Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Ferry Holdings' Chairman says he's more confident in the new Cook Strait ferry plans than the ditched iRex project.  The Government's officially signed a fixed-price contract with a Chinese shipbuilder for two new rail-enabled ferries.  It's now securing teams to build the required infrastructure at Picton and Wellington ports.  Winston Peters claims the total cost will come in under two billion dollars and will be delivered on time in 2029.  Ferry Holdings Chair Chris Mackenzie told Ryan Bridge the iRex project would have required a lot more work to be done on the ports.  He says the new plans don't need much to be moved as it's re-using as much as possible from existing infrastructure.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Students getting around a school phone ban could be chatting with family members.  An Education Review Office report shows three-quarters of secondary school teachers believe the ban has improved student behaviour.  But nearly half of students admit to using their phones in class, likely because family members were getting in touch.  Whangaparāoa College Principal Steve McCracken told Ryan Bridge most schools have other systems in place for families to contact students during the day.  He says the report shows parents want to connect with their kids, but they're setting them up to fail if they contravene the ban.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 20th of November 2025, New Cook Strait ferries are set to arrive in 2029, Ferry Holdings Limited Chair Chris Mackenzie tells Ryan how the government managed to save $2.3 billion dollars.  A ERO report shows the cellphone ban is working but half of high school students aren't following the rules, Whangapaeroa College Principal and B416 expert advisory panel member Steve McCracken shares his thoughts.  The Government's banned puberty blocker prescriptions for new patients, Sue Bagshaw, Senior Clinical Lecturer at the Christchurch School of Medicine at the University of Otago Christchurch tells Ryan how big of a impact this will have.  Plus US Correspondent Toni Waterman has the latest on the Epstein files and Nicki Minaj publicly backing Trump's allegations that Christians face persecution in Nigeria.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.     &nbs

One of the country's top youth health experts says puberty blockers have been safely used in New Zealand for 20 years.  No child or young person experiencing gender dysphoria or incongruence will be able to start taking gonadotropin-releasing hormones from December 19. Health Minister Simeon Brown says Cabinet has agreed to new settings until the outcomes of a major clinical trial in the UK in 2031.   Otago University's Dame Sue Bagshaw told Ryan Bridge she doesn't like the way Government is politicising a possibly life-saving medicine.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've got a bunch of new economic numbers this morning.  The recovery is underway. Finally.  We've had false dawns before, so I'm not overcooking this, but things are moving in the right direction. Investor confidence is up for Q3. Most regions are getting a slice of the recovery action, according to Infometrics.  What's most interesting is investor confidence, led by Auckland, is up quite a bit and they're not worrying so much about the dramatic headlines from Trump, etc. They're shrugging them off.  And our attitudes to different types of investment are changing.  The proportion of us who see owning our own home as the best investment is now at its lowest level since 2015, and young people are loving stocks.  Which is no surprise - the S&P's up around 14% this year, house prices are falling or flat.  Which might help explain why the mood on capital gains seems to have shifted a bit.  But here's the thing with the capital gains: it will not lower house prices, it w

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 19th of November 2025, a new report from Business NZ projects a shortfall of at least 250,000 workers by 2045, Chief Executive of Business Canterbury Leeann Watson shares her thoughts.  Over half of our apprentice trainees in new zealand drop out before they complete their course, Te Pukenga CEO Gus Gilmore tells Andrew what needs to change.  It's been revealed the Government spent over $38 million on business start-up grants to beneficiaries, Small Business NZ founder Phil Wicks shares his thoughts.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Peter Anderson has the latest on British MPs warned by security service MI5 they’re at risk of being targeted by Chinese spies and technology from Formula 1 cars is being used in a pilot scheme to provide faster and more reliable wi-fi on British trains. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LIST

A small business advocate says a Government grant must do more than throw money at a problem.   The Taxpayers’ Union has revealed the business start up grant has dished out $38 million with little to show for it.   Documents retrieved through the Official Information Act show hundreds of the recipients struggled and returned to a benefit within two years.   Small Business New Zealand Founder Phil Wicks told Andrew Dickens the recipients are the furthest people away from the labour market.   He says they can still succeed but need more mentoring, structure, and clear expectations.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A warning our major political parties need to display more bipartisan planning so we don't buckle to a dwindling population and economic growth.  Business NZ's report warns a labour shortage of at least a quarter of a million is expected before 2050, and there's also a one in four chance the population doesn't grow. Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson told Andrew Dickens says major parties need to reach a certain level of bipartisan agreement on the country's big decisions  She says businesses want to see steady incremental progress not a pendulum shift which potentially puts us backwards. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are concerns over the fact that more than half of trainees aren't completing their apprenticeships.  Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds is seeking extra funding so new industry bodies can investigate low apprenticeship completion rates.  She says the government could help through policy settings and funding, but the nature of the problem was likely to vary between industries.  Te Pūkenga Chief Executive Gus Gilmore told Andrew Dickens things like training wage rates, low pay, and the economic downturn causing them to lose their job.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s controversy in the Ockham Book Awards as two books by notable authors are withdrawn from competition because their covers were created using AI. Stephanie Johnson’s collection of short stories 'Obligate Carnivore' and Elizabeth Smither’s collection of novellas 'Angel Train' are the two books cancelled. Their covers were created using AI and the book awards are on high alert for anything that takes the place of human activity. The decision to amend the criteria around AI was spurred by a desire to support creative and copyright interests of the country’s writers and illustrators. So I understand the concern from the creative industries about the rise of AI, but I wonder if they really understand how AI was used in these circumstances. Covers are created by graphic designers. Sometimes they may commission an artist to draw the cover, but more often they’ve been creating images using computer programmes like Photoshop and various Adobe programmes.  But in all cases a human is in charge, and there’s

The struggling car industry is looking forward to some much needed relief.   The Government's confirmed its slashing charges on importers who don't meet carbon targets by almost 80% and launching a full review.   It's expected to save about $264 million in cost to consumers and will keep imported cars cheaper.   Imported Vehicles Association Chief Executive Greig Epps told Andrew Dickens the target was difficult for many businesses to reach.   He says this isn't going backwards, it is being realistic about encouraging the use of clean cars.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The police union is confident the health sector can pick up the remainder of mental health callouts.   Now there's new guidance to determine if Police are needed when health workers request non-emergency assistance or when people go missing from health facilities.  It will free up roughly half-a-million policing hours every year.   Police Association President Steve Watt told Andrew Dickens the new approach has been introduced in phases.   He says it gives Health New Zealand the time to ensure it can fill in the gaps Police leave.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uber drivers are rejoicing over their employment status being finalised with a legal win in the Supreme Court.  Four drivers have won their battle against Uber to be treated as employees, rather than contractors.  The Supreme Court rejected Uber’s bid for the court to overturn a 2024 Court of Appeal ruling.  Wellington Uber driver —and city councillor— Nureddin Abdurahman told Andrew Dickens Uber's been exploiting the huge number of people looking for a job.  He says it doesn't matter how many people are looking for a job, they all deserve rights.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recall of coloured play-sand products - potentially contaminated with asbestos - is continuing to cause disruption on both sides of the Tasman. A recall notice was issued last week for EC Rainbow Sand 1.3 kilos and Creatistics Coloured Sand, 1 kilo. More than 20 schools and early learning centres are temporarily closed. Australia correspondent Lesley Yeomans told Andrew Dickens schools and centres across Australia are also impacted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 18th of November 2025, The Government’s having another go at the clean car standard, Imported Vehicle Association CEO Greig Epps shares his thoughts.  Police and Health New Zealand are pressing ahead with phase three of their mental-health response changes, Police Association President Steve Watt tells Andrew what will change for the Police. The court's recognised that Uber drivers are employees, Nureddin Abdurahman a Uber driver who took Uber to court shares his thoughts on the outcome.  Plus Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans has the latest on dozens of schools closed across the ACT and stores recalling special coloured play sand and Concerns about a newly discovered Koala colony in outback New South Wales.  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 the latest plan to fix central Wellington traffic has been released for consultation, and it’s a monster.  There’s a couple of tunnels. A new one at the Terrace end of the motorway and another new tunnel through Mount Victoria. Land and houses will be taken out of the town belt at Mount Victoria and parkland at the Terrace  There will be a major redesign of the Basin Reserve roundabout and a bridge near the airport.  And the price tag?  3 billion dollars. Ironically the same sort of cost for two ports and two ferries to cross Cook Strait, that was thought to be wildly expensive at the time.  So the immediate reaction is that this plan is wildly expensive. Which it is. Wildly expensive and totally predictable. The Rongotai Airport was opened in 1959 and from day one it was dependent on the Mount Vic tunnel, which opened in 1931.  It should have been expanded then. It’s Wellington’s Auckland Harbour Bridge moment - a piece of insufficient infrastructure that only got worse. You

The New Zealand beef sector's set to save some dosh, with the removal of the additional 15-percent tariff on our beef. US President Donald Trump's reversed his tariffs on a wide range of US food imports, including New Zealand beef, offal and kiwifruit. These products represent around 25 per cent of our exports to the United States, worth more than two billion dollars annually. Beef & Lamb New Zealand Chair Kate Acland told Ryan Bridge the tariffs were costing our beef industry a lot. She says in 12 months the quotas were looking to cost us about 310-million dollars, so it's a significant amount.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Couple of things from this morning's poll on CGT.  Basically, we're evenly split.  As many of us are in favour of Labour's plan as are against it.  The results are interesting, though. The details.  So, more Aucklanders hate it more than the rest of the country.  45% of Aucklanders oppose it. Only 32% support it.  Now, Auckland holds the keys to the kingdom, electorally, as Labour found out in stunning defeat at the polls two years ago.  Auckland lockdowns collapsed their vote. As did the cost of living.  So, if you're National, that's where you focus your anti-CGT campaign.  Its' also interesting, and the Herald piece on the poll makes this point, in areas where people are doing well, where house prices haven't caved. There's more support. In areas feeling poor because their house price has fallen through the floor, they don't like it.  So basically, you have squeezed-middle voters telling you they feel too poor to support another tax.  And so, you end u

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, Beef and Lamb Chair Kate Acland shares her thoughts on the US dropping tarrifs on more than $2 billion NZ exports.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekends sport.  The Opportunity Party has had a rebrand, starting with a new leader, Qiulae Wong tells Ryan she hopes to reach the 5% threshold.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the UK government set to announce a major change of asylum policy and groundbreaking DNA analysis of Adolf Hitler's blood.  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 All Blacks have their captain back as they prepare to face England at Twickenham on Sunday morning.  The English haven’t beaten the All Blacks at the stadium since 2012, and the All Blacks will be looking to continue that streak and keep their current winning streak alive.  Scott Barrett has been cleared to start after a full week of training as his leg gash healed.  Newstalk ZB’s Voice of Rugby, Elliott Smith, joined Ryan Bridge to preview the clash.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.