Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Episodes

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  Ankit Sharma: Master Builders CEO on the construction sector being a primary driver in GDP growth 17.09.2026 2m

  The GDP has grown as expected – rising 0.2% in the June quarter.  Construction was the biggest boost, up 2.7%, driven by more residential building projects.  It's the largest increase in construction activity since the June 2023 quarter.   Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma told Ryan Bridge they've been seeing steady signs of improvements in both business and consumer confidence, so it's good to see that confidence turning into real growth.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Andy England: Darfield High School Principal on Labour's plan to pause educational reforms, set up independent council 17.09.2026 3m

  A Canterbury principal likes the idea of taking politics out of curriculum decisions, but says it’ll be interesting to see whether that happens in practice.   If elected, Labour's promising a pause the Government's school curriculum overhaul, including delaying the replacement of NCEA by a year.  It also wants to establish an Independent Council for Curriculum and Assessment.  Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Ryan Bridge the proof will be in the pudding.  He says Labour is promising to make decisions guided by evidence rather than playing politics, but whether that does happen is up in the air.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Wattie Watson: Professional Firefighters' Union National Secretary calling for a clear-out of the FENZ board 17.09.2026 3m

  The Firefighters' Union says it's been warning the Government for years about problems at Fire and Emergency.  Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has lost confidence in the agency's CEO Kerry Gregory, accusing him of withholding information about a serious incident for a year.  The agency has also been referred to the Serious Fraud Office.  Professional Firefighters' Union National Secretary Wattie Watson told Ryan Bridge Gregory and the board need to go.  She says the union has been trying to get the Government's attention over the “dire” state of Fire and Emergency for years.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Full Show Podcast: 18 September 2026 17.09.2026 34m

  On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday the 18th of September 2026, construction was the biggest boost to GDP, Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma explains where the boom has come from.  Labour’s hitting the brakes on the NCEA curriculum overhaul, Darfield High School Principal tells Ryan about what teachers and parents are looking for.  Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has expressed no confidence in FENZ chief executive Kerry Gregory, NZPFU National Secretary Wattie Watson shares her thoughts.  Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on King Charles is hosting an AI summit, warning of ‘existential danger’ in the wrong hands and the Palace have hit back strongly on comments Princess Diana’s brother claims he made shortly after her death.  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.
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  Ryan Bridge: Important things happening in the world and our pollies are fussing over the C-word 17.09.2026 1m

  What a week.   AI's going to kill us all – unless Putin gets there first. More drones and flare-ups from him, allegedly, in the skies above Europe.   Trump's pushing Carney into the arms of another lover in Ursula von der Leyen. It was all hugs and kisses in Strasbourg.   The Aussies are making big moves to cut immigration. Central bankers are hiking off the back of war and oil.   And here in New Zealand, we're dropping the C-bomb in Parliament again.   This time it was Debbie from the Māori Party.   Things got a bit out of hand.   While the world was busy dealing with important matters, like preserving humanity, Willie Jackson was defending Debbie's C-bomb.   Parliament's bouncer, The Sergeant-at-Arms, was called on to help kick him out of the House!   Wild times in the debating chamber.  The Sergent is rarely called on to bounce politicians because politicians normally take their punishment and leave. But Willie was having none of that.   The Sergeant, whose frankly baller job title is up there with the Usher of the Black Rod, was thankfully saved from getting his hands dirty.   He didn't need to bust out the Mace and start prodding the pollies with it. Jackson eventually left the Chamber. Parliament carried on.   As did the rest of the world, which was a bit busy on more important issues of the day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Catherine Beard: BusinessNZ Director of Advocacy on National's plan to split up Foodstuffs to drive competition 16.09.2026 4m

  Blowback from a business advocate on National's plan to break up Foodstuffs.   If elected, and if the Commerce Commission agrees, the party would separate Pak'nSave from New World and Four Square to create more competition.  But Foodstuffs warns there'd be significant implications and would affect more than 500 locally owned and operated stores.  Business NZ Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard told Ryan Bridge threatening to split up private property is hugely alarming.   She says it sends a terrible signal to overseas investors – that the government could essentially take away business.  Beard also says there's a lack of evidence to suggest our food is more expensive than other countries.  She told Bridge that while food prices have gone up, they're no higher than Australia and the UK.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Cameron Bagrie: Economist expects the economy to improve with GDP expected to rise in Q2 16.09.2026 3m

  The economy is expected to keep improving as the year goes on.   Stats NZ is releasing GDP data for April-to-June later this morning.  Economists are expecting economic growth will come in between 0.1% and 0.3% for the quarter and between 2.2% and 2.4% for the year.  Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge we could soon get back to the growth we were seeing last year.  We says we took a detour in the June quarter because fuel prices got so expensive, but quarter three is suggesting a number up around 0.8% to 0.9%.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Kathan Parikh: NZ Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s pretzels franchise owner on bringing new brands to NZ 16.09.2026 4m

  Two classic American food brands are landing in New Zealand, with Auntie Anne’s pretzels and Carvel soft serve opening in Auckland this month.  Auntie Anne’s sells pretzels, lemonades, dips, and “pretzel dogs”, with more than 1,200 stores across 600 international locations.  Carvel claims to have invented soft-serve ice cream.  NZ Cinnabon franchise owner Kathan Parikh told Ryan Bridge they'll use mostly New Zealand ingredients while sticking to the classic American recipes.  He says Kiwis travel a lot and this is a great opportunity for them to enjoy America on home soil.    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Full Show Podcast: 17 September 2026 16.09.2026 34m

  On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 17th of September 2026, the Business community not happy with National’s plan to bust up Foodstuffs, Business NZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard explains.  Auntie Anne’s and Carvel Ice Cream are opening their first NZ stores in Auckland this month, Kathan Parikh NZ Cinnabon franchise owner, tells Ryan why he's bringing the new chains into the country.  The June quarter GDP number is out today, independent economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts. Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on the Federal Bank's rate decision and Trump choosing not to back Saudi Arabia in Houthi violence.  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.
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  Ryan Bridge: Nicola's supermarket bust up isn't serious 16.09.2026 2m

  Nicola's supermarket smash-up is not serious.   She's playing a very risky political game and she knows it.   Cost of living is the only game in town this election – win on the cost-of-living battle and you win the war.   Nicola thinks by looking tough on supermarkets she'll earn the respect of the 'squeezed middle'.   But, as I've said many times before, even if you wipe out all the so-called 'super profits' the supermarkets are making, you benefit by a few extra dollars per week.   But there's a big "if" here.  Our supermarkets are run very efficiently. Yes, they are dominant, too dominant, but that allows economies of scale in a long, thin country of five million people.   Mess with that for political gain and you risk prices actually going up, not down.   That is not my view. That is the view of the very report which Nicola relied on to make her grand pronouncement yesterday.   In other words, this whole thing could end up costing us more than it saves us.   Nobody knows for sure. No governments in the world have gone in with an axe and split up a live supermarket chain in real time.  The very threat of it will put the willies up investors. Who's going to be investing in New Zealand's supermarket industry before the second half of 2027?  That's how long a second report will take to answer those questions.   And guess what, those risks, those 'scenarios', those best guesses on calculators by modellers will still be there in 12 months' time.   At which point, National will shelve this idea. It won't happen.   This isn't happening. It's not serious. It's politics. It's election year.   Some are saying this is Nicola's Jacinda nuclear-free, oil and gas moment.   But it's not. Jacinda actually did the ban. Nicola's not.   Jacinda fired the gun, Nicola's just waving it around the supermarket for a photo-op. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Bruce Weir: Independent urban planner and strategic development expert on the amendments to the fast-track system 15.09.2026 3m

  There's a view changes to the fast-track system shouldn't be made carelessly.   The amendments to the system working their way through Parliament will mean councils can claw back greater costs from developers.   Independent urban planner and strategic development expert Bruce Weir says there probably is some room for developers to pay more.   But he told Ryan Bridge the Government shouldn't be rash with changes.   Weir says we don't want to put developers off as it can actually be quite difficult to get projects through.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Rachel Mackintosh: E tū National Secretary on ACT's plan to freeze minimum wage, lower youth training rate 15.09.2026 2m

  It's being suggested New Zealand is still suffering from a minimum wage freeze 30 years ago, and ACT's pledge would do long term damage.   The party wants to set up a training wage for under-20s in their first year, allowing them only 60% of the minimum wage – that's $14.37 an hour.  ACT also wants to freeze the minimum wage for three years.  E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh told Ryan Bridge the wage is already well below what people need to survive on.  She says the policy sends a message that some New Zealanders aren't worthy of earning enough to live.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Ryan Bridge: I wouldn't hold your breath for tax cuts 15.09.2026 1m

  Tax cuts are back on the campaign agenda.   Nicola Willis dropped a wee hint to the BusinessNZ election conference yesterday.  Bracket creep is hurting workers – as wages increase and you creep into a higher tax bracket, you pay more marginal tax. That's not fair.   So, something might be done about it.   I say "might" because there are caveats and they're big ones.   National must be re-elected. Its coalition partners would need to agree. That was far from a done deal yesterday.  And the Government must have the books back in surplus – the plan is 2029/30.  But as I said yesterday, even then it's wafer-thin, and how many times have we been promised a surplus that doesn't eventuate?   More times than I can count. It feels like a mirage.   We'll find out more after the fiscal update at the end of the month. On October 11th, ACT will make its pitch for flatter tax rates.   New Zealand First is working on a foreign investment tax incentive. The Nats are looking at changes to the R&D tax credit.   So, tax cuts, rather just hikes, are on the election agenda.   But not quite worth getting particularly excited about.  Too many hoops to jump through, hills to climb, and water to go under bridges before this becomes a serious pitch voters should start thinking about and factoring into a decision before November. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Full Show Podcast: 16 September 2026 15.09.2026 34m

  On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2026, Children's Commissioner Jane Searle shares her thoughts on the damning report into the missing Phillips children.  ACT’s small business policy is ruffling a few feathers, especially among the unions E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh tells Ryan why the policy is problematic for workers. A quick change has been made to laws that will affect fast-track developments, independent urban planner and strategic development expert Bruce Weir tells Ryan if the changes go far enough.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Nato fighter pilots have shooting down a drone that entered Lithuania's airspace overnight. 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.
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  Jane Searle: Children's Commissioner on the inquiry into the Tom Phillips manhunt 15.09.2026 2m

  The Children Commissioner's demanding action, with a multitude of failures in the search for the Marokopa children brought to light.  A four-year manhunt for notorious fugitive Tom Phillips ended a year ago when he was shot dead by Police.  An inquiry finds our public agencies overlooked concerns, delayed action and missed opportunities to find the children earlier and prevent their disappearance.  It criticises the lack of information sharing, particularly across Oranga Tamariki and Police.  Commissioner Jane Searle told Ryan Bridge this report makes it clear coordination needs to be better across government agencies.  She says it's not easy, and cases like this are very complex, but it can be done.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Simon Laurent: NZ Association of Migration and Investment Chair on net migration hitting a two year high 15.09.2026 2m

  Net migration is back on the rise as the brain drain eases.  Stats NZ data shows the number of people moving here in the year to July outnumbered those leaving by 20,300.  Annually, that net migration has risen almost 55%, with arrivals up 5% and departures down 4%.  Immigration Expert Simon Laurent told Andrew Dickens that much as it has in the past, the security and safety of New Zealand is making it an attractive place to put down roots.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Brad Olsen: Infometrics Principal Economist on how an uncertain global bond market could impact New Zealand 14.09.2026 4m

  Surging global oil prices and bond yields could keep inflation higher than expected and force the Reserve Bank to raise the OCR faster than expected.  Some economists now expect the Official Cash Rate to reach 4% before the end of the year.  The Government says the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update —due out in two weeks— will try to reflect changes in borrowing costs.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Andrew Dickens further conflict in the Middle East is pushing up oil prices, as fears grow about an AI bubble burst.  He says both of these things are happening, amidst mounting concerns about government debt.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Tania Tapsell: Rotorua Mayor on tourism arrivals overtaking pre-Covid numbers 14.09.2026 3m

  July's record tourism numbers are being seen as a reflection of investment finally paying off.    Stats NZ data shows 256,600 overseas tourists arrived during the month, overtaking pre-Covid numbers from July 2019 by 0.4%.  Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Andrew Dickens the effort from local councils, regional tourism operators, and the Government is bearing fruit.   She says July is usually a quiet time, so the big win is the 70% jump in business events that keep the likes of Rotorua afloat.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Full Show Podcast: 15 September 2026 14.09.2026 34m

  On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 15th of September 2026, international visitor numbers are finally back above pre-Covid levels, Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell tells Andrew how the government's tourism push has helped.  Migrant arrivals for the year were up 5%, immigration expert Simon Laurent shares his thoughts.  Our debt situation might be catching up to us as the global bond markets start to get anxious, Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains.  Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Pauline Hanson asked to apologise over nasty and divisive comments about First Nations Australians and the first confirmed case of bird flu, an endangered an Aussie sea lion. 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.
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  Andrew Dickens: Politicians are missing the real immigration problem 14.09.2026 1m

  The past week has seen immigration policies come to the fore.  New Zealand First is signalling a tougher immigration stance, longer waits for residency and citizenship, a referendum to cap new residency approvals at 20,000 a year, and a 30-year population plan tying migrant intake to infrastructure capacity.   Labour is also tightening its settings, extending residency qualification to four years and promising a Government Policy Statement.  But as economists like Bernard Hickey point out, these policies miss the real immigration pressure.  New Zealand issues more than 230,000 temporary work visas annually, largely for lower-paid roles on our farms, in our kitchens, and even in our beauty salons.  The temporary workers aren't here forever. But when they go, they're replaced but other temporary visa holders.   This quarter of a million of temporary visa holders is still driving population growth, straining infrastructure, and suppressing wages.    They come with problems that no-one is addressing.  Not for the first time, politicians can't see the wood for the trees, and not for the first time, they then release policies that are primarily designed to get votes but not to address the issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.