Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

British Police are still asking the public not to speculate as to why a 53-year-old businessman drove his car into a massive crowd of people in Liverpool. Seventy nine people - among those celebrating Liverpool Football Club's league title - were hurt; seven remain in hospital. Paul Doyle faces six charges related to grievous bodily harm, and one of dangerous driving. He'll first appear in court this weekend. Doyle is a former Royal Marine, believed to have served in the 90s. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, Friday the 30th of May Full Show Podcast 2025, the Ministry of Education's been ordered to prosecute parents who who don't regularly send their children to school, Darfield school Principal Andy England shares his thoughts.  Beef and Lamb NZ are praising the government's RMA announcement Chairperson Kate Acland explains it's benefits.  New data on plane arrivals shows Air New Zealand is falling behind, Aviation Commentator Peter Clark shares his thoughts.  Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney shares the latest on police naming the man charged in relation to a car crash during the Liverpool parade.  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 price of butter's shot up 65% over the past year - you might have noticed nana's cookie jar's a bit empty lately.  Bakers are buying in bulk from the Aussies, where it's cheaper. Online discussion blames our dairy farmers, the co-op that buys their milk, and the producers who sell it.  But, there are a couple of reason its cheaper there than here.  1) We export a hell of a lot more to the world than the Aussies do.  In 2023, they exported 9.4 tonnes. We exported 441 tonnes. They exported 2% of the quantity we did.  That means our price is more susceptible to the international market price. We export most of our butter, we pay the international price.  Australia on the other hand, eats a lot more of its own and exports less.  This is good and bad. It mean we pay the trade price, yes, but it also means when the price is high, as it has been lately, our largest company Fonterra does well. Our farmers do well. They spend money here and drive growth in our economy which we al

A lack of consensus at the Reserve Bank on yesterday’s cut to the OCR reflects the global economic uncertainty.  The Monetary Policy Committee has dropped the cash rate 25-basis points to 3.25%, and now expects to reach a 2.9% low-point in December.  However, further cuts are uncertain, with the bank adopting a watch and wait approach.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge they still believe we’ll get another cut next month, but it’s uncertain how far the Bank will go.  He says it’s possible we will pause at some point.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Grocery Action Group is unconvinced by a proposal to rapidly add competition to the grocery sector.  The New Zealand Initiative wants the Government to introduce a "fast track pathway" to allow new entrants to enter the market, rather than forcing any break-up of the existing supermarket companies.  It includes streamlining rezoning, consenting and investment clearance processes.  The group's Sue Chetwin told Ryan Bridge it's more of a nice to have.  She says to get more competitors, the government will need to force existing supermarkets to give up some of their stores.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's an expectation it will take two years to get the number of international students in vocational education back to pre-Covid levels. There were about 75-thousand international students in New Zealand last year - 40% less than a peak in 2016. Vocational Minister Penny Simmonds says told Ryan Bridge centralising Polytech's into Te Pukenga is a big factor, as it caused a financial mess. She says it's been a nightmare, which is being unpicked. Te Pukenga is being disestablished by January, with power then going back to individual Polytech's. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Reserve Bank rate cut.  It was largely as expected - 25 basis points. The rest of the press conference and much of the Monetary Policy Statement itself was focused on the ‘unpredictable’ global environment.  We can’t say this because we don’t know what Trump will do. We can’t be certain about that because XYZ. Trade war, etc, etc. But at what point does unpredictability become predictable, and therefore not the great threat we make it out to be? Yes, Trump went nuts on Liberation day. The sky fell in, then he calls a ceasefire in May. The markets have recouped all their losses, the indices are patchy but largely back to where they were. Trade talks are ongoing. The IMF yesterday upgraded Britain’s growth. US consumer confidence actually increased last month. China’s industrial growth for April was positive yesterday. Our agriculture exports are doing the business abroad.  Trump rants and raves on twitter. He un-announces stuff as quickly as he announces stuff.  He’s

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 29th of May 2025,  The Reserve Bank cut the OCR by 25 basis points, ASB bank Chief Economist Nick Tuffley shares his thoughts.  International student numbers are down in Secondary schools and for vocational training, Minister for vocational education Penny Simmonds tells Ryan Bridge what the Government's doing to help.  The New Zealand Initiative has come up with a plan to bring competition to the grocery sector, Sue Chetwin from the Grocery Action Group shares her thoughts. Plus US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on the US government halting international student Visa appointments.  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.

Renewed warnings that people are 'rolling the dice with their life' when partaking in 'run it straight' style games.  Ryan Satterthwaite has died after a private version of the game in Palmerston North.   The 19-year-old suffered a serious brain injury on Sunday and died in hospital on Monday.   AUT Human Performance Professor Patria Hume told Ryan Bridge Police can intervene in these games, particularly at official events.  She says event organisers are legally required to ensure the health and safety of participants.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major questions about how a man was able to drive his car into a massive crowd in Liverpool yesterday, injuring 50.  Eleven people remain in hospital, all in a stable condition and recovering.  A 53-year-old British man has been arrested for attempted murder.  Fans of Liverpool Football Club had flooded the city's streets to celebrate its Premier League title win.  Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge the driver defied police traffic management by following an ambulance into the area.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Port of Auckland's fee hikes are a bitter pill to swallow for transport operators.  The port has announced a 77% increase for trucks entering the Fergusson Container Terminal during peak times – going from $130 to $230 by July next year.   National Road Carriers Chief Executive Justin Tighe-Umbers told Ryan Bridge it's not so simple to work off peak, as they don't have the workforce to cover those hours.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Wednesday 28th of May, It's OCR day today, Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold shares his thoughts on what the Reserve Bank will do.  A 19 year old has died from a 'run-it-straight' style game with his friends, AUT Human Performance Professor Patria Hume warns about the risk of letting these events continue.  Auckland's port is hiking its access fees once again, National Road Carriers Association Chief Executive Justin Tighe-umbers tells Ryan Bridge about the impacts it'll have. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the car that drove through closed off streets at the celebration parade for Liverpool Football Club.  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 Reserve Bank's expected to cut interest rates again this afternoon, to aid economic recovery.  Economists are projecting a 25 basis point OCR cut to 3.25% - the lowest cash rate since September 2022.  Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold says beyond that, there's a bit more debate.  He says told Ryan Bridge Westpac is forecasting they'll stop at three percent.  Eckhold says next year if the global environment looks weak, then inflation could fall back quite rapidly - so some commentators are suggesting rates could get to 2.5%.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happened in Palmerston North with the death of this young man was an absolute tragedy. We don't know exactly what happened here, other than it was linked to another viral challenge.  The sad reality is stuff like this will happen again. And again. And again.  The campaigners and professionals will warn about the dangers.  And then kids will be kids, and another craze will come along and somebody else will get hurt or worse. Ten years ago… remember planking? The came skin art, where young people paint sunscreen on some parts of their bodies and burn the rest in the sun.  An American family lost their son to the infamous blackout challenge, where kids choke themselves or their friends for fun. For ages teenagers, especially boys, have played bullrush, drank to excess, and driven cars way too fast. Frontal lobes don’t develop properly until age 25. That’s when reason overtakes risk in the brain. Behaviour changes. If you ask me honestly if society can ever prevent these tragedies from ha

New Zealand's greyhound racers aren't going without a fight.  Greyhound Racing NZ is applying for a judicial review of Racing Minister Winston Peters giving the industry 20 months to wind down, from last November.  Trainer Craig Roberts told Ryan Bridge he believes people have been fed misinformation about the industry.  He says about 95% of greyhound injuries aren't serious, and just prevent them racing for a short period of time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers are sounding the alarm, warning the sheep industry is collapsing.  Numbers in flocks have declined from 70 million just over 40 years ago to 25 million today.   Farmers say carbon farming is the main factor, with 260 thousand hectares of land converted into forestry between 2017 and 2024.  They say the farms harbour pests like stoats, feral pigs, and deer, which come onto their land and harm their livestock.  Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard told Ryan Bridge the problem has grown in the last three or four years – a lack of hunting during the Covid lockdowns seemingly allowing pests to breed.  He says as they redo the Biosecurity Act, they’ll be looking at the clause dictating a landowner must maintain and control pests within their boundary, to see if it needs tightening.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 43-year-old Australian man arrested in Bali for smuggling cocaine, could face the death penalty.  Lamar Aaron Ahchee was picked up by Police at the location where the drugs were allegedly delivered.  More than 200 small packages of cocaine were confiscated, weighing almost two kilograms.  Australian correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge Ahchee has yet to be charged, but has been presented to media at a press conference wearing an orange jumpsuit and black balaclava.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail NZ is calling for an urgent meeting with the police minister. RNZ reports staff have been directed to not investigate shoplifting below $500 and online fraud below $1000.  Police say they may not take look further into crime below the threshold and lacking evidence.  Retail NZ Advocacy Manager Ann-Marie Johnson told Ryan Bridge they know officers aren't going to turn up at every small incident. She says they just want to know Police are taking these crimes seriously and arresting where they can. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, Winston has definitively ruled out working with Chris Hipkins. Not Labour, but Hipkins.  He had of course already pretty much done this earlier in the year after his State of Nation address, in which called the Labour leadership a bunch of liars and unreformed losers.  But this is crystal clear now. He’s spoken to Thomas Coughlin at the Herald - it’s a firm no, thank you. This is interesting for two reasons. 1) Winston is a political wizard and knows how to read the room and play the game. This is not a random outburst. This is a calculated decision based on the path he thinks will get New Zealand First back to the Treasury benches. By virtue of ruling out Hipkins, assuming he doesn’t get rolled and replaced, Winston has reduced his bargaining power. Which is not an outcome a kingmaker takes lightly.  The key to his success on the campaign trail has always been as much about what he stands against as what he stands for - immigration and Treaty issues spring to mind. He’s decided that in 202

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 27th of May 2025, Retail NZ's Ann Marie Johnson tells Ryan Bridge why they've has called for an urgent meeting with Police Minister Mark Mitchell after Police were told to no longer investigate allegations of shop lifting below $500.  Greyhound racing New Zealand are calling for a judicial review into the Government's decision to ban the sector, Greyhound trainer Craig Roberts shares what the ban will mean for him. Federated Farmers are warning of declining sheep numbers, Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard tells Ryan Bridge what this means from a Government stand point.  Ryan Bridge shares his thoughts on Winston Peters ruling out working with Chris Hipkins.  Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on a snap ban on machetes in Victoria after a violent brawl in a suburban shopping centre. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.