Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

One of New Zealand Rugby's major sponsors has found itself offside with the national body.  NZR has confirmed they're launching legal action against petrochemical company INEOS for breaching a deal worth $8 million a year.  The petrochemical company hasn't paid its first 2025 instalment to have its logo on various All Blacks attire, making NZR believe they have exited their arrangement early.  INEOS claims they tried to negotiate a solution before the legal action came.  Newstalk ZB Rugby Journalist Elliott Smith told Francesca Rudkin that the company is blaming the decision on a commercial downturn in Europe.  He says they’re looking for a way to save costs, and that between their new America’s Cup team and recent acquisition of Manchester United, it’s likely they felt the NZR contract would be easiest to ditch.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group fighting youth homelessness says Kainga Ora's crackdown on rent debt will exacerbate housing insecurity.   The housing provider's announced it will terminate tenancies with people who skip rent and don't attempt to get back on track.   It says the new policy will also help it engage with tenants when rent debt is beginning to mount.   Manaaki Rangatahi Spokesperson Brooke Stanley told Francesca Rudkin they’re worries about the lack of alternatives to emergency housing that the Government is putting forward.  She says they’re also worried about the lack of strategy for addressing homelessness, as the previous plan ended in 2023 and there’s nothing in place to ensure that the work is continued.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Australian football player is walking away from jail time after being accused of racially harassing a Metropolitan police officer.   Sam Kerr was found not guilty by a British jury over an incident two years ago where she called an officer stupid and white.   UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Francesca Rudkin the charge could have lead to two years in prison.  He says the 31-year-old has always claimed she was antagonised by officers when she was taken to the police station following a dispute with a taxi driver.   The driver wanted clean up compensation from Kerr and her partner, for vomit and a broken window.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Whangārei Mayor believes more people will accept a decision around water fluoridation - if it comes from councils. New Zealand First's new Members Bill seeks to remove the Director General of Health's central authority on fluoridation - and mandate binding local referendums. It comes as Whangārei District Council's under fire - as the only council refusing to fluoridate under current mandates. Mayor Vince Cocurullo says told Francesca Rudkin Whangārei's never fluoridated and is probably due for a referendum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 12 February. 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.

Kainga Ora is taking a step in the right direction. They have announced a tougher approach to rental debt, but they’re doing it in a fair way which hopefully gives people who intend to pay their rent, but have hit a hurdle, a chance to get back on track.   The debt was kinda crazy. Between 2017 and 2023 the total debt owed to Kainga Ora by its tenants increased from $1million to $21 million.   Now, obviously this period included the Covid days and cost of living crisis, and it would be a little heartless for the government to kick people out of homes during a lockdown, or due to a job loss caused by an unprecedented event like a pandemic. But $21 million - it's a big number!  Kainga Ora has worked hard to reduce the debt. It’s now down from $21.6 million in January 2024 to $16.1 million this January.  It’s a good effort, but clearly things have got out of control, and we're never going to get on top of the numbers.   So the Board of Kainga Ora has decided to help some tenants with sig

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to speak with Donald Trump as tariffs loom.  The US President has said he will announce a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the country, on top of already existing metal duties.  He implemented a similar policy in his first term, but later granted partners like Australia duty-free quotas.  Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Andrew Dickens the Albanese Government has been preparing for such a decision.  She says it’s been reported that attempts to secure exemptions have been developed behind the scenes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A greater push for foreign investment in national infrastructure is being warmly received by the sector.   The Government's unveiled plans for a two-day international summit next month where it's inviting 100 global investment leaders.   It plans to highlight investment opportunities, hint at policy changes, and market growing industries.   Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett says the Government's aware it can't fill the infrastructure deficit on its own.   He says foreign investment is a way of helping while making infrastructure perform better.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A banking expert believes New Zealand First's move to fine banks for withdrawing services on environmental or social grounds misunderstands the situation.  MP Andy Foster has introduced a bill to the members' ballot in a bid to ensure banks make withdrawal decisions on a purely commercial basis, with fines of up to half a million.   Massey University banking expert Claire Matthews told Andrew Dickens the move is not surprising but misses the point of why banks are making these choices.   She says the banks decisions are based on risk management, which under the introduced legislation would still be possible, meaning it won't make the difference the party's looking for.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The economy has set the mood for the latest political polling.  Both the Taxpayers' Union Curia poll and the 1 News Verian poll show the left bloc has the numbers to form a government if an election was held today.  Both also have Chris Luxon losing support in the preferred Prime Minister stakes.  Political commentator Brigitte Morten told Andrew Dickens some of the Government's announcements on the economy won't be flowing through yet.  She says a lot of them are also around economic growth, rather than moves that are going to affect households. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It only took nearly twenty years to address, but high school rowing teams will no longer be able to have year 14 students in their crews. These were young people in their 6th year of secondary school.  They gave their crews an advantage because they’d had an extra year of training and development.  It's been a bugbear of many schools wanting a level playing field. Many of the year 14s were back at school finishing their academic work so they could take advantage of rowing scholarships, but the schools still included them in their rep crews. Critics of that decision said the problem was not just the young adults themselves but also the others at school who missed out on a place because of the year 14s. The first moves to police the practice involved age limits, but it still saw year 14 students with birthdays just after the cutoffs competing.  They still brought the advantage of an extra year of training. So now year 14s are gone. And that’s a good thing.  It’s stopped the attitude of schoo

On the Early Edition Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 11th February 2025, Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Nick Leggett tells Andrew Dickens wants he wants to see come out of the Government's two-day Foreign Investment summit.  Claire Matthews, Associate Professor at the Massey University Business school shares her thoughts on an New Zealand First members bill which intends to stop banks withdrawing services from customers for "woke" reasons.  And two recent polls give lean to the left block and spell trouble for the coalition, Political Commentator Brigette Morten gives her take. Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on how Donald Trump's new steel tariffs will impact Australia.  Kendrick Lamar's Superbowl half time show featured latest Grammy winning dis track "Not like us", his brutal takedown of rap rival Drake which earned one billion streams on Spotify.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABO

England played France in a good 'good old rugby' showdown over the weekend, beating the French side by just one point. Fans are bringing into question Warren Gatland's coaching abilities after a 14th straight defeat for Wales.  Newstalk ZB's Andrew Alderson joins the show for a rundown of the weekend's sport.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is replacing the current visa settings with two new categories that will see visa settings relaxed.  In a bid to encourage more foreign investment, the Government is introducing the balanced category and the growth category, the latter requiring a minimum a $5 million invested for a minimum of three years.  Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges explains the change to Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have begun to unplug from Russia's electricity grid and join the EU's network, more than three decades after leaving the Soviet Union.  The three nations will officially transition away from the grid that has connected them to Russia since the years after World War Two and integrate with the European supplied via Poland. UK Correspondent Gavin Gray talks to Andrew Dickens about the separation, a British couple that was found murdered in their French home, and the auctioned-off first edition Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is officially Super Bowl Sunday in the US! The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Louisiana's Superdome in New Orleans in what is to be a star studded night in sport.  Taking the stage in the half time show performance is rapper Kendrick Lamar.  Sirius XM Radio host Ben Harlum joins the show live from the Super Bowl.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’d like to applaud the outbreak of common sense exhibited by the new Minister of Transport, Chris Bishop. He has decided to revisit some of the blanket speed limits imposed by central Government in the wake of concerns by locals. Let me first say it is the new Government that has imposed blanket speed limits not the last. This new Government has determined that all speed limits should be either 50, 100 or occasionally 11km per hour over all roads. No matter the condition of the roads, their usage or their ability to cope with the higher speeds. They used the phrase blanket speed limits which was a great vote catcher but had little to do with the situation on the ground. The old Government left most speed limits in the hands of local authorities who maintain and operate local roads.   Their roads, their rules. The Labour Government issued a schedule of over 300 sections of road on the state highway network which are the only roads they control. This schedule was put in place over dangerous roads, badly b

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast for Monday 10th February 2025, Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Bridges shares his thoughts on the Government relaxing Visa settings to encourage more foreign investment. We head to the US where Superbowl Sunday is underway, Ben Harlum a Radio host at Sirus XM paints a picture of the big day. We get an update on the weekend's sport - Black Caps batter Rachin Ravindra suffered a sickening blow to the head after he appeared to misjudge a catch during their One-Day International victory over Pakistan. And Tiaan Whelpton for setting the second fastest time by a New Zealand 100 metres runner. Andrew applauds the outbreak of common sense exhibited by the new Minister of Transport, Chris Bishop. More than three decades after leaving the Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have begun to unplug from Russia's electricity grid and join the EU's network, Gavin Gray shares the latest. Get the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast every

US allies are broadly rejecting Donald Trump's plans for a US takeover of the Gaza strip.  The US President has again doubled down on the idea, posting on social media that Israel will turn over Gaza to the US when fighting has "concluded".  He's also reiterating his plan to resettle Palestinians in new housing elsewhere in the Middle East.  Correspondent Vincent McAviney says US allies in Europe and the Middle East aren't criticising Trump directly, but they aren't supporting the idea.  He says leaders have been restating their support for a two-state solution, with Palestinians being able to keep their land.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to double its funding of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust.  The trust was established to encourage protection of natural and cultural features on private land, without selling or donating it.  But its base government funding runs out in June and is warning it will have to scale back the new covenants it can support.  Vice-president Colin Hurst says the $4.3 million in funding hasn't increased in 10 years, but demand for it has.  He says it's increased from 4,000 to 5,200 covenants —around 28 percent— with no extra funding.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.