Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

The opposition is criticising Kainga Ora's turnaround plan.  The Government's told the landlord to focus on its core service: social housing.  It's announced savings including ending sustainable housing certification requirements and shedding a quarter of its staff.  Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty told Andrew Dickens he's perplexed that the Housing Minister calls this a success.  He says the need for social housing continues to grow and the governments answer is to not build houses.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week it was the perennial should he or shouldn’t he go debate about the Prime Minister.  Personally, I’d always go to Waitangi if I were Prime Minister, even if it was just for one of the days of ceremonies.  The Air Force is weak but they’re perfectly capable of getting him to both Waitangi and Akaroa if he wanted to.  It’s said his non-attendance is a snub of Māori but there’s another way of looking at it.  He could be staying away because he doesn’t want to ruffle Māori feathers.  He has publicly said repeatedly that the Treaty Principles Bill is going nowhere so why go somewhere where he’ll get the heat for something he’s never intended to do?  David Seymour can go and is.  It’s David’s baby and he’s more than happy to stand to it. He’ll take the heat, and he’ll give it back  But our PM doesn’t want to go somewhere where he’ll be yelled at for something he won’t do.  So maybe this isn’t a snub of Māori but it is one of his right wing supporters. They are g

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 5 February. 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.

An economist says some groups of people will be hit harder by rising unemployment. The country's labour market data for the final quarter of 2024 will be released this morning.  Most experts predict the unemployment rate will rise from 4.6-percent to about 5-percent.  ASB senior economist Mark Smith told Andrew Dickens the Wellington region's likely to be heavily impacted He says it picks up in the younger age group, because what typically happens is the last ones into the labour market are the first ones out. Smith says some ethnic groups will also be effected, like Maori and Pacific Islanders. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ageing population is playing into an increase in urban Land Search and Rescue missions.  Over the past six months, the volunteer group's been called on 23% more year-on-year.  It's meant 22% more volunteer responders have been deployed.  Chief development and project officer, Johnny Franklin told Andrew Dickens that alongside alpine and bush rescues, urban rescues have been of particular concern.  He says urban rescues account for about 25% of operations and is expected to increase as the population gets older.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An environmental law professor says it wouldn't make sense to pull out of the Paris Agreement.   Speaking to The Country, ACT Leader David Seymour's floated the idea of New Zealand leaving the agreement, suggesting it appears half the world is leaving.  It follows US President Donald Trump pulling the United States from the climate deal.  Waikato University's Dr Nathan Cooper told Andrew Dickens that while the US is leaving, other big players are likely to stay.  He says climate change, which is what the Paris Agreement is there to respond to, is a global challenge.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mortgage broker is advising people to hedge their bets as uncertainty continues over upcoming Official Cash Rate announcements.   Centrix is hoping the Reserve Bank will make more cuts, as its latest Credit Indicator report shows almost half a million New Zealanders are behind on repayments, with consumer arrears levels up 1.3%.  Key Mortgages' Jeremy Andrews told Andrew Dickens people shouldn't necessarily hope rates will drop.   He suggests fixing loans midterm, adding he's never seen so many people with floating rates.   The next OCR announcement is due in a fortnight on February 19.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suddenly it’s tough to get a job.  Which is amazing, because just a few years ago we had jobs for everyone and then some.  Now we learn teenagers in search of their first job are struggling to land anything in the current employment market - some searching for as long as two years.  And you can see why.  In tough times you need experienced workers, and with so many experienced workers losing their jobs there is suddenly a cohort of older workers who are taking the jobs the youngsters used to get.  And you can’t blame the older guys. You need to ditch your humility and concentrate on cashflow to survive in 2025.  But the older generation is feeling the heat too.  Old workers are finding it harder and harder.  They may have the knowledge but bosses younger than them wonder about how many years they can give to the company, particularly when the super looms, the kids have left, and the mortgage is paid.  It’s said that we need to be a meritocracy again. Hire the best

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 4th of February 2025, our future involvement in the Paris Agreement's up in the air, with David Seymour hinting at ACT campaigning on leaving the accord after the 2026 Election.  Over the last six months, there's been a significant increase in search and rescue operations, compared to the year before. NZ Land Search and Rescue’s Johnny Franklin discussed the rising count.  New Centrix data shows reported financial hardship increased 19% in the past year, most of those cases were down to mortgage repayment issues.  Andrew shares his thoughts on youth struggling to get any work experience in the current job market.  Plus, Donna Demaio shares the latest on the 17 year old teenager who died in a shark attack.  Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country is desperate to go for growth. The question is: how? We got 3 points of view over the weekend - Friday it was the turn of Matthew Hooten. His piece was called New Zealand needs a strategic approach to building wealth like Singapore's Temasek. Temasek own and manage assets that are held directly by its government. They operate a major bank and insurance company, Singapore airlines, the country’s main port, and a load of other things. It's as if we’ve been investigating it for decades. Even Grant Robertson was interested but nothing’s ever happened. So it has cross party appeal, but why hasn’t it happened? Who knows. Ask the politicians - all talk no action.  On Sunday, it was the turn of Don Brash and Michael Reddell who in a shared piece said our problem is our low productivity. No kidding! Every politician says that and none have come up with an answer. Brash and Reddell's only proffered solution is to lower company tax rates to attract overseas and local investment. They clai

US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on goods coming from Canada, Mexico and China, sparking fears of a trade war. China is facing 10% on imports, while Canada and Mexico will see 25%.  Canada has already hit back with retaliatory 25% tariffs for the US.  Geopolitical Analyst Geoffrey Miller talks to Andrew Dickens about what these decisions will mean for the US and if New Zealand has to be wary.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phase two of the Covid-19 inquiry begins today, creating space for the public to submit feedback around key decisions the New Zealand government made during the pandemic. Whether it is vaccine mandates, lockdowns, extended lockdowns, rat tests, and tracing, anyone can have their say.  How will this phase differ from the first initiative?  Matthew Hague is a lawyer who defended a client who didn't want the COVID jab, and talks to Ryan Bridge about what this new phase means.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happened over the weekend in sport? Newstalk ZB's Andrew Alderson joins the show to discuss the India v England T20 match, Auckland FC's 'impressive' win, Lydia Ko's struggle and the NFL heading to Australia.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 3 February. 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's confidence from the wool sector that Kainga Ora will learn the value of wool carpets.  The social housing agency's back-tracking on a previous ban after using synthetic carpets for more than a decade.  It will now allow wool carpet providers to tender for carpet and underlay contracts.  Campaign for Wool general manager Kara Biggs told Andrew Dickens there's an opportunity to show Kainga Ora how wool can compete on price and value now.  She says that wool is natural, flame resistant, warmer, and more absorbent, which means it's a better and healthier alternative for those in community housing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand remains in the dark about Donald Trump's tariff plan, as new data shows the US has overtaken Australia as our second largest destination for exported goods.  Business NZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard told Andrew Dickens blanket tariffs wouldn't have the same impact as targeted tariffs.  She says it would mean the cost will be passed on to the US consumer rather than having to be absorbed by exporters, and we would still be competitive against other markets.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 31 January. 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.

Children's Minister Karen Chhour has reversed an Oranga Tamariki decision to pull funding from the Barnardos helpline. It comes after Oranga Tamariki providers were given little notice their funding would end last year, a process the Auditor General is looking into. The Minister has told Oranga Tamariki to pause it's review of funding and extend existing contracts with providers until the end of the year. Barnardos Chief Executive Matt Reid has welcomed the reversal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So the word of the week was privatisation. It became a debate because David Seymour said we should do it now in his state of the nation speech on Monday. So obviously the media asked the Prime Minister want  he thinks of the junior coalition partner’s thoughts. And Christopher Luxon vacillated, he gave the cautious political answer trying not to upset anyone. It's something we might look at, but not without a mandate, so we might campaign on it in 2 years time. So it won’t happen for two years, or maybe more,  so don’t worry about. We’re cool. It was an answer so convoluted that obviously the media asked more questions. And then of course the people said bloody media, trying to stir up trouble with their leftist bias.  But it was the Prime Minister's fault for faffing about trying not to upset anyone or more specifically the centre left and nationalists who hate it. Well that didn't work. Why couldn’t he just say good idea, we agree, next time.  Because we all know he agrees with the idea,

Auckland Council's sounding the alarm over a spike in rubbish-truck fires this month.  It says more and more risky batteries and battery-powered devices are being illegally dumped in bins.  In December alone, nearly 600 laptops and more than 300 12-volt batteries ended up in Auckland’s regional recycling facility.  Parul Sood, Auckland Council’s Deputy Director of Resilience and Infrastructure, told Andrew Dickens that the council website has a list of places you can take e-waste, and many retailers actually offer to take it back for free.  She says it’s a community responsibility to do the right thing, so people just need to spend a little more time thinking before automatically tossing something in the rubbish bin.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.