Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Little is known about Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, but he’s likely to continue his father’s “hardline, hostile attitude” toward the US, Israel and the West more generally, one expert says. Andrew England, the Financial Times’ Middle East editor, told Newstalk ZB’s Ryan Bridge that hostility would be compounded because Khamenei's father, mother, wife and sister have all been killed. Khamenei has not given any statement since the war began, England said. “We don't know where he is and we don't really know what the fate of him is. We don't know if he was in that compound, you know, if he's wounded, if he's fit and healthy.” US President Donald Trump had called Khamenei a “lightweight” and warned any new Iranian leader wouldn’t last long without his approval, while the Israelis had suggested they would assassinate a new leader. The choice of Khamenei was a sign of defiance from Iran, suggesting the regime would continue to fight, so he was likely to be a prime target, England said. It was unclear h

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner shares her thoughts on how the New Zealand economy will react to the war in Iran.  A new Westpac report says we need to send more public health procedures to the private system, NZ Private Surgical Hospitals Association CEO Chris Roberts shares his thoughts. Iran has appointed a new supreme leader, Financial Times Middle East editor Andrew England tells Ryan what we should know about about him.  Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on fuel rations beginning in Western Australia in response to Iran war and hundreds of people evacuated to Darwin in Northern Territory floods, with loads of crocodile sightings. 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.

The war in Iran is not a shocking event in the sense that we knew it was coming. Trump has been not so much hinting, but sounding a fog horn for months. As we’ve been covering on this show, he’s been amassing military assets in the region since the end of January.  So not surprising. What has surprised is Iran hitting their neighbours, the Gulf states, so hard, including oil fields and refineries. This has surprised markets. Hence what we’re seeing in Asia and at home. Same goes for the price of oil. Yesterday when we talked about that Goldman Sacks estimate of $100 a barrel by the end of the week. We got there by the end of Monday. Remember they also warned of $150 a barrel by the end of the month? Let’s hope we’re not there by Friday.  Oil and fertilizer run our agriculture sector. I listened to a grain farmer in Christchurch yesterday say daily harvesting costs would increase by $2000-$3000. Already.  We are not immune to the price spikes, but we’re also not very well insulated from them eit

Israel is launching a new wave of strikes in Tehran, which has been choked by smoke following attacks on its energy resources.  Iran state-media says a new supreme leader has been chosen but they're yet to be named.  Israel is also claiming its first military deaths of the war with two soldiers dead in southern Lebanon.  Iran continues to lash out at US allies with Saudi Arabia authorities saying two have been killed and 12 injured in a recent attack.  The Guardian Washington Bureau Chief David Smith told Ryan Bridge that Iran is risking further spreading the war.  LISTEN ABOUT See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A shake-up to GP trainee employment could make the pathway into general practice more appealing. Health New Zealand will now directly employ all first-year trainees not already in private practice - with applications opening today for next year. Currently, doctors must switch to being employed by the College of GPs. Health Minister Simeon Brown told Ryan Bridge it’s been one of the barriers discouraging doctors from specialising as GPs. He says they effectively become employees of the college and lose leave balances and other conditions - which is a challenge for recruitment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday the 9th of March 2025, Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian David Smith shares the latest on the conflict in the Middle East.  Health New Zealand will now become the direct employer for all first-year GP trainees, Health Minister Simeon Brown tells Ryan how this will benefit new trainees. Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Trump telling Starmer he doesn't need his assistance of an aircraft carrier to fight Iran as the war has already been won and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has been the latest to call for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed from the royal line of succession.  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.

This country's fines make no sense.  you can get$70 for parking a few minutes over in the wrong spot, $150 for driving in a bus lane at the wrong time, which is the same texting while driving, an act that could, in theory, distract you enough to kill somebody on the road. So what gives?  You get $30 for going a few Kms over 100 on a main road.  Anyone who's been to Australia knows things are different. Way harsher. People, generally, follow the rules as a result.  Burt that doesn't mean nobody's crashing and dying on their roads, does it.  The problem is revenue gathering. If you actually set the fines based on the potentially damage an action may cause, we'd have a totally different system and set of punishments.  But you'd also have councils and cops who take the piss and revenue grab - speeding cameras in areas nobody's seen a crash in decades.  That's basically why we are where we are.  There is one change they can make that I support - free parking for over 80s.&nb

The 2026 Formula 1 season is kicking off in Melbourne today.  Homegrown racer Liam Lawson will be facing the Albert Park street circuit once again – the race that saw him fail to finish last year.  NZ Herald Sports Reporter Alex Powell told Ryan Bridge it’s been a tricky start to the year for everyone, with new cars and new regulations, so everyone’s waiting with bated breath to see how they’ll go.  He says today will be the first time we’ll see these cars and race situation on a track.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are claims a Parliamentary inquiry into online safety is rushing toward regulation without fully considering the consequences.  A Select Committee is backing a social media ban for under 16s and calling for an online regulator and tougher controls on harmful apps and algorithms.  ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar initiated the inquiry last year but says the recommendations don't have adequate analysis.  She told Ryan Bridge concerns about youth online are real, and we need to find real solutions for them.  Parmar says it's a complex issue and wasn't dealt with the seriousness that parents and young people deserve.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Other countries are using our medicinal cannabis products more than we are.   ACT leader David Seymour says he's looking at further improvements to speed up processing for exports of the plant, which he believes could one day rival the wine industry.   He is open to improving regulation domestically as well.  Cannabis Clinic CEO Waseem Alzaher told Ryan Bridge there's are a lot of companies growing the plant locally.  He says that product is being sent offshore, in forms people can't get in New Zealand.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Prime Minister has an uphill battle to convince the public his response to the war in Iran is the right one. Sir Keir Starmer has announced four extra Typhoon jets are being sent to join the squadron in Qatar, while helicopters with anti-drone capabilities will shortly arrive in Cyprus and the HMS Dragon is being deployed to the Mediterranean. The move follows a strike from an Iranian-made drone at the UK’s Akrotiri air base in Cyprus. But Starmer is still being accused of having “completely misjudged” the need to put defences into Cyprus, UK Correspondent Grey told Ryan Bridge. The HMS Dragon wouldn’t arrive for around a week, while other European nations were very quickly filling the void by sending naval assets. “Frankly many people think Keir Starmer has been caught rather napping on this - plus the fact, rather embarrassingly for him, the first...government-chartered flight out of the Middle East for people who were stuck there had been delayed for some engineering problems.” The flight had now ta

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 6th of March 2025, a parliamentary committee’s final report in online youth harm recommends a social media ban for under 16 year olds, Dr Parmjeet Parmar who represents Act on the committee says she was hoping for a different outcome.  The Formula One 2026 season kicks off in Melbourne today, NZ Herald sports reporter Alex Powell joins Ryan from Melbourne. David Seymour thinks the medicinal Cannabis industry could be an untapped goldmine, with export levels similar to our wine industry, Cannabis Clinic CEO Waseem Alzaher shares his thoughts. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Keir Starmer announcing the UK will send four fighter jets to Qatar to strengthen UK defensive operations and Spain pushing back against the White House’s claim that it agreed to cooperate militarily with Washington amid the conflict with Iran.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your pod

I don't mind paying the train tax in Auckland, even though I won't be using it.  Rates are going up 7.9% next year. Which let's be honest, is like Woolworths selling butter for $7.99.  It's 8%. Wayne Brown is the 8% man.  Mr Fix it is hitting us in the pocket, and it will hurt.  An extra $320 for your average ratepayer. The average goes from $4,055 to $4,375.  If we didn't have to subside the City Rail Link's operations, it'd be 0%.  Now, usually, something like this would get me a bit angry. I'd be tempted to go tag the side of a locomotive in the middle of the night with a cartoon of Wayno saying some like "Let's F Auckland". Just remove the ix from his campaign slogan. I don't generally use public transport because it's not convenient for me to do so. It's a timing and location issue, really.  But if we don't subsidise the users, then it won't get used. If it doesn't get used, then roads will stay clogged. If roads stay clogged, that's time and money down the drain. 

The Dave Rennie era is upon the All Blacks.  New Zealand Rugby announced his appointment as Head Coach yesterday, succeeding Scott Robertson in the role.  His assistants have yet to be determined, but it’s a focus of Rennie’s.   Sports Commentator Sam Ackerman told Ryan Bridge that there should be something resembling continuity, and Jason Ryan could be one to stay in the mix.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whanau Ora's Chair believes there's more focus on removing children from their families, rather than their safety further down the track.  A critical report from the Independent Children's Monitor argues that little progress has been made in living up to National Care Standards introduced six years ago.  It finds the percentage of young people suffering abuse or neglect in care has risen from 8% to 10% in the year to July last year.   Chair Merepeka Raukawa-Tait told Ryan Bridge once children are in care, the minimum standards are not adhered to.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 5th of March 2025, Dave Rennie has been named the new All Blacks head coach, sports commentator Sam Ackerman shares his thoughts.  Does the conflict in the Middle East risk knocking out our export gains? Trade Minister Todd McClay explains. The Independent Children’s Monitor says abuse in state care is rising Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency Chair Merepeka Raukawa-Tait tells Ryan what needs to happen to make change.  Plus, US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the latest on the Pentagon press briefing on Iran and the Senate set to vote on a war powers resolution.  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.

New Zealand’s export boom is accelerating. New international trade figures show exports climbed to $29.2 billion in the December quarter - up $2.2 billion on a year earlier. Two-way trade also jumped to just over $61 billion. Trade Minister Todd McClay told Ryan Bridge dairy is performing strongly, with meat exports up a remarkable 21%. He says growth has soared with countries we have free trade agreements with, like the EU, UK, and Australia. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know how they say cranes in the sky is a good sign of growth?  Well, not in Auckland. Not at Seascape. It’s meant to be this city, this country, tallest tower. 187 metres tall. Beautiful expansive views of the water. 52 stories. A statement building for a city on the move. But for two years we’ve had this… construction stopped, half finished, beams and nuts and bolts exposed. Then yesterday the Chinese outfit developing it folded completely. Gone-ski. So what happens to this half-cooked tower down by the wharf? It’s kind of hard to miss, you know. Imagine the Sky Tower with scaffolding on it for a year. Whatever happens needs to happen fast.  Auckland is getting its mojo back. We’ve been talking all over the city lately, the areas your tourists venture, it’s coming alive. The ICC, the CRL stations, the shops, Ponsonby, viaduct and waterfront; absolutely humming and heaving.  There’s a buzz in the air and it’s not just politicians talking it up. Go and see if for you

The Utilities Dispute service is welcoming changes to power rules.   The Electricity Authority's new rules, which kick in from October 30, will force power companies to simplify their bills and tell customers if they're on the best plan they provide.   It will also mean power companies could only send backdated bills once every six months.   Utilities Dispute Commissioner Neil Mallon told Ryan Bridge it won't just benefit customers.   He says it will lead to fewer complaints and make it easier to resolve complaints.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s concern youth offending boot camps don't cater to the issues impacting children the most.  Newstalk ZB understands the programme for young offenders is starting in Palmerston North on Monday, for 10 youths.   They'll spend more time in the residential facility than in the pilot, and this iteration will have more input from local iwi.  Kickback co-founder and youth worker Aaron Hendry told Ryan Bridge these are kids who are often struggling in poverty and homelessness themselves.  He says parents don't have the adequate support to help children get through tough issues.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.