Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Politics is all about perception and the perception of his last time on the ninth floor was bad for three reasons.  Crime - they were too soft.  Spending - too much waste. And debt - too much with nothing to show for it. All of this fed into the cost-of-living crisis. Basically, Labour was too loose on the purse strings and the gangs, too harsh on businesses and middle New Zealand.  Yesterday, Hipkins stood up in the Parliament and argued for shorter sentences for some MPs after gun-gesture-gate.  Arguing for a reduced sentence from 21 days to 1 day was ill-advised.  No matter where you sit on the actual debate, politically for Chippy in the eyes of the middle voter, it was a bad move.  Arguing for a 95% discount on sentencing just plays into a narrative they ought to avoid like the plague.  That was strike three.  Strike two came earlier in the day on debt.  He refused to commit to the debt ceiling of 50% of GDP.  It's the sacred threshold Treasury warns we s

A view that AI could be used as a tool in school exams in the future.  NZQA investigated 876 alleged exam breaches last year, and almost 60 involved AI.  Principals believe the technology was used in some of the 200-odd authenticity breaches.  Canterbury University Associate Professor of Digital Education Kathryn MacCallum told Ryan Bridge AI use is seen as cheating, which isn't always true.  She says writing an essay can still be an assessment of a student's learning with AI, we just need to change the way we assess.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament's Speaker will hold all the power in today's vote on three Te Pati Māori MPs.  The Privileges Committee's proposing 21-day suspensions for the party's leaders, and a seven-day suspension for MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke for their behaviour at last year's Treaty Principles Bill vote.   The public gallery will be closed for safety and security reasons.  Political Commentator Liam Hehir told Ryan Bridge the punishment is unprecedented but so is the offence.  He says the suspension needs to be looked at in the context that these were never before seen actions.  Hehir says it's an unusual situation, as the debate technically has no time limit.   He says Speaker Gerry Brownlee has the unique ability to regulate how long people speak, tell them if they're repeating themselves and close off debate.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government's set aside $65 million over four years to loosen the capitalisation rules for investors that could be putting them off.   Infrastructure NZ chief executive Nick Leggett says told Ryan Bridge this sends a signal to the world that New Zealand wants partners for building infrastructure. He says if people want a stronger economy and money to pay for schools and hospitals, infrastructure is vital to that. The Government's also allocating $10 million to help start-ups attract staff by deferring taxes on shares. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 20th of May 2025, the Government's announced it will allow foreign businesses to fund a bigger chunk of their investments in New Zealand through tax deductible debt, Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett shares what this will mean for investment in infrastructure.  Educators are cracking down on the use of AI in school exams, Dr Kathryn MacCallum Associate Professor of Digital Education Futures at University of Canterbury shares her thoughts.  Parliament votes on the decision to suspend three Te Pati Maori MPs today, Columnist and Political commentator Liam Hehir tells Ryan Bridge what he thinks will happen from here.  Plus, Donna Demaio has the latest on a new species of octopus found off the West Australian coast. 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.

Government debt is the worst it’s been since the 1990s but today, two days out from a Budget designed to fix it, our Parliamentarians be debating a haka.  The public largely doesn’t care about this stuff. Pocketbook politics always trumps theatrics - except if you're Te Pati Māori. No matter how today’s debate over the Privileges Committee report goes, and it could go on for a long time, Te Pati Māori wins. A loss for them in our Westminster system, what we might think of as a sanction or punishment, is to them a badge of honour. Already their well-followed social accounts are beating the drum of discontent.  There are some who say that 21 days without pay is too harsh. People are comparing the haka and Debbie’s gun gesture to Brooke's C-bomb.  They miss an important point.  Both the c-bomb and the haka were pre-planned choreographed stunts. The difference between the two is Brooke asked the Clerk in advance of her stunt if she was allowed to use the word. The answer was yes. Te Pati

Auckland FC have beaten Melbourne Victory by one point. It means the team is one game away from making the grand final. Newstalk ZB’s Andrew Alderson talks to Ryan Bridge about the game, Super Rugby over the weekend and Ryan Fox’s dreams coming true. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

London and the EU will hold their first bilateral summit tomorrow since Brexit. It’s a big moment for the bilateral bitterness provoked by Brexit. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey says it’s ‘a really significant moment.’ LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government will officially announce its annual budget this Thursday. It comes as Wellington’s economy has been particularly hit hard over the past 12 months. The capital’s seen public service job cuts, people working from home and slow infrastructure. What does the city need from the budget? Business Central CEO Simon Arcus talks to Ryan Bridge ahead of the budget. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Monday 19th of May Full Show Podcast 2025, the Government's committing $164 million over four years for five new 24/7 urgent healthcare clinics, Health Minister Simeon Brown has the details.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekends sport.  It's budget week this week, Business Central CEO Simon Arcus tells Ryan Bridge what's on the business Wishlist.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the EU and UK hold their first bilateral summit since Brexit. 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.

Improvements to urgent care are set to roll out over the next four years.  The Government is increasing funding by 164 million dollars - 41-million dollars a year.  Health Minister Simeon Brown says it will take pressure off the rest of the health system, especially our overburdened EDs.  He's laid out the order that each region will get the boost. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's a question for your Monday morning.  If somebody came up to you on the street and asked for DOB, next of kin, phone number, personal address, your interests, sports and hobbies.... what would you say?  Bugger off. Why do you want all that? What will you do with it? Do you need it?  and yet, when some random business asks you this stuff while you're buying shampoo or a computer mouse on the internet, we happily give it away, hand it over, pay for our loot (using a credit card number and password, then promptly think nothing more of it.  The reason we do this is because we're asked to do it. And we often don't have much choice.  If you don't answer those pesky questions with the asterisk on them.... you can't get the thing that yo want. Even if you've paid.  Privacy Commissioner has a new survey out. Survey says F-off, basically.  Two-thirds say protecting their personal information now a major concern in their lives (yes, major. Presumably up there with death and a mor

A large social services provider is welcoming the Government's new cross-sector social investment approach.  The Social Investment Fund is receiving $190 million in this years budget, aiming to invest in social services early to prevent future harm and save costs.  Social Service Providers Aotearoa CEO Belinda Himiona told Ryan Bridge it allows the work to be tracked across different government agencies.  She says it allows them to tackle the hard cases, not just one contract dealing with a particular issue like education.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC are heading across the ditch for the first leg of the A-League semifinal.  They’re facing off against the Melbourne Victory at Melbourne's AAMI Park on Saturday, before returning home to Mt Smart for the second leg.   CEO Nick Becker told Ryan Bridge they want to go in there tomorrow night and lay down their intentions.  He says the team won’t take anything for granted.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 16th of May 2025, Social investment is getting a boost, Belinda Himiona from Social Service Providers Aotearoa CEO shares her thoughts on $190 million going towards a new social investment fund.  Putin didn't turn up for peace talks with Ukraine, Kyiv based foreign policy and security analyst Jimmy Rushton tells Ryan Bridge what happens from here.  it's all go this weekend for Auckland FC ahead of the semi-final clash against Melbourne Victory on Saturday, Auckland FC Boss Nick Becker tells Ryan what we can expect.  Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on the UK PM is in talks about sending failed asylum seekers abroad. 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.

Questions have been raised over what can actually be achieved today with Russia and Ukraine both backing away from sending their leaders to peace talks in Turkey. After the Kremlin confirmed it's sending low-level official Vladimir Medinsky, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decided to send his Defence Minister instead. Zelenskyy says Russia isn't serious about real talks after he'd challenged Vladimir Putin to be there in person.  Kyiv based foreign policy analyst Jimmy Rushton told Ryan Bridge essentially, Putin had challenged Zelenskyy first. The timing of the meeting remains unconfirmed.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buongiorno! Italia is going to host the 38th America's Cup in summer 2027.  The Auld Mug once again heads to European waters - the first time the Italians will play host. They've had the World Series but never the big one. It'll be Mt Vesuvius in the background, not Rangitoto. Pizza lining the bellies of fans, not fish and chips. Auckland has missed, which we already knew. Athens has missed out. Giorgia Meloni's excited. Luna Rossa, obviously pumped.  But the question for you this morning: do you wake up feeling jealous? Was there a pit of disappointment in your stomach? Do we lambaste our messily, stingy government for not prioritising a sailing race?  My feelings are, well it's nice they have somewhere to sail and good luck to them.  But I don't feel FOMO. We were on the hook for tens of millions of dollars - Wayne hasn't got his bed tax, yet.  Politically, it was the right call, too.  Imagine with this announcement coming a week out from Budget Day the outcry from the unions a

A US parole board will decide next month if infamous brothers serving life sentences can be freed, after their sentences have been reduced.   Erik and Lyle Menendez killed their parents in 1989.   An LA judge has now resentenced the pair to "50 years to life", with time served making them instantly eligible for parole.   US Correspondent Toni Waterman told Ryan Bridge the brothers have always maintained they killed their parents as they feared they would be killed after years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father.  She says that over the years, family members have come out and advocated for them.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stage is set in Turkey for a potentially historic meeting in a few hours between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's personally attending and has challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to do the same.  It has now been confirmed that Putin will not attend the meeting, but the Kremlin had previously refused to confirm either way.  BBC Senior Russia Reporter Olga Ivshina told Ryan Bridge that Putin follows his own logic – which is quite unpredictable.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Signs of systemic failures when it comes to our children.   UNICEF's Innocenti research reveals New Zealand's recorded the highest child suicide rate of 36 countries, and ranks last for mental wellbeing.   It also finds we have one of the highest rates of child obesity and bullying.   UNICEF Aotearoa's Tania Sawicki Mead told Ryan Bridge that although some of the decrease in life satisfaction can be attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, it wasn’t the only factor.  She says that the suicide rate didn’t shift significantly enough over the period pre- or post-Covid to make a dent in the statistics.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.