Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Public servants appear unconcerned by the Government's recent request to help identify further cost cuts.  Thousands of public servants across all agencies have been asked in a census to identify taxpayer value in their work, and any changes needed.   PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons told Andrew Dickens the survey was expected as it comes around every five years.   She says they don't think it's going to lead to any more harsh cuts, because there is nothing left to trim.   Fitzsimons says there is room for efficiencies, and she hopes the Government listens to workers ideas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Monday 24th of March 2025, The Public service has been asked by the Government to find areas for cost cutting, PSA  Assistant Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons shares the reaction of Public Servants.  A United Nations Committee has questioned the fairness of world tax systems and GST, PWC Partner Sandy Lau shares the issues around fairness in our tax system.  Andrew Alderson shares with Andrew Dickens the latest on sport that happened over the weekend.  UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey tells Andrew the latest on Pope Francis being discharged from Rome's Gemelli hospital. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.       LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Positive steps for Pope Francis, following his five-week battle with double pneumonia.  The 88-year-old's been discharged from hospital back to his Vatican residence -- thanking onlookers from his balcony.  UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens further details of The Pope's hospital condition have emerged upon his release.  He says it's been confirmed Pope Francis suffered two significant medical episodes, where his life was in danger.  Pope Francis will now take a two-month break from duties, under strict doctor's orders. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While I was away tramping all over the top of the Coromandel Peninsula, we had some good and bad news.  GDP came out better than we expected with a rise of 0.7% in the fourth quarter, which should signal the start of green shoots and recovery and confidence.   But at the same time, the consumer confidence figure came out and it was the worst we’ve seen since the 90s.   And then Paul Bloxham, the Australian economist who invented the rock star economy name, came out and said our recession has been the worst in the OECD.   So why aren’t we confident? And why was our recession so hard? Here’s my take: the Reserve Bank and the Government need to start working together.   During the pandemic the bank slashed interest rates while the Government turbo charged spending, leading to a hangover that needed medicine.   The previous Government was rightly blamed for the mess it was responsible for but we had been double hit by the bank and the Government. All levers pulled.   The new Gov

While I was away tramping all over the top of the Coromandel Peninsula we had some good and bad news.  GDP Came out better than we expected with a rise of 0.7 per cent in the fourth quarter.   Which should signal the start of green shoots and recovery and confidence.   But at the same time the consumer confidence figure came out and it was the worst we’ve seen since the 90s.   And then Paul Bloxham the Australian economist who invented the rock star economy name came out and said our recession has been the worst in the OECD.   So why aren’t we confident? And why was our recession so hard.   Here’s my take. The Reserve Bank and the Government need to start working together.   During the pandemic the bank slashed interest rates while the Government turbo charged spending leading to a hangover that needed medicine.   The previous Government was rightly blamed for the mess it was responsible for but we had been double hit by the bank and the Government. All levers pulled. &

Fonterra farmers are in line for a large payout on interim results.  The co-op’s lifting its dividend to 22 cents a share, from 15 in the previous comparable period.  It's reporting its first-half profit increased 8% to $729 million.  Federated Farmers’ Richard McIntyre told Francesca Rudkin that for the first time in quite a while, he’s hearing farmers starting to talk about what they could or should invest in for their farms.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's out of recession, but many Kiwis could take a while to feel better off.  Our economy grew by 0.7% in the December quarter – surpassing all economists' expectations.  But unemployment's expected to keep rising this year, and many households are still doing it tough.  Council of Trade Unions Economist Craig Renney told Francesca Rudkin that confidence in the New Zealand economy is still lacking.  He says that many people will need to feel the difference in their wallets in order to believe the economy is recovering.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Napier community feels underwhelmed despite retaining its overnight urgent care.  The Government’s back tracking on a leaked proposal to cut the service due to low demand, which sparked community backlash.  It will remain nurse-led, but with no doctors on-site.  Patient Voice Aotearoa Chair Malcolm Mulholland told Francesca Rudkin the community deserves a robust urgent care service, including a GP.  He says they do feel like they've been let down by the government.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did the news yesterday that the economy had grown more than expected, by a whopping 0.7%, put you in a good mood for the week?    Maybe the news that Fonterra has reported an 8% lift in first-half net profit to $729 million put a spring in your step.  Or the opportunity to grab a bargain in the Afterpay Sales this weekend is putting a smile on your face.  Or maybe none of these things had an impact on your happiness.    According to the World Happiness Report, published yesterday by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, happiness isn’t just about wealth or growth – it’s about trust, connection and knowing people have your back.   It's not a huge surprise; Finland is the happiest country in 2025, for the 8th year in the row.    Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden came in at 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and Costa Rica and Mexico both ranked in the top 10 for the first time. New Zealand came in at 12th, between Australia and Switzerland.    I tend to roll

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 21 March. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are fears public health doctors are losing their ability to speak freely.  They're being told they need permission before speaking out on regional issues which could impact public health.  Health Minister Simeon Brown says he's fed up with them giving advice on things like fast-food.  Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director Sarah Dalton told Francesca Rudkin Brown is overstepping.  She says there are widespread concerns of attempts to silence doctors – to stop them speaking up on public health and patient safety issues.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's anticipation more homeowners will change their borrowing behaviour this years. 90% of home loans were floating or fixed for less than a year in January.  But CoreLogic forecasts borrowers will fix for longer as interest rates come down.  Chief Property Economist, Kelvin Davidson told Francesca Rudkin it's anecdotal at this point, but believes February data will prove it's happening.  He says there was intense competition between banks last month, for two and three-year fixed term rates.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is believed to be crawling to economic recovery.  Figures —due out from Stats NZ this morning— are expected to show the economy grew between 0.3 and 0.5% in the three months to December.  That would lift New Zealand out of technical recession, but further growth will be slow.  ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley told Francesca Rudkin an uplift in agriculture in quarter four will have helped.  He says the sector —particularly dairy— had a strong lift into Christmas.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gee, we’ve gone stadium mad here in Auckland. We already have seven pretty substantial stadiums ranging from 4000-person capacity to 50,000, spread across the city from the North Shore to Mt Eden, Penrose to Manukau, not including other sporting and event spaces.  But we can’t stop suggesting we build more.    While we wait for Auckland’s Councilors to ponder feasibility studies done by Eden Park and the proposed new waterfront stadium in Quay Park and announce who will go on to win the title of Auckland’s main stadium – another stadium is being pitched, this time for Western Springs.    So, Western Springs Speedway has its final event on Saturday night —although we’ve heard that before— and now Auckland Council is interested in what to do with this valuable inner-city site.    This is a really exciting opportunity, especially after years of kafuffle around the speedway. Auckland might not need another entertainment or sporting venue, but they are really nice to have, especi

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 20 March. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kremlin appears to have emerged victorious from a call with US President Donald Trump.   Russia's agreed to pause firing on energy and critical infrastructure and continue discussions about a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea.  It's a clear deviation from Trump's goal going into talks – of Russia agreeing to a full 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine.  Otago University International Relations Professor Robert Patman told Andrew Dickens that Trump hasn’t put that much pressure on Putin.  He says all the concessions have been from Ukraine, and Trump has already pre-emptively given away bargaining concessions to Russia.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A property investor advocate says landlords should consider lowering their rents, rather than offering incentives.  Changes in the market have seen landlords offer prospective tenants sweeteners like grocery vouchers and free weeks of rent to try to lure them in.  But Sarina Gibbon from the Auckland Property Investors' Association told Andrew Dickens she's not sure incentives work.  She says if you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig, and the better option is for landlords to look realistically about what they're expecting for a property.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After nine months stranded in space, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will be back on Earth today. Their stay on the International Space Station was only supposed to last eight days but their mission had to be extended after the spacecraft they arrived on experienced technical issues.  They are coming home this morning - and are expected to splashdown just before 11am New Zealand time.  Retired NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson told Andrew Dickens on what they should expect after such a long time in space.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cops will stay on the beat in the Auckland CBD.  The government will boost anti-crime measures across central Auckland with $1.3 million of funding as a result of the Proceeds of Crime Fund.  The Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 enables New Zealand Police to seize money and assets that have been obtained directly or indirectly from the proceeds of crime. Once all legal matters are addressed, the recovered money is placed in the Proceeds of Crime Fund. This latest move was announced by Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee an it's been greeted wholeheartedly by retailers and residents It will see the new federal street station open 24/7.  That station will open in the middle of the year. And of course, this is a good thing. My question was always why did we stop doing this in the first place? The cop on the beat is a sign to one and all, citizens and criminals, that the police are in control of the streets, not the ratbags. For me, it's the first thing t

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast Wednesday 19th of March 2025, Otago University International Relations Professor Robert Patman breaks down what might come out of Donald Trump's call with Vladimir Putin to try and secure a ceasefire deal in Ukraine.  Andrew Dickens praises the renewed focus on getting police officers on the beat. After 9 months at the International Space Station, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are finally coming back to Earth. We find out what they should expect after such a long time in space.  And as landlords offer incentives to attract tenants, Andrew asks whether the pendulum has swung in favour of renters in the rental market.  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.