Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

80% of trained secondary teachers will have a base salary of more than $100 thousand from late next month.  PPTA members have voted to accept a collective agreement offer from the Government.  The settlement includes a 4.6% pay increase over two years, increased allowance for teachers with greater responsibilities, and a million dollar a year fund for professional development.  Secondary school Deputy Principal Pip Tinning told Ryan Bridge she felt this was as good as it was going to get.  She says they’ve got a lot of stuff coming up, and it feels like time to just move on.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Climate Change Minister says we're still at the table for the Paris Agreement, despite the targets being challenging.  The Coalition rejected all three recommendations made to it by the Climate Change Commission yesterday.   It means it won't be including international aviation and shipping emissions in its 2050 reduction target.   Simon Watts told Ryan Bridge they remain committed to the Paris Climate Agreement and are still part of the global conversation.  He says they're challenging targets in reality, but they have the intent of hitting them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Retirement Villages Association is calling out the Government for issuing a double whammy against the sector.   Newly announced Retirement Villages Act 2003 amendments include ensuring money on a unit is paid back within a year after a resident leaves.    Interest will also be payable after six months if a unit remains empty.    Association Executive Director Michelle Palmer told Ryan Bridge the moves could seriously jeopardise the sector.   She says they were the ones who suggested the interest element, which the Government has taken and then topped with the full repayment at 12 months.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The family of a British woman who was killed by a nerve agent smuggled into the UK have spoken out following an inquiry into her death. 44-year-old Dawn Sturgess died in 2018, after spraying herself Novichok from a fake perfume bottle discarded in Salisbury by Russian agents. The inquiry states Russian President Vladimir Putin must have ordered the use of it to assassinate former spy Sergei Skripal. Sturgess' mother Caroline says a narrative's been created online, that's been distressing for family. She says she wasn't a known drug user as had been reported, she was a very loved, mother, daughter and granddaughter. UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 5 December. 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.

This is my last day on Early Edition for 2025. I’ll be on Drive for a few weeks from Monday and while I won’t lie, I’m looking forward to few sleep-ins before Christmas, I will miss our wee 5am club. It’s a huge privilege to be here with you every morning as you wake up, head off to work, off to school sport or home from a night shift yourself.  Your messages and emails bring so much to the show, so I want to thank you for all your feedback. The good, the bad, the hilarious, the thoughtful, and even the nutty ones. This show is as much yours as it is mine. The beauty of this early hour is the breaking international stories we bring you. The sad ending to the Tom Phillips happened overnight this year. We’ve had elections, budgets and updates on wars in far flung places.  This show is designed to keep you up to date with business as much as politics, after all, the real engine and true heart of this country doesn't whir and beat out of Wellington, but out of the staff rooms, factories, farm

Shoppers are travelling from around the country to witness today's Ikea launch.  The mega-retailer will start trading at 11am but the car park will open at 8:30am.   Heavy traffic's anticipated, including 40-minute queues to exit the motorway at Mount Wellington.  It could take punters up to an hour just to enter the carpark.  First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge it's the most anticipated retail opening New Zealand has seen.  He says everyone knows about Ikea, but we haven't had it within reach.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All the stars have aligned for the first concert at Christchurch's new stadium. Six60 and Synthony will open the music calendar at One NZ Stadium at Te Kaha next May - following Super Rugby’s Super Round a month earlier. It’s backed by the Government’s $70 million Major Events fund. Duco Events Promoter David Higgins told Ryan Bridge Synthony wouldn’t be part of the lineup without that funding. He says these events are very expensive to run, and organisers have to make a risk-return judgement if it's their own neck on the line. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 4th of December 2025, Andrew Coster's resigned with immediate effect employment lawyer Gareth Abdinor shares his thoughts on why he was placed on leave for so long.  Ikea opens in Auckland today, First Retail Group Managing Director tells Ryan whether the hype will last.  Six60 and Synthony will play the first ever live show at Christchurch stadium, funded by the government's events fund, Duco Events promoter David Higgins tells Ryan what concert-goers can expect.  Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on the US and Venezuela and the Kremlin saying it's wrong to suggest Putin rejected US proposals for peace in Ukraine.  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.

Andrew Coster's three weeks of silence and negotiating speaks volumes about the sincerity of the apology delivered yesterday.  If you really felt that way, if you hadn't until yesterday realised what had gone on, which he had of course, he saw the report long before any of us did, then surely, you'd have come straight out starting blocks with an apology to Ms Z. Wouldn't that be a bit more credible?  As for the Government, they've obviously been trying to get him out without paying him too much.  The bill is three months paid out. Essentially gardening leave. And, crucially, a statement from the Government that there was no cover-up.  That's despite the IPCA report having the strong whiff of one, or as Judith Collins put it, the walk, talk, and quack of one.  Coster's obviously done the calls in his head. The longer you stay on and fight, the messier it gets, reputation-wise. He'll be thinking about the next job, whatever and wherever that may be.  He strikes me as the sort of gu

A pivotal year ahead for Liam Lawson after confirmation his seat is safe in Formula 1 in 2026.  Red Bull has confirmed Lawson will retain his spot in Racing Bulls and be joined by 18-year-old debutant Arvid Lindblad.  Herald motorsport correspondent Eric Thompson says Lawson will have plenty to race for.  He told Ryan Bridge that 2026 will be the year for him to cement his position on the Formula 1 grid.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Association says when it comes to new policing targets, the devil will be in yet-to-be-confirmed detail.  Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has announced four new targets, including raising New Zealanders trust and confidence from 69 to 80-percent. It follows the force taking a major hit in the wake of the McSkimming scandal.  Association President Steve Watt told Ryan Bridge it's good to have goals, but information is scarce.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This story should shock everybody, but it won't. Sadly.  The headline? Former Covid response lead Alister Thorby stole $1.8 million from DHBs. From us, taxpayers.  This guy was 25 and yet somehow in charge of the DHBs’ response to the Covid pandemic in the Lower North Island. He stole almost $2m over five months. He bought cars, holidays, a house.  He was an MIQ boss. He submitted invoices for work that never happened. One invoice was for $300k. Two of the companies he invoiced for didn't even exist.  Now, this is bad for two reasons: 1. How on earth does some 25-year-old who's been in the job just five months, bill $1.8m and get those invoices paid? That's criminal. Who signed off on the cheques? Who was in charge? It's outrageous.  2. The timing. The Judge in this case points out the money went out the door at a time when the Government was scrambling to deal with Covid. Except this guy was employed October 2021 to June 2022.  We were letting DJs through the boarder for Rhythm

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 3rd of December 2025, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has set new 2026 targets to lift public trust, Police Association President tells Ryan how he can lead the Police to doing so.  Liam Lawson will keep his Racing Bulls seat for 2026, former, motorcycle racer and Herald motorsport Journalist Eric Thompson tells Ryan what Lawson will need to prove next year. New data shows one in five school principals quit within their first year, Darfield High school Principal Andy England tells Ryan why so many principals are quitting.  Plus. Uk/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on jury trials in England and Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years will be heard by a judge only and the UK government admits 12 prisoners have been accidentally released in the past three weeks.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.    

SkyCity's pulling together the final touches on its colossal International Convention Centre ahead of its February 11th opening.  A large fire in 2019, when the building was nearing completion, set the project back significantly.   Now with just two months to go, SkyCity's locked in more than 100 conferences and events at the new venue.   General Manager Prue Daly told Ryan Bridge an estimated 30% of their events each year will be international.   She says they’ve got inquiries all the way out to 2032, and the team is working to make sure they can bring them to New Zealand.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are doubts the proportion of homeowners in New Zealand will grow significantly anytime soon.  Kiwibank's Annual State of Home Ownership Index finds 57% of non-owners feel locked out of the market, improving by 6%.  60% still find cost of living the biggest obstacle to owning a house.  Squirrel Mortgages Chief Executive David Cunningham told Ryan Bridge that problem's always existed, adding that home ownership typically stays around 65%.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Agreement from Wellington's Mayor over council rates needing to be kept in check.  The Government's proposing to cap rates increases at 4% a year, with only water rates and other non-rates revenue to be excluded.  Wellington Mayor Andrew Little says rates increases are due to decades of under-spending.  However, he told Ryan Bridge the Government's tapped into a justified concern.  Little says a lot of people are watching rates rise astronomically along side other costs, and councils need to do a better job at controlling this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This rates cap is popular politics, no doubt, and local government needs a good kick in the pants.  But does a 2-4% band simply mean we're going to pay more in other fees?  Rates aren't the only way these guys make money off us, we also pay for specific things like resource and building consents, LIM requests, dog registrations, and campgrounds.  Will hairdressers have to pay more to register under the Health Act? Yes, this is a thing, and in Kaipara, for example, it'll cost your business $423 bucks, thank you very much.  Will we pay more for a burial plot at the local cemetery? That's another fee.  Will we pay more to register out dogs?  The options are endless.  Waikato District Council has a document setting out the fees it whacks ratepayers with. It's 45 pages long. The government may take a revenue lever away from councils with one hand, but councils will no doubt get creative and hit us up from another angle.  Actually, this is exactly what the Government itself h

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, the government's announced a rates cap for councils, Wellington City Council Mayor Andrew Little shares his thoughts.  More renters reckon they have a shot at buying a home of their own, David Cunningham from Squirrel Mortgages tells Ryan why the housing market is improving for first home buyers.  We finally have an opening day for the new International Convention Centre, General Manager tells Ryan what we can expect from the opening.  Plus, four people have been arrested in Sydney, accused of being involved in a satanic child sex abuse ring, Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans has the latest.  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.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 2025, Labour’s pledging to offer low-interest loans for doctors and nurse practitioners to set up or buy into GP practices next year, GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers shares his thoughts.  The government says Local Water done well reforms will cost $48 billion over the next decade, Porirua Mayor Anita Baker tells Ryan if the money will be well spent.  Adam Cooper has the latest on the weekend's sport.  Plus UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on dozens of protesters arrested under the Terrorism Act and three Austrian nuns in their 80s who ran away from the old people's home where they were placed have been told they can stay in their former convent "until further notice". 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.