Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

A weather expert says creating one state weather forecasting system is the right decision.  The Government's announced it's agreed in-principle to NIWA acquiring MetService - merging the two.   Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says streamlining the two will make it easier to access information from a single trusted source and improve response to severe weather events.  WeatherWatch head forecaster Phillip Duncan told Ryan Bridge that it’s been a bit of a weird journey to get to this point, but it’s definitely the right thing.  He said that a government having two opposing agencies doing weather forecasts and saying different things is a recipe for disaster.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks kept their grip on the Bledisloe Cup last week, beating the Wallabies 31-28 in Sydney. However, they still have another test to play, the second Bledisloe Cup test being the All Blacks’ final home test for the year. Elliott Smith, Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby, told Ryan Bridge that the team needs to get their “20 minute jinx” sorted out as it’s becoming a real problem for the team. He said they were still good enough to get the win against Australia last week, but they need to sort that out, and find some points in the last twenty minutes of the game. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland principal says teaching isn't a job, it's a service. The Government's instructing schools to have Stepped Attendance Response plans by 2026. It's also instructed them not to take teacher-only days in term time, unless authorised by the Minister. May Road Primary School principal Lynda Stuart told Ryan Bridge that it’s a complex situation because she knows that in her school, teachers are basically just limping towards the end of the term. She says that teachers need time in the holidays to recuperate before they’re back in their classrooms preparing for next term, and they don't have as long of holidays as some people think. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thank God the UN General Assembly is underway in New York. Nothing solves global conflict like a good UNGA session.  I've been to one of these before, back when John Key was the Prime Minister – there was a resolution on Iran.  A lot of sitting around talking and listening, which as Winston Peters pointed out yesterday, is quite important!  Netanyahu's enroute. Zelensky's there. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Putin the Pariah obviously won't be, but does anybody hold out any hope that the UN will fix the big issues? Magically solve the wars and conflict?  As we reported to you on Thursday's show, China's launching missiles into the South Pacific for the first time since the 1980s. A Japanese warship’s just sailed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time overnight. Israel's hammering Lebanon - today they said "no thanks” to a peace deal.  Putin's lowering the threshold for nuclear weapons. Trump says Ukraine is dead, and delegates are talking over the top of Winston Peters at

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 27th of September, David Seymour is cracking down on school attendance as new numbers show it's improving. But will the new moves, which could see parents prosecuted, work? May Road Principal Lynda Stuard joins the show. The two government owned weather forecasters NIWA and MetService could soon be one, with an agreement in-principal signed for NIWA to acquireMetService. Weatherwatch Head Analyst Philip Duncan speaks to Ryan about what the move means for our forecasting. The All Blacks will face Australia in Wellington this weekend their final home test this year. Can they make it the full 90 minutes? Newstalk ZB's voice of rugby Elliott Smith joins the show. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Donald Trump says an attack on a former President is a death wish for the attacker.  The former president's campaign team claims he's been briefed on a suspected Iranian assassination plot.  It follows a man being formally charged for an assassination attempt near Trump's Florida golf course and a shooting in July.  Correspondent Mitch McCann told Ryan Bridge that Trump's campaign sees the Iranian threats as real and specific.  He says these are different from other attempts on his life.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been a push for New Zealand to follow England's lead in combating obesity rates.  NHS figures suggest England's turned the tide on rising obesity rates for the first time in two decades.  Obesity rates in adults have remained stable for the past five years.  Auckland University nutrition expert Boyd Swinburn told Ryan Bridge rates will keep going up in New Zealand until something changes.  He says we've been told by WHO and panels across the world on what to implement - but the country hasn't listened.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins is doubling down on the idea of a shake-up to the tax system.  ANZ boss Antonia Watson says the "time has arrived" for a capital gains tax.  Both Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis rejected the call, joking that the boss of a big Australian bank just wants to take more money off Kiwis.  The Labour leader told Ryan Bridge New Zealand's tax system's loaded against working people because we're not taxing other forms of income.  He says salary and wage earners end up paying a disproportionate share of tax.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 26th of September, Chris Hipkins joins the show from the UK where he met the new Labour government and attended their annual conference.  Obesity rates in in England have stabilised for the first time in two decades. How do we use their numbers and lessons as an example to improve our shocking obesity rates here?  How do we make sure our long term infrastructure is up to scratch? Infrastructure NZ Chief Executive Nick Leggett gives his thoughts to Ryan.  Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Swedish authorities have accused Iranian intelligence of hacking into a text messaging service last year.  In 2023, several individuals in Sweden set fire to the Quran in public, prompting outage. The events were followed by 15,000 people receiving text messages calling for “revenge against the Quran-burners".  SAPO, the country’s Security Service, says the texts were sent by the Iranian Intelligence Service, connected to the Revolutionary Guards.  Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge that although they think they know who’s behind the mass-text, authorities are unable to do anything about it as there’s no extradition treaty.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s relief from the bus drivers union as the Government announces new measures to improve workplace safety.   It includes new aggravating factors in sentencing for attacks on transport workers and a $15 million injection into safety precautions.   Tramways Union President Gary Froggatt told Ryan Bridge that it’s another weapon in the armoury defending against this type of crime.  He said it will make some passengers think again before assaulting a bus driver, however it’s not going to be a solution on its own, and the sooner things like safety screens can be installed, the better.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a suggestion facial recognition isn't the sole factor behind a drop in supermarket retail crime.   Foodstuffs North Island —which owns Pak'n'Save and New World— says early results from its six month trial show it prevented about 130 serious incidents.  It also reported around 4,700 incidents across all stores in April to June – an 8% drop quarterly.  First Retail Group managing director Chris Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge there are other elements too.  He says there's also a new Police Minister, a new letter of expectation with Police, and more determination around the sector, which have had a ripple effect.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel says it has killed a senior Hezbollah commander as fighting in Lebanon continues.   The Lebanese health ministry says strikes have killed around 500 people.   The Israeli Defence Force says its mission is to stop the Iranian-backed group from firing rockets into Israel's north and to push them back from the border.   International relations analyst Stephen Hoadley told Ryan Bridge he expects air and artillery attacks will continue, and hopefully Hezbollah's rocket attacks on Israel will stop.   He says that would cause a lull, but a repeat of the cycle of violence is possible in another year or two.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time I reckon we started sending bills to those protesters for wasting police time and resources.  I watched yesterday with growing anger as a couple of Greenpeace people climbed on top of an awning on The Terrace in Wellington.  They were just one floor up, they stood there looking like numpties with their overalls and their helmets on.  Nothing wrong with protesting, but there were eight first responders on the scene, at least three police cars, a fire truck – they even had to use their cherry picket to get these guys off the roof.  The cars were at a standstill, and instead of solving crime a poor cop was marshalling traffic to allow the fire truck to position itself in place. What a waste of time.  Just hang your banner and piss off. Please don't waste any more of our time.  It's like those crazy ones that used to block the motorways in Wellington, remember that? Thank goodness they seem to have given up and gone away. Good riddance.  The motorway protesters made people late for their cancer appointm

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 25th of September, could facial recognition help reduce retail crime? Foodstuffs North Island’s trial of the technology has just ended, and they say it's helped. First Retail Groups Managing Director Chris Wilkinson speaks to Ryan about what this could mean for retailers.  Conflict is continuing to escalate between Israel and Hezbollah. International Relations expert Stephen Hoadley joins the show to talk about the reasons behind the conflict.  A new aggravating factor for offences against public transport works has been introduced, as well as new funding for security measures. Tramways Union President Gary Froggatt speaks to Ryan.  Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's consumer watchdog has launched legal action against the Australian arm of Woolworths, and its main rival Coles.  The ACCC's accusing the supermarket giants of breaching consumer law by misleading consumers, raising prices by 15% at times before dropping the price as part of a promotion.  The watchdog claims the price of hundreds of products were affected.  Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge the ACCC is taking both retailers to federal court in separate cases and will be seeking significant penalties.   She said they’ll also be aiming to impose community service orders on both Woolworths and Coles, which means they’ll have to fund a registered charity to deliver meals to Australians in need.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A criminal defence lawyer says the Polkinghorne verdict isn't a surprise.   Eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne was found not guilty of the murder or manslaughter of his wife Pauline Hanna at their Remuera home in April 2021.   The verdict —given at the High Court in Auckland yesterday— followed 10 hours of deliberations over two days.   Criminal defence lawyer Roderick Mulgan told Ryan Bridge if there's doubt, there has to be an acquittal.   He says even though many people were suspicious, it's not enough. There's a high bar and it's difficult to convict people on circumstantial evidence.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwifruit exports are on the rise, with values now at their highest point ever.  Exports for the fruit were worth $3.1 billion in the year to August.  It's an increase of just over half a billion from 2023, with gold kiwifruit rising by 24%.  Green kiwifruit were up 9.9%.  Motueka grower Evan Heywood told Ryan Bridge the number of Ruby Red kiwifruit exported is also increasing.  He says it's early days, but the demand is there for a good future in the market.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington businesses could reap the benefits of calling public servants back to the office.  Public sector agencies are being told to enforce stricter Working From Home guidelines.  It's suggested the move could help Wellington's struggling economy, as well as boost productivity and collaboration.  Backbencher Pub owner Alistair Boyce told Ryan Bridge it will absolutely make a difference.  He says they've been missing key public sector clients.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.