Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

The primary sector's going gangbusters, with a billion-dollar monthly trade surplus for the first time in five years.  Stats NZ data reveals it sat on $1.4 billion in April, compared with a $12 million deficit for the same time last year.  The dairy sector's been the big winner.  Federated Farmers Dairy Chairperson Richard McIntyre told Ryan Bridge a lot of dairy farmers have smiles on their faces.  He says they're proud of their contribution to the economy, and the wider standard of living they help Kiwis generate.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's soon going to see if the Government will stay true to its proclaimed 'year of growth'.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis is hours away from unveiling her second budget and is promising no frills or excess.   It's been slowly teasing figures, with a vast majority of initiatives being funded through cost-savings and cuts.  Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges told Ryan Bridge it'll need a sufficient response to where the country is at.  He says businesses will be looking for strong, clear evidence of the "going for growth" agenda.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Providing I make it to 65, and you don't count your blessings, but assuming for a second that I do, I don't expect I'll be receiving the full pension.  And you know what? I'd rather receive less, at a later age, than pay more taxes through my working life. In 2006, the number of Kiwis aged 65+ was 495,000. It's increasing by about 80 people a day and is likely to reach 1 million by 2028. By 2050? 1.5 million.  Compared to the OECD, we have the highest basic pension paid from general taxes. With fewer young people working to support it, Treasury has long forecast a cost blowout and the need for much higher taxes to afford this system.  Personally, I'd like to take a pass on that.  With about another 30 years on the clock before reaching this magical age, how much extra tax must I pay?  Which colour government will be in charge when the inevitable happens?  Why can't I instead invest my own money, and with the help of compounding returns, hopefully set myself up for my own retireme

The Government has identified increased foreign investment as an important strategy to raise economic growth. Shane Jones told Ryan Bridge to pay attention through the course of the day. He says if we're not happy about using coal we have to think of other ways to boost the gas industry and interest in New Zealand.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 22nd of May 2025, It's Budget day today, Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges and Council of Trade Unions Economist Craig Renney tell Ryan Bridge what we can expect.  Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is making a case for Octopus farming, he tells Ryan why it could benefit us.  We had a trade surplus of 1.4 billion dollars in April... the first time we've topped the billion dollar mark in five years, Richard McIntyre Federated Farmers Dairy Chairperson shares what it means for exporters.  Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on South African President Ramaphosa is meeting President Trump.  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.

Z Energy is looking to top up the supermarket conversation.  Newsroom reports the gas station chain is expanding its grocery offering as part of a diversification push.  Chief Executive Lindis Jones says it will target customers looking for convenience between their large shops – for snacks or staples.  Monopoly Watch spokesperson Tex Edwards told Ryan Bridge it's still not going to solve competition between supermarkets, which is hurting the economy.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Postponement of the Privileges Committee recommendations in Parliament gives National a chance to take the moral high ground.  The debate of the suspension recommendations for those who did a haka during the Treaty Principles Bill's vote last year was adjoined after 20 minutes.  The Leader of the House Chris Bishop moved the vote until June 5th, to leave this week free for the Budget.   Political commentator Brigitte Morten told Ryan Bridge National clearly showed they know how to use the rules of Parliament.  She says they've therefore been able to take the high ground and let the Te Pati Māori MPs be there for the Budget.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report from JLL says almost 255-thousand square metres of new retail space is needed over the next five years, to meet demand. It says Kiwi consumers still value in-store shopping, despite the rise of online shopping. Retail NZ's Ann-Marie Johnson says told Ryan Bridge this shows there's a positive future for retail following a tough period for the industry. She says we've been through cycles like this before - and it will eventually end. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 21st of May 2025, House leader Chris Bishop revealed a last-minute decision to delay the vote on Te Pati Maori's privileges committee punishment, Political commentator Brigitte Morten shares her thoughts. A new report from JLL we need nearly 250,000 square metres of new retail space in the next five years to keep up with demand, Retail NZ's Ann-Marie Johnson shares her thoughts. Z energy wants to roll out grocery offerings, Monopoly Watch Spokesperson Tex Edwards tells Ryan Bridge what this will mean for competition in the grocery sector.  Plus Gavin Grey has the latest on the UK suspending trade talks with Israel and summoning its ambassador. 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.

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.