Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Drug overdose deaths have almost doubled in less than a decade and at the same time, the number of people accessing specialist help is trending downward.   The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission found 188 people died from an overdose in 2023.  That's more than half the road toll, and more than twice the number of drowning deaths.  Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm told Ryan Bridge we lose three New Zealanders every week to accidental and preventable drug overdose.   She says at the same time there's been a decline in access to addiction services.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're in Auckland and waking up this morning feeling poorer, it's because you are. It's because we all are.   CVs down 9%, rates are up 6% at the start of the month – that's an extra 223 bucks a year. Now the CVs aren't the market value, obviously, but the market value of our houses has also dropped.   And so it's right that we feel poorer, we are. But spare a thought for Wellington – CVs down 24%, rates up 17%. No, thank you.   Everyone's asking why are we paying more when our houses are worthless? The answer is just because it's how councils collect money, and they have few options to do it any other way.   I saw a graph yesterday in defence of councils – this is a tax as a percentage of GDP,  over the last 130 years, since the 1800s. The blue line was central government. They tax us through income, y’know, spending via GST, a whole bunch of stuff was up around 30%, peaked at about 35% of GDP.   Greedy. Disgraceful. Poor. Old in orange. Your Councils basically flatlining fo

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 11 June. 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.

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson has stepped down from his role.  Robinson has been chief executive of NZR since January 2020, and will leave NZR at the end of this year.  In a statement, Robinson said he will join his family in Australia when he has finished in the job.  Halo Sport’s Simon Porter told Ryan Bridge he’d agree with Robinson’s assessment that he left the organisation a better place than he found it.  He says it’s been a pretty tough six years with Covid, and they’ve made some substantial changes and split the organisation, but hopefully its set itself up to be a bit more nimble as it moves forward.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's becoming more vulnerable to corruption by organised crime.   An independent advisory panel's urged the Government to take immediate action.   It says police officers, immigration officials, and private sector employees have facilitated drug smuggling, leaked sensitive information, and undermined our border system.   Customs Minister Casey Costello told Ryan Bridge she agrees we can't rest on our laurels.  She says we are the only Five Eyes partner that doesn't have a national corruption strategy, and our legislation isn't fit for purpose.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 10th of June 2025, a new report has found our corruption-free nation is at odds with evidence, Ryan Bridge asks Customs Minister Casey Costello what difference the Government can make.  The Government's investing $13.5 million in tourism, Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell shares her thoughts.  Plus NZ Rugby Boss Mark Robinson calls it quits, Simon Port Managing Director and Rugby Player agent for Halo Sport, tells Ryan Bridge what skills the new CEO needs to bring to NZ Rugby.  Ryan shares his thoughts on Greta Thunberg's aid boat being intercepted by the Israelis.  Plus Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on the Australian PM asked to intervene after an Aussie journalist was hit by a rubber bullet in LA riots. 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 informatio

The Government's pumping more funding into tourism marketing, with a goal of generating an extra $300 million in spending.  Minister Louise Upston's announced a $13.5 million injection into Tourism New Zealand -- targeting Australia, the US, and China.  It's expected to bring an extra 72 thousand visitors over coming years.  Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Ryan Bridge the spending goals easily achievable.  She says Chinese visitors spend an average of $6,000 here, which is why they're being targeted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Honestly… it’s time Greta got a grip. This is a stunt. She’s sailing on a yacht with a diesel motor, which they’ve been using because the sails haven’t been up. There’s been photos and video, Greta doing the Titanic at the bow, on her merciful mission to save the Middle East onboard the vessel complete with Aircon and TVs and Instagram. As for being kidnapped, this must be the first time a victim has broadcast their own hostage video. How does that work? It’s a tiny yacht. How much aid can you actually have on board? There’s no doubt Palestinians desperately need aid because of Israel’s inhumane blockade. Unfortunately, they’re not going to get any from this attention obsessed Swede.  This is the problem I think people have with protesters. Not the ones who protest and then do something useful like become scientists and invent a solution to global warming. Protesters who protest for the sake of it and change causes with the wind.  One day it’s the climate and oil is the devil and the house is burnin

“It’s down, but it’s down not very much.” says UK Correspondent Gavin Grey in this morning’s immigration discussion with Ryan Bridge.  The UK Government is spending $4.4billion on hotel bills housing migrants. Although this is down from $4.6billion the previous year, Grey says it isn’t enough.  Money to fund this is coming from the overseas development fund, a system that Grey calls, “unsustainable.”   Arrests for immigrants working illegally in the UK have increased, but Grey says the hotel bill continues to get longer with no end in sight.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A packed weekend for Kiwi and international sport this weekend, and Andrew Alderson joined Ryan Bridge to talk about it. Today’s fill includes Coco Gauff’s victory at the French Open, the latest from the world of Golf and this weekend’s main event: The Blues vs. The Chiefs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rodney local board member and road safety campaigner Geoff Upson join Ryan Bridge to talk about the safety of young people on the road. Upson says that although road fatality rates are declining, there is more work to do when it comes to educating first-time drivers. He said that professional driver training alongside more time in the car with Mum and Dad could make all the difference tomake sure teenagers know how to conduct themselves on the road. Upson also said that education about the car itself is also lacking, with misunderstandings in tire grip capacity leading to more accidents in the rain. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 9 June. 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.

A new 'Parent Boost' visa will make it easier for some migrants' parents to visit the country. From September, it will grant parents of citizens multi-entry access for five years, with the opportunity for renewal once - meaning they could hold the visa for 10 years. Applicants will also need to meet specific health, income, and insurance requirements. Act Party Immigration Spokesperson Parmjeet Parmar told Ryan Bridge it's hard to know how many people will apply. She says it could be between two and ten thousand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was a chilly weekend.  Even in Auckland it was only 5 degrees.  We had the heat pump cranking the entire weekend. I spoke to a friend in Marlborough who had the fire going all weekend. They had a proper frost there.  It's right about now you start thinking... how much is all this going to cost me? The answer $250 for May for a house of two persons, one dog.  Already we've spent $70 for June.  This is one of the few bills I pay in our household so it's one of the few I notice.  It's not going through the roof... and is tracking roughly the same as last year.  And disclaimer... our place is old and cold, poorly ventilated and you basically need either air con or heat all the time. There is good news on the energy front for 2025, not that it directly affects us as much, more the big industrial users.  Forsyth Barr released an energy note on Friday... they reckon we'll avoid another big energy crunch this winter. The next one is due 2026.  That means no risk of bla

Winston Peters is accusing Don Brash and Helen Clark of "relevance deprivation syndrome", after their criticism of his approach to China.  The former National and Labour leaders are warning the Government that it could be putting our largest trading relationship at risk by aligning too closely with the US.  Brash believes that it is unwise to shift priority from China to the US given the current tension between the two superpowers. Peters says he stands by the government's independent foreign policy, and he sees no value in indulging in tired arguments from former politicians.  LISTEN ABOVE     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK and Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney spoke to Ryan Bridge about German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to the White House.   The chancellor presented President Donald Trump with a gift: The birth certificate of President Trump’s German grandfather, which seemed to go down well with the President. Despite the positivity on the outside, McAviney said that the difference between the two nations’ approach to the war in Ukraine has led negotiations to continue behind closed doors.   McAviney also said that Germany is likely aiming to secure a deal with the US that will reduce the effects of Trump’s tariffs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby commentator Tony Johnson joined Ryan Bridge to discussthethree upcoming qualifying finalsgames this weekend. The first match taking place tonight sees the Crusaders take on the Reds. The odds seem to be stacked against the Reds, as an Australian team is still yet to win a Super Rugby playoff game against a Kiwi team on Kiwi soil. The Chiefs and the Blues are also due to face off this weekend. Johnson told Ryan Bridge that the Chiefs will be out for revenge after their crushing defeat in last year’s finals. The Hurricanes are taking a trip over the ditch to face the Brumbies. Johnson said that the Hurricanes’excellent form could win it for them – but it won’t be easy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Misleading vape labelling is a worry for youth vaping.  A study in the medical journal shows more than half of vape juices have incorrectly labelled how much nicotine they contain. Most of the mislabelled products had significantly less nicotine than advertised—some by over 50%. Vape Free Kids Co-Founder Charyl Robinson told Ryan Bridge there's no funded support for youth quitting vaping and families are paying the price.  She says it's hard enough on families trying to support their children, let alone with no confidence in how much nicotine is actually in the product they're using. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 6th of June 2025, there's pressure on the Prime Minister to separate New Zealand's foreign policy from America's Former National Party Leader Don Brash shares his open letter with Ryan. It's the Super Rugby quarter finals this weekend, rugby commentator Tony Johnson tells Ryan who he thinks the favourites will be.  There's been a new study in the Medical Journal which has found more than half of vape juices have been labelled with the wrong concentration of nicotine, Co-founder of Vape Free Kids Charyl Robinson shares her thoughts on how harmful this can be.  Plus, UK/ Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Friedrich Merz meeting with Trump in the Oval office.  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.

Well that was as chaotic as you'd expect.  I caught the first half of Parliament's debate on the haka-gate: Winston Peters went full attack dog, Willie Jackson fought back, Waititi brought a noose into the chamber, and Adrian Rurawhe, former Speaker and Labour MP, had the most sensible and respectable take of the debate.  I've had the pleasure of interviewing him a few times. He's a humble, quiet and observant sort of guy. He's quick to a smile and enjoys a good argument.   Not that you could hear it in the House yesterday. Loads of interjecting. Lots of noise.   Adrian gets respect because he shushed his own Labour colleagues while he was up on his feet.  He made two decent points.  1. The Privileges Committee is meant to be bipartisan. The fact this punishment was not, is a bad thing. Why? Because now it's open season, governments —of any persuasion— can weaponize its punishments against their political opponents. This is not a good thing. As he points out, this