Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

The unemployment rate has come out better than anticipated.  It remained unchanged at 5.1% in the three months ending March.   The number of people in full-time work fell by 45 thousand, while the number in part time work grew by 25 thousand.  Westpac Senior Economist Michael Gordon told Ryan Bridge that people are likely using reduced hours as an alternative to layoffs.  He says it’s likely one factor as to why the unemployment rate has risen, but not as high as some economists were forecasting.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts fighting organised crime say New Zealand must pick up its act to keep pace with trans-national criminals.   They've released their second report, criticising New Zealand's response to modern crime and money laundering.   It wants cash to be made a less attractive option for criminals and to ban crypto currency ATMs.   Drug Detection Agency Chief Executive Glenn Dobson told Ryan Bridge the criminals work quickly, and so must authorities.   He says New Zealand must get with the times to block criminal groups from using their profits.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transpower is looking to make a key investment into the Cook Strait electricity cable.  It's consulting on a $1.4 billion upgrade to the 610 kilometre link connecting the North and South Island. The existing cables are likely to reach their end of life in the late 2030s.  Major Electricity Users' Group Chairman John Harbord told Ryan Bridge the link's important when hydro-lakes in the South are low in water. He says the North Island's often moving forms of renewable electricity down to the South Island. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, after all the handwringing, the complaints, the stomping of feet, the Commerce Commission's shooting down talk of an investigation into domestic airfares. Greg Foran and Co. will see this as vindication - validation that, despite the headlines and Consumer NZ's claim the market is quote broken, the reality is their costs have gone up and, surprise surprise, it's expensive to run routes with high fixed costs to small places with few people.  So they conclude doing a market study —which is easy politics, it scratches the itch— won't actually achieve anything.  And they say it won't lead to consumers getting a better deal.  Refreshing honesty. Could the same refreshing honesty not have been applied to the claims about banking/supermarkets/petrol stations, etc, etc, etc? Like most things post-Covid, costs have gone sky high. Airport landing charges - up. Air traffic control - up. Security levies - up. And when you're a business, one owning to the tune of 51% remember, you recoup those costs by

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Thursday 8th of May, Glenn Dobson Drug Detection Agency CEO shares insight on a new Ministerial Advisory Report on organised crime.  Much to the surprise of economists The unemployment rate remained flat at 5.1% for the first three months of this year, Westpac Senior economist Michael Gordon shares his thoughts.  Transpower says they need to replace the electricity cable connecting the North and South Island at the tune of $1.4-billion, Major Electricity Users' Group Chair John Harbord explains how it will impact power bills.  Plus, US Correspondent Nick Harper has the latest on Joe Biden's first interview out of the White House.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media for under 16s is being compared to the harm caused by cigarette smoking.  Clear evidence shows that social media can be linked to depression and anxiety.  This has led to National introducing a member's bill to ban social media for those under 16 years of age, to protect kids.  Parenting expert Nathan Wallace told Ryan Bridge implementing a ban for under 16s sends the message that, like cigarettes and alcohol, social media is something we need to monitor.  He says social media is worse than we originally thought, so we now need to take the responsible steps to protect our kids from it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mixed opinions on when unemployment will reach its peak.  Stats NZ data out this morning is predicted to show rates increased to around 5.2% during the March quarter.  ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner expects this will likely be as high as it will go.  While ASB senior economist Mark Smith told Ryan Bridge it could be a bit higher later in the year.  He says they've seen firms hold back on hiring as disruptions to trade and economic concerns continue.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The doors of Rome's Sistine Chapel officially lock tomorrow morning as the conclave selects a new pope.  135 cardinals from around the world will vote on a successor to Pope Francis, who was laid to rest almost two weeks ago.  There's no timescale for how long it'll take, but the last two papal elections lasted for two days.  Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge it's set to be most secretive election of all time.   He says there'll be no televisions, newspapers, or radio, and they can't even open the windows.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of a pay equity deal for teacher aides may fizzle out under newly introduced Government legislation.  The proposed law, which would lift the threshold of pay equity claims of gender-discrimination, is expected to have its third reading this morning.  A deal reached by union teacher aide members in 2020 is due to be reviewed - but may no longer go ahead.  Union Member Ally Kingi told Ryan Bridge it was based on comparison between teacher aides and Corrections staff.  She says it meticulously compared the general areas of responsibility for each group to the pay they received.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 7th of May 2025, The government wants to overhaul the Gender pay equity claims process, Teacher aide Ally Kingi explains how it will impact her workforce.  National's putting forward a member's bill that bans social media for under 16-year-olds, parenting expert Nathan Wallis shares his thoughts.  We get the unemployment figures from Stats NZ this morning, ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith shares his take.  Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the new UK and India trade deal. 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.

Bad news this morning for any productive, hard-working, and busy members of our society. The climate protesters who brought Wellington to a standstill - rush hour traffic to a stand still - will be back at it again soon.  Mark my words.  You'll see more idiots gluing themselves to motorways, abseiling down Mt Victoria, hanging signs from gantries, roads closed, police resources distracted from important stuff, and chaos to start your day.  Why?  The Crown has walked away from, abandoned, the prosecution of more than 20 defendants facing charges over protests in Wellington.  These guys are off on their merry way.  They're from the Restore Passenger Rail group.  Some were awaiting re-trial after juries couldn't come to a verdict on whether they endangered transport.  Anyway there's a lot of hands that should be in cuffs that will soon be covered in glue again. How do we know this?  They told us. One of the nutters said he hopes the Crown decision sets a precedent and

A Government delegation has landed in the Indian capital to kick-start Free Trade Agreement talks.   The Prime Minister, along with several other ministers, visited India earlier this year to improve diplomatic ties.   India New Zealand Business Council Chair Bharat Chawla told Ryan Bridge India will hope to make movement in New Zealand easier for its people.   He says it will also be looking to make use of New Zealand's fruit and dairy industries.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tough winter ahead for meat processing plants as livestock numbers continue to decline.   Latest figures from Stats NZ show a 21% drop in sheep numbers over the past 10 years – a total decline of 6.2 million sheep since 2014.   The number of dairy cattle also fell 13% over the same period.   Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Toby Williams told Ryan Bridge keeping livestock processing plants open, profitable, and running efficiently is a significant challenge.   He says big plants are struggling to get numbers of livestock through, with close to million less lambs to process this year than last.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Prime Minister's confirmed he's had a 'warm and positive' chat with US President Donald Trump.  Anthony Albanese's Labor Party has swept back into office, securing a historic second term.   It's widely thought Trump's volatility influenced the outcome.   Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge Albanese thanked him for reaching out in such a positive way.  She says they talked about tariffs, and will continue to engage with each other.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tourism organisations from across the North Island are teaming up to shine a light on its tourism offerings. Fifteen operators including Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Rotorua NZ and Northland Inc have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. It aims to generate interest from key tourism markets particularly Australia, North America and China. Northland Inc Head of Destination Tania Burt told Ryan Bridge tourists fly into Auckland and then head straight to the South Island.  She says only 20-30% of their region's visitors are international, hence the need to work together. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disclaimer: Satire  On the news last night, it was nothing but scandal. Scandal. Scandal. I don’t think I’ve seen political misconduct of this magnitude since Watergate. The Woodward and Bernsteins of our time were busy digging through documents, uncovering truth. Protecting democracy. From corruption. From evil. Erica Stanford, Minister of Education and obvious crook, first in the firing line.  Her crime? Printing off work emails at home.  Disgraceful. A two-part report from 1News leading the bulletin over consecutive nights details how this menace, flagrant in her disregard for best practice, printed papers from her home computer after emailing them to her own private email address. Why? I hear you ask. Why such an egregious act? Well it turns out, and this where the story really gets interesting, Parliamentary IT hadn’t hooked up a printer in her office or home. So instead of ignoring her immense workload, switching off her computer and going to the pub like any decent politician, she emaile

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 6th of May 2025, A Government delegation has landed in New Delhi for the first round of talks towards a FTA between India and New Zealand, India New Zealand Business Council Chair Bharat Chawla tells Ryan Bridge how we should approach a deal.  New figures from Stats NZ show our livestock numbers are falling, Federated Farmers Meat & Wool Chair Toby Williams tells Ryan whether or not we should be worried.  A brand new alliance of fifteen tourism organisations is hoping to attract more overseas visitors to North island destinations, Northland INC Head of Destination Tania Burt shares her thoughts. Plus Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on The mushroom murder trial entering its sixth day. 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.

Eight men have been arrested in two separate counter-terrorism UK police investigations.  Five people were arrested at various locations around England on Saturday as part of a "pre-planned" investigation into a plot to "target a specific premises." Three other men, all Iranian, were arrested in London on Saturday as part of a separate counter-terror police investigation.  UK Correspondent Gavin Grey talks to Ryan Bridge about the investigations.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been re-elected for a second term after Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton.  Dutton not only failed to unseat Albanese, but he also lost his seat of Dickson in Brisbane, making him the first federal opposition leader to ever do so.  Australian Correspondent Lesley Yeomans talks to Ryan Bridge about Saturday's election.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liam Lawson has been handed a five-second time penalty and has therefore lost his points finish from Formula One‘s Miami Grand Prix sprint race. After qualifying 14th, Lawson looked to have finished seventh in the 18-lap affair, shortened by one lap due to rain over the Miami International Autodrome. Sports Contributor Andrew Alderson talks to Ryan Bridge about the race. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.