Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 24th of June 2025, the golden Visa scheme has taken off former Labour cabinet minister Stuart Nash shares his thoughts.  Newstalk ZB Sports reporter Nick Bewley provides analysis on the new All Blacks squad.  AA Principal Policy Advisor Terry Collins shares his thoughts on fears petrol prices could increase by 30c a litre as Iran's leadership considers whether to block vessels from sailing through the strait of Hormuz.  Plus Middle East Correspondent Alistair Bunkall has the latest on Iran launching missiles at US airbases in Qatar and Iraq.  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.

A couple of investment-related revelations from the Government this week proves a couple of basic points about business: you've got to sell something people want, and you've got to do it at a competitive price.  Take the golden visa numbers the Government's crowing about.  The golden visa category changes are netting results. This where we give residency to wealthy foreigners, but they've got to buy their way in.  In the three months since the Government changed the rules, we've had 600 people apply via 200 applications.  The old category had 116 applications in 2 and half years!  So clearly loosening the rules, allowing property and bonds to be included as investments, and lowering the amount required, has given this visa the rocket up the jacksie it needed.  Half the applicants are American.  So you've got a bunch of wealthy American families —fed up with Trump or on the hunt for a new bolthole, whatever— and suddenly, our requirements are at least as competitive, or more

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 23 June. 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.

A Defence Force team is heading to the Middle East, ready to assist an estimated 180 Kiwis spread between Iran and Israel. Defence Minister Judith Collins announced a Hercules will leave today for an undisclosed destination, for security reasons. Airspace in the region is closed, and it's unknown when it will re-open. Collins says our Defence team will be ready to help.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So we now know the Americans used seven B-2 Stealth bombers to attack Iran's three nuclear sites.  They used a dozen bunker-buster bombs - the first time these massive 140o KG big boys have been used in combat. They flew in the dark of night, dropping the payload just after 2 AM local time.  They fired Tomahawk missiles from US Navy ships nearby. Decoys were used to throw the Iranian off the scent - some of the B-2's attacked from the US East Coast, while others flew across the Pacific.  B-2 bombers that attacked flew from Missouri while a different set of B-2s flew west over the Pacific to throw off Iran They called it Operation Midnight Hammer. They claimed it was successful. But what we don't actually know is how successful and what success means.  Satellite imagery doesn't show you what's happening underground.  The bunker buster bombs are designed to blow stuff up around 60 metres underground.  Nobody but the Iranians know exactly how deep their enrichment facilities are hid

Whether the United States will intervene in the Iran-Israel conflict remains up in the air.  President Donald Trump says he 'may' or 'may not' order American military involvement.   US correspondent Katie Fisher told Ryan Bridge the uncertainty is causing some rifts within the Republican camp.  She says that some of his “right-wing cheerleaders” like Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Green are saying that by entering the Iranian war, Trump would be turning his back on his America First policy.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From November, transiting Chinese passport holders won't need a visa to pass through New Zealand airports.   They'll can instead get a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority that's processed in four hours, and lasts for two years.   Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told Ryan Bridge our Chinese visitor numbers are lagging at about 65% pre-Covid levels, so they're doing anything to help.   She says it will also significantly increase the amount of freight from China and South America and bring down freight prices.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland manufacturer is feeling good about the current economic position.  GDP figures are due to be revealed this morning.   Economists and the Reserve Bank are expecting 0.7% growth for the first quarter of the year – slightly higher than the 0.4% predicted earlier this year.  Dodson Group CEO Dave Sweas told Ryan Bridge things turned a corner around February and March.  The precision manufacturers boss says there's been some trepidation about what's coming out of the US, but overall order books are holding up strong.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The traditional census as we know it is coming to an end. Stats NZ is moving to a system using Government collected admin-data, saying the current five yearly Census is financially unsustainable. Census-style questions will still be asked in much smaller annual surveys looking at a small fraction of the population. Auckland University of Technology Professor Rhema Vaithianathan told Ryan Bridge the price of census is eye-watering. She says admin data also allows information to be released yearly, which is more useful than waiting five to find out what's happening. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 19th of June 2025, Dave Sweas CEO of Manufacturer Dodson group, joins Ryan Bridge to talk about the GDP figures out today.  The government scrapped the 5-year census, AUT director of the centre for social data analytics, Rhema Vaithianathan shares her thoughts.  We've got more Visa changes for Chinese nationals, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford tells Ryan Bridge what it means.  Plus, US Correspondent Katie Fisher has the latest on Trump's stance on Israel.  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.

I’m as guilty as the next Kiwi of complaining about the tyranny of distance, but the fact is we’re bloody lucky to live far across the ocean and out of harm’s way.  We’re at least 10,000 kilometres away from the nearest nuclear weapon launch site, whether it’s China’s Jingxian Province or the United States' Pacific Coast.  That doesn’t mean we’re immune to threats and fallout from conflict, nor should we ignore them. Foreign Minister Winston Peters this week remarked he’d never seen such an uncertain geostrategic circumstance as the one we’re currently living in. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published its yearbook Monday with a warning that the risk of a nuclear weapon being used is increasing. Most of the nine nuclear armed states are either upgrading or replacing their stockpiles.  Over the next few years, it estimates the rate at which new nuclear warheads replace old ones will accelerate to the point where, for the first time since the Cold War era, we’ll have an ove

New Zealand businesses believe things are looking up, with optimism at a high.  The 2degrees 2025 Shaping Business Study reveals 45% of surveyed business leaders are more optimistic about the year ahead – up on last year's 34%.  46% of businesses also report they're more productive than last year.   Business Central CEO Simon Arcus told Ryan Bridge things will probably still fluctuate in coming years.   He says there are often moments where things seem to improve, then sink back again.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Food inflation is up, rising 4.4% annually.   Meat, poultry, and fish had the biggest annual increases, while butter, milk and cheese drove grocery prices.  Butter surged by more than 51% over the year.  Independent economist, Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge the numbers are creeping up, but the composition of the inflation matters more than the inflation itself.   He says they feel a bit of comfort that domestic inflation still heading south.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 18th of June 2025, the Government's announced a five-year suicide prevention plan, clinical psychologist Dr Helen Buckland tells Ryan Bridge whether the plan will be enough.  Food inflation is up the highest it's been in eighteen months, independent economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts.  New data from 2degrees shows business optimism is at its highest since 2021, Business Central CEO Simon Arcus tells Ryan why businesses are feeling more positive.  Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the G7 summit.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uncertainty on the Government's action plan for suicide prevention. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey's unveiled a five-year approach for addressing high suicide rates.  The new Suicide Prevention Plan includes strengthening the workforce, targeting higher-risk populations, and improving community care.  Clinical Psychologist Doctor Helen Buckland told Ryan Bridge there's been a lot of thought, but more needs to be done. She says it's not a suicide prevention plan, it's a response plan, for people who are already suicidal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The moral outrage over Run It Straight competitions is a tricky one.  As more and more young men ran at each other head-on and tried to knock each other out, as the injuries piled up, the outrage was palpable. Lots of pearl clutching and horror.  The reaction from some rugby stars and sporting legends was more nuanced, for obvious reasons.  They also run full steam ahead at one another on a Saturday, with great risk of personal injury and even death. Certainly, the chance of broken bones and concussion.  They do this because A. They enjoy it. B. It's often all they've ever known. And C. Presumably, because it pays well.  And that's the problem with the outrage over Run It Straight.  They had a guy in the news yesterday who won $20 thousand in trials held in Auckland. He's booked a spot in a final in Dubai. The money, he says, is putting clothes on his kids backs.  He said this: "We got to pay off some debts and stock up the fridges and the cupboards, food for our little ones

Three people have been injured in a shooting in a Sydney kebab shop.  According to NSW Police, two masked gunmen walked into the shop, firing eight shots in total, before leaving the scene in a black BMW with a cloned licence plate.  A 50 year old woman was shot twice in the torso, a 26 year old man was shot in the arm and shoulder, and another man of unknown age was shot in the face.  Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge that according to police, one of the victims has had two previous attempts on his life.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new poll shows more Kiwis see China as a threat, but experts say a good economic relationship is vital.  The Asia New Zealand Foundation surveyed 2,300 locals between November and December, and again in March.   Results show the number of people concerned about China rose from 28% to 40% over four months.  Research and Engagement Director Julia Macdonald says New Zealanders can appreciate the need for a good economic relationship.  She told Ryan Bridge that China has been at the top of the list of most significant countries for New Zealand’s future for a number of years, and Kiwis understand the need to continue to engage China.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's thought that as long as the United States doesn't get involved, the Iran and Israel conflict should stay contained.  Tension continues to escalate between the two countries as air strikes continue to fire.  Speculation around a ceasefire is being discussed with US President Donald Trump encouraging the nations to talk before it’s too late.  Middle East correspondent Gregg Carlstrom told Ryan Bridge Israel has been planning this war for years, and isn't willing to stop after a few days.    He says the Iranians are willing to talk about a mutual ceasefire but doesn't think Israel or the United States are at a point where they would push for that.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Tuesday 17th of June, conflict continues between Iran and Israel, Middle East Correspondent Gregg Carlstrom has the latest on an Iranian TV studio struck by an Israeli airstrike.  A new survey from the Asia New Zealand Foundation shows our trust in China is slipping, Director of research and engagement, Dr Julia Macdonald tells Ryan Bridge what it means for our relationship with China.  Disposable vapes are out from today, Action for Smokefree 2025 Director, Ben Youdan shares his thoughts on how big of a difference it will make.  Plus Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on what will the Australian Prime Minister and Trump will discuss in their first face to face meeting in Canada. 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.