Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

There'll be a by-election in Auckland in the coming weeks, following the death of Te Pati Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp early yesterday.  She was 50 and had been battling kidney disease.  Kemp's body has arrived at Hoani Waititi Marae this morning, where she will lie in state for mourners to visit, before her tangi on Tuesday.  Newstalk ZB’s Jason Walls told Ryan Bridge it’s almost certain Labour’s Peeni Henare will run for the seat, and would be likely to win.  He says Te Pati Maori would need to find a new candidate and would be hard pressed to find someone with better name recognition than Henare – unless John Tamihere himself ran.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Access is opening up for Kiwis to a weight loss drug described as a game changer.   Wegovy, made by pharma-co Novo Nordisk, will arrive in pharmacies next week.   It's not funded by Pharmac, so users will have to pay and get a prescription for the weekly injectable.  Calocurb CEO Sarah Kennedy told Ryan Bridge that people need to be aware of both the cost of the drug and the side effect.   She says that over 70% of people using Wegovy will have gastrointestinal problems that range from nausea to diarrhoea, and over 70% of people regain the weight within a year.  Kennedy says lifestyle changes need to be made as well as taking the drug.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's City Rail Link is expecting 19 thousand peak passengers after opening day, a sharp drop compared to earlier forecasts.   In 2022, it was reported 27 thousand passengers an hour would be using the rail link at peak times when it opens next year.  Auckland Transport says it's increasing the train fleet by about 30% to make 19 thousand passengers possible.  Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck told Ryan Bridge the drop in numbers is a major problem.  She says people need to be able to travel through Auckland easily, without cars or taxis.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 27th of June 2025, Ozempic style weightloss drug, Wegovy is coming to New Zealand, Sarah Kennedy CEO of Calocurb tells Ryan Bridge about the benefits it'll bring.  The number of commuters using Auckland's new city rail link could be much lower than first thought Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck shares her thoughts.  Tributes flow following the death of Te Pati Maori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp, Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls has the latest.  Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin grey gets you across Palestinian supporters furious at EU inaction against Israel for alleged human rights breaches in Gaza.  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.

If you've got a health problem, if you've got a mental problem, if you can't sleep, if you're fat, enormous, obese, don't worry.  All your problems can be solved with a pill, an injection. a prescription - or even no prescription.  That's the clear message we've been getting from regulators.  From Tuesday, the Hollywood weight-loss drug Weygovey, like Ozempic, will be available here, not for diabetes, but to shift weight.  People aren't being told to not get fat, they're being told once they get too big, a drug will make them small again.  Melatonin will now be available over-the-counter for those who can't sleep. Forget counting sheep, or wearing yourself out with exercise, pop a pill and go to sleep.  You can now get an ADHD diagnosis from your GP or nurse practitioner - usually, you'd need to see a psychiatrist.  We're prescribing ten times the amount of meds than we were 15-odd years ago.  We spoke to a guy this week on the show with ADHD who said the law chang

Moana Pasifika's future looks uncertain despite their fourth and most successful Super Rugby campaign.  The Herald reports concerns centre around the charity Pasifika Medical Association Group which bought the franchise last year and a reduction in their Whanau Ora contracts.  Those have previously been used to bolster Moana Pasifika's finances, a strategy reported as quietly contentious among Polynesian health service providers.  Earlier this month, 15 players were released from this year’s squad.  Newstalk ZB’s Jason Pine told Ryan Bridge that sponsorships are never easy to come by.  He says there’s a lot of revenue streams, but none of them are increasing, so it’s got to be furrowing the brows of those at Moana Pasifika HQ.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some in the Auckland real estate sector are giving the Government's move to require taller apartments near key rail stations the tick of approval.   The Resource Management Bill will be amended to force Auckland Council to allow apartments at least 10 or 15 storeys tall around City Rail Link stops.  LJ Hooker Head of Network Campbell Dunoon hopes locals get behind what he believes is a good idea.   He says everyone's been looking forward to the City Rail Link, and more accommodation around those hubs makes sense.   But Dunoon says green spaces and carparks will need consideration.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 26th of 2025, the government announces it will be forcing Auckland Council to allow new developments of at least 15 storeys next to City Rail Link train stations, LJ Hooker Head of Network Campbell Dunoon shares his thoughts.  Trouble could be brewing for super rugby's Moana Pasifika, Weekend Sport host Jason Pine explains. A report from the Infrastructure Commission has found we're not getting bang for buck when it comes to spending on infrastructure, Infrastructure NZ CEO, Nick Leggett tells Ryan Bridge what needs to happen to create some tangible change.  Plus US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on President Donald Trump again vowing “total obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear program during the NATO summit in the Netherlands. 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 informa

New Zealand isn't good at maintaining its infrastructure. The Infrastructure Commission's released a 30-year draft plan revealing its first look at how New Zealand needs to invest in our future builds and upgrades to roads, hospitals, and buildings. Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett told Ryan Bridge big parts of government don't have a record of what they own, and therefore no plan on how to maintain it.  He says we're good at building things but not maintaining them. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's obvious to anyone paying attention that we don't have enough young people working to support the cost of health and Super for the elderly.  This problem is going to get much worse in the coming decades.  All this is spelled out in a Treasury report, which Thomas Coughlin published in the Herald today.  This is not new. We've known this for a long time.  Future governments will either have to take a sledgehammer to spending on health or raise the age of Super.  The obvious answer is to raise the age of Super. It'll happen eventually, of course, just not while Winston's around.  But the other thing we could cut is our expectations.  Boys born in the early 1960s (who are reaching 65-years-old) could expect to live to around 79 years on average, and girls to around 83 years. Boys born in the early 2020s (the latest data available) could expect to live to around 88 years on average, and girls to around 91 years. So we've added about 10 years to our lives.  This is

News GPs can soon prescribe ADHD medication from the outset is being hailed as a community breakthrough.   From February, GPs can offer a patient stimulant medications without them needing a specialist recommendation first.   Specialist wait times vary across the country, but can surpass a year.   ADHD NZ spokesperson Darrin Bull New Zealand has a major underdiagnosis issue, with only 2.2% of the population diagnosed with ADHD, compared to the 4-5% overseas.  He says this change will give the community access to the help and support they need, and provide greater access to medication.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teachers and principals are relying on other students to know if someone is bringing a weapon to school.   Figures released under the Official Information Act show 526 students were stood down, suspended, or excluded for using or having a weapon at school last year.  That's 80% higher than in 2018.  PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Ryan Bridge the experience of most schools tends to be the same.   He says bag searches are very rare, and more often than not, students tell staff about the weapon.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US President's received praise for his involvement in a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel.  Both sides are claiming the other has breached the truce.  Donald Trump scolded both for early violations but directed particularly stinging criticism at Israel over the scale of its strikes.  US columnist Henry Olsen told Ryan Bridge it's a win for Trump, but earlier US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities may only have short term effects.   He says if the nuclear programmes only been kicked into low gear, the next president will have a difficult decision to make.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 15th of June 2025, Trump's ceasefire deal between Iran and Israel has fallen apart, Washington Post Columnist Henry Olsen has the latest.  The number of students being disciplined for using or having a weapon at school has more than doubled, PPTA President Chris Abercrombie shares his thoughts. From February GPs will be able diagnose and treat ADHD, Darrin Bull ADHD New Zealand Spokesperson, shares what a difference it will make.  Plus, UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin grey has the latest on the ‘Historic’ NATO summit beginning in The Hague. 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.

US President Donald Trump has landed in the Netherlands for his first NATO summit since 2019. World leaders are gathering for the alliance meeting in The Hague to agree on increases in defence spending.  The new target will be to spend 5 percent of the size of their economies, measured by GDP, on "core defence" along with defence-related areas such as security. UK and Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge Trump going to be delighted with these targets. He says it looks like all 32 leaders are set to commit to spending the five percent. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's just amazing the shear breadth and diversity of things we get outraged by on any given week.  Whether its Brian Tamaki, who after literally decades taking to the streets and stirring the pot, nobody should be outraged by. Or whether it's a bunch of chicks in bikinis rolling around in cow's milk trying to make a buck on OnlyFans. The Police were called.  Yes, I kid you not. Couple of lasses, bikini clad, making some wholesome down-on-the-farm country-style content. And SAFE gets involved.  Then MPI contacts the Police.  What on earth are the police going to do with two girls, one cow? Who on earth would they arrest? Some might say the cow was lucky to be milked. Besides, what's more indecent? Girls in bikinis or the naked cow?  The answer of course is rather simple. Police will do nothing. MPI will do nothing. Because there's actually nothing to do anything about.  Same goes for Brian and his gang of thugs. To be fair to him and them, I didn't pay any attention to their prote

Scott Robertson has called up five new faces for his first All Blacks class of 2025, with his 35-man squad for next month’s series against France named.  Following a spate of injuries and departures offshore, Robertson has put his faith in four newcomers to face Les Bleus, themselves weakened by an inability to select from their full complement for the tour opener.  All Blacks regulars Dalton Papali'i, Ethan Blackadder, and David Havili have been left out of the squad to play France next month.  The 33-player group features five uncapped players - Ollie Norris, Brodie McAlister, Fabian Holland, Timoci Tavatavanawai, and Du'Plessis Kirifi.  Nick Bewley told Ryan Bridge that it’s tough to pick an All Blacks team, and the challenge now is for Robertson to whittle it down to 23 players for match day.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flares have lit up the sky above Doha following threats Iran would retaliate against US strikes on its nuclear sites.  Iran's also reportedly launched an attack on another US base in Iraq.   Qatar has confirmed no deaths following Iranian missile attacks on an US Air Force Base Al Udeid.   Qatar closed its airspace earlier amid threats from Iran, and a flight from Auckland to Doha has since been diverted to Oman's Muscat Airport.  Middle East Correspondent Alistair Bunkall told Ryan Bridge that Iran had to respond in some way to the attacks, but this could be the end of their response.  He says it could provide an off-ramp for the conflict, but it depends on the way Donald Trump sees it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran's strikes on Qatar and Iraq have sent oil prices tumbling.  Crude prices fell about 6% following the news.  Analysts have been warning of steep rises if Iran retaliates against Sunday's US strikes, by targeting oil infrastructure and closing the Strait of Hormuz.  AA Principal Policy Advisor Terry Collins told Ryan Bridge that the talk of potentially doubling the price of oil per barrel is overblown.  He said if it did happen, it would be a short-term spike as alternative shipping routes were established.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no downside to New Zealand's latest 'golden visa' scheme, according to a former Labour Cabinet Minister.  The Government's confirmed almost 200 applications have been received from overseas investors since settings loosened in April.  Former Minister Stuart Nash, who launched golden visas in 2022, told Ryan Bridge it's not just about the financial investment.  He says it's about the networks, connections, competencies, capabilities, and experience these people will bring to Aotearoa and the companies they're investing in.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.