Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Producers want pork from abroad plated up with transparency.  The Government's raising minimum spacing requirements to 13% while time in farrowing crates drops from 33 days to just seven.  Farmers need to implement the changes by 2035.  NZ Pork Chief Executive Brent Kleiss told Ryan Bridge 60% of Kiwis eat imported pork, so it would be ideal to introduce standards for them too.  He says if consumers were able to see clearer information about where their pork is coming from, it would give them more choice.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 3 October. 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.

One of Māoridom's biggest movements has split with Te Pati Māori.   Toitu Te Tiriti —which led the hikoi on Parliament last year— has voted to distance itself from the party. Leader Eru Kapa-King is the Party's former vice President and son of one of its current MPs - has told Te Ao Māori news the party has a dictatorship model of leadership.  Labour leader Chris Hipkins says Te Pati Māori has internal issues it needs to work through. Political Commentator, Liam Hehir shares his thoughts.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At what point do you say this local government election's a failure, a flop, not worth the paper it's written on? I think we're fast approaching that point now.  Even in Auckland - our biggest city. Super-City. With the most responsibility, the biggest burden to shoulder after amalgamation, the turnout with two weeks left to go is 9.2%. Last year it was 35%. That's not a mandate. It's a vote of no confidence in the entire system.  If you think about it, it's not like Kiwis aren't engaged in democracy. We come in national elections at a rate closer to 80%.  So, you ask yourself, what's the problem with local government? Two things.  1. Too many of them. You axe all regional councils, half the number of local ones. And turn the system from Council-Mayor to Mayor-Council. We have 78 local authorities for 5 million people. It's nuts.  Once they get to the council table, the mayor becomes a cuck to whatever looney tune nut-bar has made it on there with a few hundred votes and a dream of ri

Property values have ticked up again after a five-month fall.  Cotality data shows property values in New Zealand edged up by 0.1% in September.  Across the main centres, Wellington dipped by 0.4%, with Auckland also down 0.2%.  It follows a cumulative -1.6% drop over the five months to August.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge the regions that are doing the best are the ones who have had good export outcomes or tourism seasons.  Tauranga for example, he said, has had two bumper seasons of kiwifruit exports.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Federal Government workers are bracing for days without pay.  Republican and Democrat lawmakers have been unable to reach an agreement on a spending bill.  US correspondent Mitch McCann says the shutdown's likely to last almost two weeks.  He told Ryan Bridge until then, affected staff aren't getting paid, even if they're in essential roles.  McCann says people like airport security staff and park rangers are expected to keep working every day without pay.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Gut Cancer Foundation says author and broadcaster Nigel Latta played a vital role in raising awareness of the disease.  The high-profile clinical psychologist has died from stomach cancer this week – he was 58.  He was heavily involved with the Gut Cancer Foundation following his diagnosis, educating people about the symptoms and risk factors.  Foundation CEO Liam Willis told Ryan Bridge the increased awareness means people are more likely to get themselves assessed.  He says the earlier these cancers are detected, the better the chances of survival.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 2 October. 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.

Disappointment the Government's energy reforms haven't prioritised keeping electricity prices down. Changes include allowing Crown-controlled gentailers more government capital for projects, plans for a new gas import terminal and giving the Electricity Authority more power. Electric Kiwi CEO Huia Burt told Ryan Bridge this could result in wholesale prices reducing by about 2% per annum. She says that amounts to a few dollars off a power bill, but for a bold reform, we'd be talking hundreds of dollars less per year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday was MMP in action. It was exhibit A of a coalition government. Without a single party with a clear mandate, you end up with piecemeal positions. You get a report done then you cherry pick which options are palatable to everybody and effective for nobody. In this case they picked just two of the ten options. Seymour would have liked the option of flogging off the 51% of energy companies we do own, but on the other hand, Matua Shane wanted the buy the rest back.  It’s what we call a political halfway house.  Critics on this side say we needed more intervention, critics on that side say less. What we voters need decide is whether this country needs bold action or incrementalism. Do we need radical, or do we want to comprise? In 2020, Jacinda scored the first single party majority since 1993 (first under MMP) then burned the reputation of absolute power. Let’s be real - nobody’s going to give National carte blanche come 2026. So if the polls, Mood of the Boardroom, and talk on the st

Faster access to primary and specialist mental health and addiction care is having a flow-on effect.  The latest data shows nearly 84% of people are accessing primary care within a week, surpassing the government's target, while 80.3% are accessing specialist support within three weeks.  Some regions, including Northland, Gisborne and Nelson Marlborough don't meet either of the targets.  Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey told Ryan Bridge the work continues, but it's good to see some signs of improvement.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on Hamas as Donald Trump gives it three or four days to respond to his proposed peace plan.   The deal would end the war, see hostages returned, Israeli troops pulled out of Gaza, and Trump leading an interim Government.   It's been supported by our Foreign Minister Winston Peters as well as European and Middle Eastern leaders.  CBS Jerusalem correspondent Linda Gradstein told Ryan Bridge there's been very little indication of what Hamas will do.   She says initial reports suggest Hamas is leaning towards accepting the deal, and they're under a lot of pressure from Qatar.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s nothing quite like watching a well-thought-out strategy come together and work. And hats off to South Korea this morning — they’re absolutely smashing it when it comes to tourism. The government set a goal: 30 million visitors a year by 2030. In 2005, they had 6 million. Last year? 16 million. This year: they’re on track to hit 20 million. This isn’t happening by chance — it’s happening by design. Government and business have come together and gone all in on infrastructure and law changes. They’re extending an electronic visa-free travel pass. By the start of next year, they’ll have integrated ticketing for all public transport. You’ll use the same pass for major tourist attractions. Imagine catching the Waiheke ferry and doing the luge — all on one pass. There’s a big push on regional tourism. But their secret sauce? A cultural takeover of movies, TV shows, and music. That’s another industry they’ve invested in heavily — and now it’s paying dividends we could only dream of. We know this works — just

The energy sector's hopeful that Government reforms will be bold,  and address their concerns. Energy Minister Simon Watts is expected to announce reforms today, which will focus on issues the market hasn't been able to solve itself.  Major Electricity Users' Group Executive Director, Karen Boyes, says told Ryan Bridge Liquefied Natural Gas could be an option - as we're running out of domestic gas. She says LNG isn't the cheap option, but would guarantee more supply. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 1 October. 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.

The Reserve Bank has been learning lessons from its handling of the Covid pandemic.  Chief Economist Paul Conway says they now have a deeper understanding of supply shocks and the structural drivers of inflation and are better equipped for future shocks.  He says in hindsight, going earlier or harder to OCR hikes would have reduced inflation sooner.  New Zealand Initiative Chief Economist Eric Crampton told Ryan Bridge pumping money into a locked-down economy was the wrong approach.  He says it's great the Reserve Bank is recognising its mistakes now, but it would have been better if they'd recognised them earlier.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some building owners may decide it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to new earthquake standards.   The Government's eased regulations which will see Auckland, Northland, and the Chatham Islands removed from the regime.  Institute of Building Surveyors President Darryl August says while an earthquake isn't likely in Auckland, it could cause a lot of damage if it did happen.   He told Ryan Bridge even people in low-risk areas like Auckland should still have a look at their building.   August says there's nothing to stop people doing the repairs even if they aren't legally required.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 30 September. 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.

Health has always been a portfolio MPs never want a bar of. You never win. Endless fights with the unions. People waiting for surgery. Constant pressure to keep up with technology. And it’s deeply personal for those who don’t get the care they need - it’s literally life-and-death stuff. So if the numbers Simeon Brown is putting out are to be believed—and I’ve no reason to doubt them—then he deserves some credit. Cancer wait times, immunisations, elective surgeries, and ED numbers are all heading in the right direction. It’s by no means “job done,” and some of the movement is only a few percent—quarter-on-quarter comparisons. But for a government the media would have you believe is traditionally stingy and ineffective in health, at least we now have measurable results to compare. And they’re not terrible. Labour will come out today and slam this. They’ll say grandma’s hip operation is being farmed out to the private sector. And you know what grandma will say? Who cares—I’ve got a new hip. This is all short-ter

Belief improvements are being made in the health system, but they don't show the full story. Quarterly data shows improvements around cancer treatment access, childhood immunisation rates, ED stays, and wait times. Health Minister Simeon Brown says it shows the system is turning a corner.  Former Health NZ Chair Rob Campbell told Ryan Bridge there are inconsistencies in how targets are measured, such as when ED wait times begin. He says information is often structured to meet targets in the health service and other organisations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.