Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

A notable shift in the housing market as first home buyers have the highest share of purchases in two decades.  The Cotality Monthly Housing Chart shows first home buyers account for 27% of market activity in July, a 5% jump on the long-term average.  It also finds existing homeowners trading up or down, remain at historically low levels.  Head of Squirrel Mortgages' David Cunningham told Ryan Bridge there's less pressure on buyers to instantly throw an offer on a home.  He says interest rates have gone down, KiwiSaver balances are higher, and there's less competition.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our defence aircraft could soon be playing cat-and-mouse with submarines following a multibillion-dollar investment.  The Governments putting $2.7 billion towards two new Airbus A321 planes to replace older planes.  Five Seahawk helicopters are also being bought, equipped with anti-submarine torpedo systems.   Retired Lieutenant Colonel and defence expert Josh Wineera told Ryan Bridge the helicopters will bring military combat to the next level.  He says they're essentially a submarine-hunting aircraft, but can also carry out other tasks.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 22nd of August 2025, The Government's gone shopping for some new planes and helicopters, at the tune of $2.7 billion, retired Lieutenant Colonel and security expert, Josh Wineera shares his thoughts.  New data from Cotality shows people getting on the property ladder are actually at the highest share of purchases in the last two decades, David Cunningham from Squirrel Mortgages tells Ryan Bridge what he's been seeing.  The All Blacks take on Argentina again in Buenos Aires, Sports Commentator Sam Ackerman tells Ryan what we can expect.  Plus UK/ Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Israel preparing for a new offensive to take over Gaza City.  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.

Israel's military has begun the first stages of a planned ground offensive in Gaza City, causing Palestinians to flee. It's pressing ahead with its plan to occupy the war-torn city despite international criticism. New Zealand's one of 27 countries demanding Israel give foreign media access to Gaza to cover the “unfolding humanitarian catastrophe”. Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Ryan Bridge Israeli hostage families are concerned about the 60-thousand reserve force soldiers to set foot in Gaza. He says they think hostages will be executed or caught up in the firing, while soldiers try to access the tunnel network where it's believed the rest of Hamas remain. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We should all be happy, the weekend’s finally here. But there’s an issue of major national significance I need to get off my chest: I have had it with car parks so small, you couldn’t fit a shopping trolly in them. What exactly do they think we’re driving? Go-karts? No. People are buying big cars. Utes that cross the white lines.  Station wagons that hang out the backend, blocking the road. Enormous SUVs that do both. The Spinoff wrote about this the problem last week - the Civic in Auckland is one of the worst offenders.  Yesterday I saw a pregnant woman trying to squeeze herself, a handbag, and an unborn baby out of sedan in a carpark building. She was literally using the handbag to protect her belly from the car door. Are we trying to send them into early labour?  Apparently new cars are getting 1cm wider every two years. People like bigger cars because they feel safer. We’re also getting way more obese so literally can’t fit in Honda Civic anymore. Safety features take up lots of

It's been another tough year for Fletcher Building.  The construction giant's announced a net loss of $419 million, compared to a loss of $227 million last year.  It's pondering selling its residential and development division and continues to consider offers for its construction division and other subsidiaries.  Building Industry Federation CEO Julian Leys told Ryan Bridge Fletcher’s loss underscores the broader downturn they’re seeing across the whole sector.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fact a terrorist attack on New Zealand remains a future possibility is coming as no surprise to one security expert. A Security Intelligence Service report states we're facing one of the most challenging national security environments in recent times.   It's kept our terrorism threat at low, indicating an attack is realistically possible.  Massey University's John Battersby told Ryan Bridge he's often been critical of Kiwis' complacency.   He says all of the things listed in this threat assessment have existed for quite some time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A steady slide to the OCR is gently flowing through to households.  The Reserve Bank's cut the cash rate from 5.5% to 3% over the past 13 months and is also signalling further possible cuts on the way.  Assistant Governor Karen Silk says many people have been fixing on higher short-term rates while they hold out for lower long-term rates.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Ryan Bridge it’s important that monetary policy can stimulate the economy, and the Reserve Bank has made a clear decision to ensure interest rates can fall further.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 21st of August 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis shares her thoughts on the Reserve Bank cutting the OCR by 25 basis points to 3%.  A violent extremist attack in New Zealand is a realistic possibility, according to the NZSIS Massey University security expert John Battersby gives his take.  Fletchers suffered a net loss of over $400 million last year, Building Industry Federation Chief Executive Julian Leys tells Ryan what their poor performance mean for the industry as a whole.  Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on US and European military planners beginning exploring post-conflict security guarantees for 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.

Remember just a few weeks ago how Sir John Key wanted 100 point cut from Reserve Bank? We'll, they've almost given him what he wants.  It's easy to be an armchair critic of the boffins down at Number 2 The Terrace - "They should have gone for 50." "Club 25 was too cautious."  But markets listen as much to the guff after the big cut announcement as much as they do the actual announcement. Need proof? Already retail banks have started slashing mortgage rates, both variable and fixed.  That's on top of the cuts they already made last week, pricing in yesterday's 25.  Some of the big ones will, in the coming weeks - I reckon we'll get down to 4.5% on short-term fixed. Look how the currency markets reacted - these guys were surprised.  Coming out with what is essentially a triple shot to 2.5% by Christmas sends is sending a strong signal. It's easy to get caught up in the hysteria of calls for double shot all at once, but the bank can have its cake and eat it too. Get businesses

Economists are expecting a 25 point basis cut from today's OCR announcement, but it could be the last one for a while.   The Reserve Bank will announce it's decision at 2pm.   Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold says last time around there were more notable arguments among the board. He told Ryan Bridge at least one member of the board didn't want to cut last time around.   Eckhold says with those sort of debates going around, it makes further cuts less certain.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes for our electricity sector could just be small steps in levelling the playing field.  New Electricity Authority rules will require generators to sell energy to everyone at the same rate.  This will stop our big four companies, known as gentailers, offering themselves discounts and limiting competition.  Octopus Energy Chief Operating Officer Margaret Cooney told Ryan Bridge she's afraid new rules won't crack down enough on the big four.   She says there's been lots of small steps, but it would be good to actually get to the nub of these issues.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 20 August. 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.

Belief changes to class sizes and staffing are needed to improve writing achievement at intermediate level. The Government's launching a new digital tool for students sitting below the standard and introducing more professional development in literacy.  New data shows only a quarter of Year Eight students achieved their curriculum writing level last year.  Auckland's Remuera Intermediate Principal Kyle Brewerton told Ryan Bridge these poor figures are due to a lack of resourcing. He says there's big class sizes and little staffing, while in high school it's vice versa. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electricity and groceries are your two big ticket inflation targets. Punters want to pay less for both. There are nuclear options available: Cut the gentailers in half by force. Those pro-wrecking ball argue if you force them to separate out the generation side of the business from the retail, you’d create more competition and lower prices. You could do a similar thing with the supermarkets. One idea is to force Foodstuffs and Woolworths to sell 120 supermarkets and a third of their six distribution centres to a third player. Hey presto. The duopoly’s dead. Long live Queen Nicola. Now we’re still waiting to see what cat Willis will pull out of her shopping bag on this. She has advice and considering the options. Here’s what I think she’ll do: We can get clues from the way they’re handling electricity, which is basically minor changes to bits and pieces around the edges on stuff like the super peak hedging contracts, and if things don't change, look out - we'll regulate. We'll be meaner and tougher. There

Former Qantas workers are claiming victory over its $90 million fine for illegally sacking more than 1800 workers.   The court's found outsourcing baggage handlers, cleaners, and ground staff in 2020 was done to curb union bargaining powers.   Qantas says this judgment holds them accountable.  Australian Correspondent Lesley Yeomans told Ryan Bridge $50 million of the fine will be going to the Transport Workers Union, and what happens with the other $40 million will be decided at a later date.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another dairy sector shake-up.  Infant formula and dairy company a2 Milk is buying the Yashili plant in Pokeno and selling its majority stake in the Mataura Valley plant in Gore to Open Country Dairy.  A2 Milk's announcement comes as it reports a 21% rise in profit, off the back of a 9.3% rise in revenue.  Forsyth Barr Senior Analyst Matt Montgomerie told Ryan Bridge a2 has stood out over the last couple of years, consistently exceeding expectations despite operating in a relatively tough formula market in China.  He says the decision to acquire the plant in Pokeno is quite a big step in continuing that growth pathway.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Praise for new building consenting rules.   The Government will change liabilities, holding parties responsible for their share of work.   Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming says the building guarantee or building system should be mandated.   He told Ryan Bridge that will add cost to the price of building, but it's minuscule in the scale of things.   Fleming says on a $500,000 project, a guarantee would cost just $1,500.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A reasonable chance of the Russia-Ukraine war ending if a trilateral meeting with both country's leaders occurs. This comes from Donald Trump ahead of today's big meeting at the White House. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived, along with several European leaders.  Russia's President Vladimir Putin met with Trump on Saturday, and Trump says he'll have a phone call with him after today's talks.  Trump says the whole world is tired of the war, and they’re going to get it ended. Feature Story News US Correspondent Nick Harper shares the latest.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 19th of August 2025, Trump is meeting Zelensky and EU leaders at the White house to discuss peace talks, US Correspondent Nick Harper has the latest.  Forsyth Barr analyst Matt Montgomerie shares his thoughts on A2 Milk posting a $200 million profit and purchasing Yashii NZ's plant in Pokeno.  The Government's made some changes to building consents, Certified Builders CEO tells Ryan about the difference it'll make.  Plus Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans has the latest on Qantas now facing a $90 million penalty for outsourcing ground staff during Covid.  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.