Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

More details have been revealed about a potential deal between the Cook Islands and China.  It's being reported that Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown will travel to Beijing today, where he's expected to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership with China.  MFAT says it would have expected our Government to be consulted by the Pacific nation before such an arrangement is struck, under the free association model.  Geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller told Andrew Dickens the Cook Islands PM has said it's economic focused.  He says it will not contain defence and security, and it's likely to be a comprehensive strategic partnership, something New Zealand signed with China back in 2014.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the country's most iconic multi-sport events returns today.  The first day of the South Islands' Coast to Coast kicks off from Kumara Beach, with athletes biking, kayaking, and running to Christchurch's New Brighton Beach.  Around 1,700 participants are competing in the 43rd edition of the event.  Race director Glen Currie told Andrew Dickens Klondyke Corner will be an unusually busy spot, full of spectators and competitors.  He says the odd tramper is normally the only one at the Arthurs Pass National Park campsite, but there will be seven thousand people there tonight.  Records could also be broken this year.  Currie says that Simone Maier is going for a sixth win in tomorrow’s Longest Day event, which would give her the most wins for any female ever.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last thing I did before the Waitangi day holiday was talk to Kieran McAnulty about the financial strife surrounding Kainga Ora, and it's bugged me ever since.  The Labour Housing Spokesperson denied the agency was in financial difficulty.  He told me that Housing New Zealand's asset base was so large there was no problem borrowing more money to keep its construction schedule on track.  And that bugged a lot of you too.  The typical response was typical socialist – just borrow more and more to fund your ideological programme.  But it doesn't really have anything to do with your political bent, it's basic fiscal management.  The world is full of people who have the assets to borrow whatever they like, but the devil in the detail is whether they have the capacity to pay it back.  Increasingly we don't.  Yes, our debt is internationally insignificant and still not at an extreme level.  We're not the UK or the United States who have debt ratios over 100% of GDP, and

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast for Friday 7th February 2025, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mike Brown is travelling to Beijing today where he is expected to sign a major partnership deal between the Cook Islands and China. Geoffrey Miller explains what it means for New Zealand.  Federated Farmers are calling on the Government to double the amount of funding landowners get to help protect special areas and species on private farming land.  Andrew shares his thoughts around Kainga Ora's new plan.  And UK and Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney shares the latest on the State of Emergency declared in the popular Greek island Santorini, after days of earthquakes.   Get the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's announced a funding boost for Māori economic development projects on the eve of Waitangi Day.  Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says $7.1 million will go towards three projects in Northland and Taranaki.  He says a major infrastructure upgrade at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds is going well, and some new facilities will be open in time for this year's celebrations.   Senior Political Reporter Sophie Trigger is on the ground and told Andrew Dickens it's set to be a busy day, with politicians arriving this morning.   She says last year there was a separate powhiri for Government and Opposition, but they'll all be arriving side-by-side today.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The opposition is criticising Kainga Ora's turnaround plan.  The Government's told the landlord to focus on its core service: social housing.  It's announced savings including ending sustainable housing certification requirements and shedding a quarter of its staff.  Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty told Andrew Dickens he's perplexed that the Housing Minister calls this a success.  He says the need for social housing continues to grow and the governments answer is to not build houses.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week it was the perennial should he or shouldn’t he go debate about the Prime Minister.  Personally, I’d always go to Waitangi if I were Prime Minister, even if it was just for one of the days of ceremonies.  The Air Force is weak but they’re perfectly capable of getting him to both Waitangi and Akaroa if he wanted to.  It’s said his non-attendance is a snub of Māori but there’s another way of looking at it.  He could be staying away because he doesn’t want to ruffle Māori feathers.  He has publicly said repeatedly that the Treaty Principles Bill is going nowhere so why go somewhere where he’ll get the heat for something he’s never intended to do?  David Seymour can go and is.  It’s David’s baby and he’s more than happy to stand to it. He’ll take the heat, and he’ll give it back  But our PM doesn’t want to go somewhere where he’ll be yelled at for something he won’t do.  So maybe this isn’t a snub of Māori but it is one of his right wing supporters. They are g

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 5 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.

An economist says some groups of people will be hit harder by rising unemployment. The country's labour market data for the final quarter of 2024 will be released this morning.  Most experts predict the unemployment rate will rise from 4.6-percent to about 5-percent.  ASB senior economist Mark Smith told Andrew Dickens the Wellington region's likely to be heavily impacted He says it picks up in the younger age group, because what typically happens is the last ones into the labour market are the first ones out. Smith says some ethnic groups will also be effected, like Maori and Pacific Islanders. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ageing population is playing into an increase in urban Land Search and Rescue missions.  Over the past six months, the volunteer group's been called on 23% more year-on-year.  It's meant 22% more volunteer responders have been deployed.  Chief development and project officer, Johnny Franklin told Andrew Dickens that alongside alpine and bush rescues, urban rescues have been of particular concern.  He says urban rescues account for about 25% of operations and is expected to increase as the population gets older.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An environmental law professor says it wouldn't make sense to pull out of the Paris Agreement.   Speaking to The Country, ACT Leader David Seymour's floated the idea of New Zealand leaving the agreement, suggesting it appears half the world is leaving.  It follows US President Donald Trump pulling the United States from the climate deal.  Waikato University's Dr Nathan Cooper told Andrew Dickens that while the US is leaving, other big players are likely to stay.  He says climate change, which is what the Paris Agreement is there to respond to, is a global challenge.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mortgage broker is advising people to hedge their bets as uncertainty continues over upcoming Official Cash Rate announcements.   Centrix is hoping the Reserve Bank will make more cuts, as its latest Credit Indicator report shows almost half a million New Zealanders are behind on repayments, with consumer arrears levels up 1.3%.  Key Mortgages' Jeremy Andrews told Andrew Dickens people shouldn't necessarily hope rates will drop.   He suggests fixing loans midterm, adding he's never seen so many people with floating rates.   The next OCR announcement is due in a fortnight on February 19.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suddenly it’s tough to get a job.  Which is amazing, because just a few years ago we had jobs for everyone and then some.  Now we learn teenagers in search of their first job are struggling to land anything in the current employment market - some searching for as long as two years.  And you can see why.  In tough times you need experienced workers, and with so many experienced workers losing their jobs there is suddenly a cohort of older workers who are taking the jobs the youngsters used to get.  And you can’t blame the older guys. You need to ditch your humility and concentrate on cashflow to survive in 2025.  But the older generation is feeling the heat too.  Old workers are finding it harder and harder.  They may have the knowledge but bosses younger than them wonder about how many years they can give to the company, particularly when the super looms, the kids have left, and the mortgage is paid.  It’s said that we need to be a meritocracy again. Hire the best

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 4th of February 2025, our future involvement in the Paris Agreement's up in the air, with David Seymour hinting at ACT campaigning on leaving the accord after the 2026 Election.  Over the last six months, there's been a significant increase in search and rescue operations, compared to the year before. NZ Land Search and Rescue’s Johnny Franklin discussed the rising count.  New Centrix data shows reported financial hardship increased 19% in the past year, most of those cases were down to mortgage repayment issues.  Andrew shares his thoughts on youth struggling to get any work experience in the current job market.  Plus, Donna Demaio shares the latest on the 17 year old teenager who died in a shark attack.  Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country is desperate to go for growth. The question is: how? We got 3 points of view over the weekend - Friday it was the turn of Matthew Hooten. His piece was called New Zealand needs a strategic approach to building wealth like Singapore's Temasek. Temasek own and manage assets that are held directly by its government. They operate a major bank and insurance company, Singapore airlines, the country’s main port, and a load of other things. It's as if we’ve been investigating it for decades. Even Grant Robertson was interested but nothing’s ever happened. So it has cross party appeal, but why hasn’t it happened? Who knows. Ask the politicians - all talk no action.  On Sunday, it was the turn of Don Brash and Michael Reddell who in a shared piece said our problem is our low productivity. No kidding! Every politician says that and none have come up with an answer. Brash and Reddell's only proffered solution is to lower company tax rates to attract overseas and local investment. They clai

US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on goods coming from Canada, Mexico and China, sparking fears of a trade war. China is facing 10% on imports, while Canada and Mexico will see 25%.  Canada has already hit back with retaliatory 25% tariffs for the US.  Geopolitical Analyst Geoffrey Miller talks to Andrew Dickens about what these decisions will mean for the US and if New Zealand has to be wary.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phase two of the Covid-19 inquiry begins today, creating space for the public to submit feedback around key decisions the New Zealand government made during the pandemic. Whether it is vaccine mandates, lockdowns, extended lockdowns, rat tests, and tracing, anyone can have their say.  How will this phase differ from the first initiative?  Matthew Hague is a lawyer who defended a client who didn't want the COVID jab, and talks to Ryan Bridge about what this new phase means.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happened over the weekend in sport? Newstalk ZB's Andrew Alderson joins the show to discuss the India v England T20 match, Auckland FC's 'impressive' win, Lydia Ko's struggle and the NFL heading to Australia.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 3 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.

There's confidence from the wool sector that Kainga Ora will learn the value of wool carpets.  The social housing agency's back-tracking on a previous ban after using synthetic carpets for more than a decade.  It will now allow wool carpet providers to tender for carpet and underlay contracts.  Campaign for Wool general manager Kara Biggs told Andrew Dickens there's an opportunity to show Kainga Ora how wool can compete on price and value now.  She says that wool is natural, flame resistant, warmer, and more absorbent, which means it's a better and healthier alternative for those in community housing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.