Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

It's been another tough year for Fletcher Building.  The construction giant's announced a net loss of $419 million, compared to a loss of $227 million last year.  It's pondering selling its residential and development division and continues to consider offers for its construction division and other subsidiaries.  Building Industry Federation CEO Julian Leys told Ryan Bridge Fletcher’s loss underscores the broader downturn they’re seeing across the whole sector.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fact a terrorist attack on New Zealand remains a future possibility is coming as no surprise to one security expert. A Security Intelligence Service report states we're facing one of the most challenging national security environments in recent times.   It's kept our terrorism threat at low, indicating an attack is realistically possible.  Massey University's John Battersby told Ryan Bridge he's often been critical of Kiwis' complacency.   He says all of the things listed in this threat assessment have existed for quite some time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A steady slide to the OCR is gently flowing through to households.  The Reserve Bank's cut the cash rate from 5.5% to 3% over the past 13 months and is also signalling further possible cuts on the way.  Assistant Governor Karen Silk says many people have been fixing on higher short-term rates while they hold out for lower long-term rates.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Ryan Bridge it’s important that monetary policy can stimulate the economy, and the Reserve Bank has made a clear decision to ensure interest rates can fall further.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 21st of August 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis shares her thoughts on the Reserve Bank cutting the OCR by 25 basis points to 3%.  A violent extremist attack in New Zealand is a realistic possibility, according to the NZSIS Massey University security expert John Battersby gives his take.  Fletchers suffered a net loss of over $400 million last year, Building Industry Federation Chief Executive Julian Leys tells Ryan what their poor performance mean for the industry as a whole.  Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on US and European military planners beginning exploring post-conflict security guarantees for Ukraine. 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.

Remember just a few weeks ago how Sir John Key wanted 100 point cut from Reserve Bank? We'll, they've almost given him what he wants.  It's easy to be an armchair critic of the boffins down at Number 2 The Terrace - "They should have gone for 50." "Club 25 was too cautious."  But markets listen as much to the guff after the big cut announcement as much as they do the actual announcement. Need proof? Already retail banks have started slashing mortgage rates, both variable and fixed.  That's on top of the cuts they already made last week, pricing in yesterday's 25.  Some of the big ones will, in the coming weeks - I reckon we'll get down to 4.5% on short-term fixed. Look how the currency markets reacted - these guys were surprised.  Coming out with what is essentially a triple shot to 2.5% by Christmas sends is sending a strong signal. It's easy to get caught up in the hysteria of calls for double shot all at once, but the bank can have its cake and eat it too. Get businesses

Economists are expecting a 25 point basis cut from today's OCR announcement, but it could be the last one for a while.   The Reserve Bank will announce it's decision at 2pm.   Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold says last time around there were more notable arguments among the board. He told Ryan Bridge at least one member of the board didn't want to cut last time around.   Eckhold says with those sort of debates going around, it makes further cuts less certain.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes for our electricity sector could just be small steps in levelling the playing field.  New Electricity Authority rules will require generators to sell energy to everyone at the same rate.  This will stop our big four companies, known as gentailers, offering themselves discounts and limiting competition.  Octopus Energy Chief Operating Officer Margaret Cooney told Ryan Bridge she's afraid new rules won't crack down enough on the big four.   She says there's been lots of small steps, but it would be good to actually get to the nub of these issues.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 20 August. 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.

Belief changes to class sizes and staffing are needed to improve writing achievement at intermediate level. The Government's launching a new digital tool for students sitting below the standard and introducing more professional development in literacy.  New data shows only a quarter of Year Eight students achieved their curriculum writing level last year.  Auckland's Remuera Intermediate Principal Kyle Brewerton told Ryan Bridge these poor figures are due to a lack of resourcing. He says there's big class sizes and little staffing, while in high school it's vice versa. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electricity and groceries are your two big ticket inflation targets. Punters want to pay less for both. There are nuclear options available: Cut the gentailers in half by force. Those pro-wrecking ball argue if you force them to separate out the generation side of the business from the retail, you’d create more competition and lower prices. You could do a similar thing with the supermarkets. One idea is to force Foodstuffs and Woolworths to sell 120 supermarkets and a third of their six distribution centres to a third player. Hey presto. The duopoly’s dead. Long live Queen Nicola. Now we’re still waiting to see what cat Willis will pull out of her shopping bag on this. She has advice and considering the options. Here’s what I think she’ll do: We can get clues from the way they’re handling electricity, which is basically minor changes to bits and pieces around the edges on stuff like the super peak hedging contracts, and if things don't change, look out - we'll regulate. We'll be meaner and tougher. There

Former Qantas workers are claiming victory over its $90 million fine for illegally sacking more than 1800 workers.   The court's found outsourcing baggage handlers, cleaners, and ground staff in 2020 was done to curb union bargaining powers.   Qantas says this judgment holds them accountable.  Australian Correspondent Lesley Yeomans told Ryan Bridge $50 million of the fine will be going to the Transport Workers Union, and what happens with the other $40 million will be decided at a later date.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another dairy sector shake-up.  Infant formula and dairy company a2 Milk is buying the Yashili plant in Pokeno and selling its majority stake in the Mataura Valley plant in Gore to Open Country Dairy.  A2 Milk's announcement comes as it reports a 21% rise in profit, off the back of a 9.3% rise in revenue.  Forsyth Barr Senior Analyst Matt Montgomerie told Ryan Bridge a2 has stood out over the last couple of years, consistently exceeding expectations despite operating in a relatively tough formula market in China.  He says the decision to acquire the plant in Pokeno is quite a big step in continuing that growth pathway.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Praise for new building consenting rules.   The Government will change liabilities, holding parties responsible for their share of work.   Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming says the building guarantee or building system should be mandated.   He told Ryan Bridge that will add cost to the price of building, but it's minuscule in the scale of things.   Fleming says on a $500,000 project, a guarantee would cost just $1,500.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A reasonable chance of the Russia-Ukraine war ending if a trilateral meeting with both country's leaders occurs. This comes from Donald Trump ahead of today's big meeting at the White House. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived, along with several European leaders.  Russia's President Vladimir Putin met with Trump on Saturday, and Trump says he'll have a phone call with him after today's talks.  Trump says the whole world is tired of the war, and they’re going to get it ended. Feature Story News US Correspondent Nick Harper shares the latest.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 19th of August 2025, Trump is meeting Zelensky and EU leaders at the White house to discuss peace talks, US Correspondent Nick Harper has the latest.  Forsyth Barr analyst Matt Montgomerie shares his thoughts on A2 Milk posting a $200 million profit and purchasing Yashii NZ's plant in Pokeno.  The Government's made some changes to building consents, Certified Builders CEO tells Ryan about the difference it'll make.  Plus Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans has the latest on Qantas now facing a $90 million penalty for outsourcing ground staff during Covid.  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.

In the last week we’ve had a smorgasbord of small, seemingly minor stories hitting the headlines. Helmets or no helmets for cyclists. Which name comes first on the cover of our passports. A ban then reversal on marshmallows in hot chocolates from the coffee machine at hospitals.  Not a single one of these stories is significant on their own.  But they’re the kind of stories people remember because they either simply make no sense or appear to be a colossal waste of time. Most working families can’t afford to even use their passports right now. A Hawaiian holiday - nope. The only ones dusting off travel IDs are moving across the ditch! Is this the stuff your average punter wanting to feed their kids actually cares about?  No.  The Clark Government got bogged down by a bunch of these silly little things. Think the size of shower heads and light bulbs. Instead of asking officials whether little Johnny should be allowed to ride a bike without a helmet (something no decent parent would allow an

Following the food inflation figures from Friday, Foodstuffs has challenged StatsNZ’s numbers.  On Friday, StatsNZ reported a 5.0% rise in the year to July.  But Foodstuffs is reporting a 3.4% year on year increase – arguing they have a clearer measure of grocery prices.  Sue Chetwin from Grocery Action Group told Ryan Bridge that StatsNZ is including restaurants and takeaways in their reporting, which is throwing off their final stats.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe's leaders are rallying together to discuss Ukrainian security with Donald Trump.   Over the weekend Vladimir Putin met with the US President in Alaska, which concluded without any movement.   Now, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France's Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky are some of the leaders meeting in Washington tomorrow to continue discussions.    European Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge their biggest fear will be the press conference being ambushed again, like it was for Zelensky last time.   He says Europe wants to show solidarity no matter what happens as a result of negotiations with Russia.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 18 August. 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.

We are well on our way to a collective one trillion dollars in debt. In the year to the end of May, New Zealand hit just over 870-billion in gross debt - up 5.4 percent from almost 830-billion last year. It represents an average of just over 160-thousand dollars in raw debt for every person in the country. At the current rate of growth, New Zealand will hit the trillion dollar landmark,  inside the next three years. That rate has eased in the past two years as the Government has sought to curb borrowing, and the housing market has been flat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.