, quarantine, and national governance decisions.  Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says it's one thing to have a plan on paper and another to actually carry it out.   He told Ryan Bridge other countries have managed to effectively contain it.   Hoggard says in Germany it was kept at a single farm and still meant exports could go ahead from the rest of the country.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is about to test its readiness for foot and mouth disease with a farm simulation next month on a Taranaki farm.  It'll be followed by a national exercise including everything from mock on-farm detection, quarantine, and national governance decisions.  Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says it's one thing to have a plan on paper and another to actually carry it out.   He told Ryan Bridge other countries have managed to effectively contain it.   Hoggard says in Germany it was kept at a single farm and still meant exports could go ahead from the rest of the country.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are hopes the Government's latest crackdown on the misuse of nitrous oxide gets the message through to retailers.  People inhaling the gas to get high is becoming a serious public health concern. Imports of the gas will soon need approval from the Director-General of Health, while large canisters, also known as nangs, will automatically be classified as psychoactive substances. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young told Ryan Bridge the canisters can be used for whipping cream, but it's not really a big seller for retailers. She says they will never sell that many, with caterers preferring a wholesaler than a convenience store. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 30th of April 2026, inflation spiking across the Tasman, Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold tells Ryan what this could mean for us.  The Government's changing import rules to crack down on nangs, Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young tells Ryan if this will make much of a difference.  The Government’s running a trial to see how ready we’d be if Foot and Mouth disease hit our shores, Biosecurity Minister paints a picture of what the trial will look like.  Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on the fiery questioning of Pete Hegseth over the Iran war and the King's state visit.  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.

This was always going to happen. The closer you get to the election, the more your friends become your enemies under MMP. Winston's office released OIA docs showing Luxon's people wanted to go further in supporting Trump's war in Iran. The Foreign Minister's office and MFAT, in their wisdom, cautioned against it. For what most of us would probably understand to be good reasons. This was straight after the war began. This is a story in the Herald this morning: A spokesman for Peters said Luxon’s support for the war was “imprudent” and would have “run counter to New Zealand’s national interests”. “Experience matters in foreign policy.” Then, last night, there were talks between the PM and Foreign Minster.  Luxon's hitting back, he's saying the emails mischaracterised his position. He's saying the release of the emails puts politics ahead of the national interest. So, as you can see, quite the mess.  The problem here is for Luxon, not for Peters.  Luxon is the one who has struggled to articul

A belief from one fuel company boss we won't face a total fuel drought.   The Government's signed a deal with Z Energy to bring an extra 90 million litres of diesel into the country, to be stored at Marsden Point.  Waitomo Chief Executive, Simon Parham told Ryan Bridge it shows there's supply out there to buy, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.   He says South Korea has purchased crude from 17 different countries than they've traditionally bought from, showing the market's solving issues for itself because there's incentives to do it.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Power companies are being put on the spot as the Electricity Authority demands answers to surging prices.   The average household is facing an 8% jump in their power bill this year, matching last year's rise.   That's alongside the big four gentailers lifting their profits 42% in just six months.  Major Electricity Users' Group Executive Director Karen Boyes told Ryan Bridge higher prices pressure all New Zealanders.    She says they've told the authority we need to also make sure businesses are scrutinising their tariffs.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.