Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Space milestones are only going to keep on coming, with the first ever commercial space walk mission.  Billionaire Jared Isaacman and engineer Sarah Gillis have become the first civilians to walk in space.   The Space X mission also put the total number of people currently in space to 19, tying the record set in 2021.  Auckland University's Spacecraft Missions Director Chris Jackson told Ryan Bridge the number's only going to increase with SpaceX and NASA's future plans.  He says they want to populate the Moon, which will put a lot more people in space across a lot of different places.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kamala Harris was wearing audio earrings during the debate this week.  Did you hear about this? Yeah, she was cheating.  They looked like pearl earrings, but they also look like audio earrings. You can buy them, and you can have your staff feed you information in real time during a debate, they can coach you live.  Yeah, it's real, I read it on the internet.  That's the problem, isn't it? On some corners of the internet there's the dog-duck-immigrant conspiracy thing, there's the trans migrant prisoner sex change thing, and now there's the Kamala earrings thing.  Misinformation, disinformation, conspiracies, whatever they are, they seem to be everywhere at the moment.  Kamala Harris is pushing the conspiracies too, remember she said during the debate that Trump would implement project 2025 if elected, he says he won't.  Isn't that the same thing? Just lies, just making stuff up?  Don't get me wrong, I do love a good conspiracy, especially the bizarre ones you get out of the States, but I would never go nuts o

The nurses union says there's not enough health staff to meet health targets.   The Health Minister's laid out his plans for delivering health targets set in March.    Dr Shane Reti's discussed increasing public hospital beds and operating theatres and using private hospital capacity more.   He's confident the Budget and resources are already in place to deliver them.   Nurses Organisation President Kerri Nuku told Ryan Bridge the whole workforce is understaffed and chronically underfunded.   She says it's fine to have ambitious plans, but if there aren't the people or resources to implement them, it'll fail.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 13th of September, the government's revealed how they will reach its health targets, but health workers are raising concerns. Kerri Nuku from the Nurses Organisation joins the show to discuss.  Extra coal and gas was needed over winter to generate electricity with low lake levels in the South Island, should we be concerned about the reduction in renewable generation? The University of Otago's Dr Kimberly O'Sullivan talks to Ryan.  The first privately funded spacewalk has ended successfully. Is this the start of space tourism? University of Auckland's Head of Space Operations Chris Jackson joins the show.  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.

Today marks the anniversary of the September 11th tragedy in the United States.   23 years ago, nearly 3000 people died at a number of sites across the US, and memorials and moments of silence are held on the anniversary every year.  US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Ryan Bridge that a number of political figures were in attendance at this morning’s memorial at the World Trade Centre in New York, including Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A heated exchange between the two US presidential hopefuls - with many saying Kamala Harris got under Donald Trump's skin  The pair faced off over inflation, abortion and foreign policy in a high stakes debate in Pennsylvania.  US Pollster Henry Olsen told Ryan Bridge that debates in the past have had a minor effect on the polls, but this race is so close that even a minor effect could transform Harris from an underdog to the favourite.  This debate could have an impact on the polls, he said, but we won’t know for at least another week.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People seem to think Kamala Harris made a fool of Trump in the debate, but real fool was us, New Zealand.  Within 24 hours of the debate we got news of 230 jobs lost due in part to an energy crunch caused by moral grandstanding on climate change.  That's 230 jobs, but up to 1000 people including families. That's half the population of Raetihi and Ohakune.  Shane Jones calls it the hollowing out of regional NZ, and there's much more to come.  We also had news Methanex is consulting on mothballing, indefinitely, one of its two remaining plants.  Why? You guessed it - in part it's moral grandstanding on climate change.  More on that in a second, but first back to the debate. This is the most left, progressive political leader in America, Kamala Harris, boasting about fracking.  "I will not ban fracking. I have not banned fracking as Vice President of the United States. And in fact, I was the tie breaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act which opened new leases for fracking."  And here, Kamala Harris boasts ab

Another blow for regional New Zealand and the manufacturing industry is being seen as potentially devastating.  Methanex is proposing cutting staff and moving from two plants to one.  Earlier this week Winstone pulp confirmed plans to shut, putting more than 200 jobs on the chopping block after soaring energy prices.  Energy Resources Aotearoa's John Carnegie told Ryan Bridge the system is going from crisis to crisis - something he believes is predictable following the oil and gas ban.  He says it leaves a hole in the confidence of investors.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The global shortages of orange juice is good news for our local growers.  The world's largest grower Brazil has been hit by drought and disease, bringing juicing orange yields down by at least a third.  That, combined with lower yields on the East Coast due to Cyclone Gabrielle damage, has left New Zealand with a shortage of orange juice.  Orange grower and Citrus NZ board member Matthew Carter told Ryan Bridge it's been quite profitable for those growing here.  He says juice grade fruit usually would be worth around 50 cents a kilo, and that's nearly doubled over the last couple of years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 12th of September, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have faced off in their first debate, less than two months out from the election. Famous pollster Henry Olsen joins Ryan from the U.S. to discuss it.  Methanex is proposing to scale down operations to just one plant - what does it mean for the energy sector? John Carnegie from Energy Recourses Aotearoa joins the show to give his thoughts.  Have you noticed a shortage of orange juice in the supermarket? We check in with a grower and ask what's happening with the industry.  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 Major Electricity Users' Group says consumers are grossly over-paying for power.   Electricity prices have risen over the years, both businesses and average citizens struggling to afford their power bills.  Chair John Harbord told Ryan Bridge the companies are producing the same amount of electricity, while making record profits.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a belief a social media ban could benefit young people.  Australia's holding an age-verification trial in coming months, but it's unknown what the cut off age will be, or how it will be enforced.   Christopher Luxon has also expressed interest in the idea.  Parenting expert Nathan Wallis told Ryan Bridge there's a correlation between social media and youth mental health issues.  He says if things like social media are banned, it may be revealed as the major cause of the country's mental health crisis in teens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US presidential debate looks to be a chance to get to know the candidates.  Vice President Kamala Harris is facing off against Donald Trump for the first time at 1pm our time in Pennsylvania.   No notes are allowed, and microphones will cut off when each candidate's not speaking.  Former US Ambassador to New Zealand under Barack Obama, Mark Gilbert told Ryan Bridge many polls show people still don't know Harris.  He says this will be an opportunity for her to be seen, as more than 50-million people are expected to tune in.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A wild, bizarre, and highly entertaining media scrum took pace in Wellington yesterday, culminating with an MP saying he didn't mind swimming in other people's sewage. Yes, human waste.  A chaotic caucus run with Labour's Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor.   He was asked why Wellington's dying - with cafes closing down, etcetera:   "There's not enough to do along that waterfront, there's been stopping things from happening. You can walk a long way there, there's no cafe, there's nowhere to actually get a coffee."  Greg, Greg, Greg. Why don't they just put more cafes in?  These things require business investment and a profit to be had. Could the reason there aren't enough flat whites at Queens wharf be because 1) Labour hiked minimum wage beyond affordability, 2) helped drive inflation sky high through unrestrained government spending, and 3) told everyone to stay home and out of the CBD and the office.  So far so normal, an MP struggling to grasp the realities of running a small business.  Here's where it all gets a bi

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 11th of September, the Electricity, gas, waste, and water services industry saw a 36% rise in sales in Q2 compared to the same time last year. It comes on the same day that Winstone Pulp International announced their closure due to soaring energy costs. What does it mean for our big electricity users? John Harbord from the Major Electricity Users Group speaks to Ryan.  It's a big day in the U.S. as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will face off in what could be the only debate ahead of November's election. We're live to the U.S. with Democratic Party Member Mark Gilbert.  Our Aussie neighbours are looking at banning social media for kids, and Christopher Luxon says he's open to doing the same here. Could it work, and how would parents police it? Parenting expert Nathan Wallis joins the show to give his thoughts.  Would you swim in polluted water? Labour MP Greg O'Connor says yes, and Ryan has some words of advice for him.  Get the Early Edition

A global manhunt is underway for a man who allegedly poured boiling hot coffee on a nine-month-old baby in Brisbane.  Police say the 33-year-old has fled the country since the August 27th incident in a Stones Corner park.  Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge detectives believe the man escaped less than a day before he was identified.  She says the man was aware of police methodology and was conducting counter-surveillance activities, making the investigation very complex.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a drive for change in the construction industry on the back of a spike in suspected suicide rates.   In 2023, 80 construction workers died from suspected suicides - a jump from previous years.  MATES in Construction Research Manager Lauren Donnan says mental health across the board is improving, but high workloads, job instability, and a lack of support remain key stressors.   She says 15 to 24-year-olds and Māori workers can be particularly vulnerable.   Donnan says we need to understand there are key pressures and groups within the industry at higher risk, where we need to target more support.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International technology stocks are being credited with the New Zealand Super Fund reporting another record-high investment return: up 15% in the year to June.  Super expert Jonathan Eriksen told Ryan Bridge the results make up for a poor return when markets fell in 2022.  He says they've always gone into a wide range of assets but they're playing it extremely well.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Changes have been revealed to the Treaty Principles Bill.   The Bill's architect David Seymour confirmed that Cabinet discussed the Bill yesterday and agreed to its broad outline before it goes to Parliament's drafters.   He says it'll now acknowledge the rights of hapu and iwi at the time of the Treaty.  Labour's Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson told Ryan Bridge it's interesting he's made some type of concession.   He says it's a backdown, because Seymour hasn't ever acknowledged the rights of hapu and iwi before.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The IRD is giving your data to Facebook – taxpayers' data to Facebook, that was the headline yesterday.  We give them our data in trust and confidence. Well, we don't actually, we give them our data because the law says we must file our tax returns and tell them who we are and how much we're earning.  But perhaps you assume that the law says that they must keep it to themselves. Not so.  I think this is a scandal.   To be honest when I read the headline, I thought IRD must have been hit by one of those phone scams. You know, they've been cold called by Nigerian prince and handed over our private data.  But no, the RNZ report says they give Facebook and the big tech guys some of our information because it's anonymised. They're calling it hashed. So they can't see who you are when they hand it over.  And it's only for the purposes of IRD placing ads on these platforms like Facebook, et cetera, so don't worry about it.  Sorry, I am worried, and I reckon most Kiwis will hate this.  The reason is pretty simple: it