Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Questions remain over how blocks of methamphetamine in lolly wrappers made their way to the Auckland City Mission.   The mission distributed the Rinda pineapple lollies in food parcels over several weeks.   The hand-outs could affect up to 400 people, and at least three people, including a child and teenager, have received medical treatment.   Drug Detection Agency chief executive Glenn Dobson told Ryan Bridge a lot of techniques are used to smuggle methamphetamine.   He says it's often suspended in liquids or pill form - disguised as lollies isn't unknown but isn't overly common.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis won't be drawn on the Reserve Bank's sudden change of tune on the Official Cash Rate.  It's lowered the rate to 5.25% due to further signs of falling inflation.  Economist Brad Olsen says the central bank needs to take accountability for radically changing its forecast without a radical change in circumstances.  Nicola Willis told Ryan Bridge it isn't appropriate for her to get involved in the debate.  She says the economy has slowed down and seeing interest rates come down is logical, but this is ultimately an independent decision for the Reserve Bank.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've got to ask yourself who's running the show. There's been another example of bureaucracy seemingly undermining the government on its cost cutting plan which, remember, from outset they said wouldn't impact the front line.  A Health New Zealand manager has done a PowerPoint to 90 staff about upcoming changes, and they indicated that jobs could be cut including 470 doctors and 1400 nurses.  Who on earth thought that was okay?  Did they do it on purpose? Is it a middle finger to the government and to the Commissioner Lester Levy?  The truth is we don't really know at this point, Levy asks is this reluctance, is this resistance, or is this sabotage?  Fair question. He's promising consequences. It's totally unacceptable, but it's not an isolated incident.  Oranga Tamariki is another agency cutting funding left, right, and centre to services.  The stories get in the press and then there's a back down.  And we've had public service leaking against the government, loads of examples. At least six major leaks tha

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday the 15th of August, the Reserve Bank has cut New Zealand's Official Cash Rate. Ryan gets the thoughts of Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  Spray foam insulation - could it installing it incorrectly prevent you from selling your house?  Meth has been found in lollies given out by the Auckland City Mission - Glenn Dobson from the Drug Detection Agency talks to Ryan about where it could have come from.  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.

A thirteen-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to threatening unlawful violence during a protest in the UK.  The event took place during a week of unrest over asylum seekers and illegal migrants, and follows two twelve-year-old boys pleading guilty to other offences in a similar riot.  UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge the girl was among a crowd gathered outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers, and was seen punching and kicking at the entrance of the hotel.  He said that a police officer was injured when disorder broke out at the demonstration, and there was roughly 200 protestors there.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s an important call today for the Reserve Bank as they decide whether to drop the Official Cash Rate.   Bank economists are divided, Westpac, ANZ and Kiwibank anticipate the Reserve Bank to hold the OCR at 5.5%.   BNZ is expecting it to go down, as is ASB, who predicts it'll fall by 25-basis points to 5.25% , which would be the first drop since 2020.  John Carran, Jarden Economist and Investment Strategist, told Ryan Bridge he’s erring on the side of hold.  He said that although they may hold today, they will signal that interest rate cuts are coming much sooner than they previously indicated.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists believe there are great applications for taking gene-editing research outside - under new regulations.  The Government's planning to introduce legislation this year to let researchers develop and commercialise gene tech products outside laboratories.   Genetics expert Michael Bunce at Australia's Curtin University says under current laws, useful research for New Zealand has been hampered by red tape.  He told Ryan Bridge the solution to problems like wilding pine trees is a good example.  Bunce says making pine trees sterile keeps them in one place and stops the spread around New Zealand.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's tourism recovery has seemingly hit a snag.  Overseas visitor arrivals reached 3.2 million in the year to June.  That's up 27% from 2023, but still down 17% on pre-pandemic peaks.  It comes as visa charges rise and hikes to the International Visitor Levy debated.  Board of Airline Representatives Executive Director, Cath O'Brien told Ryan Bridge while other countries continue to recover, New Zealand appears to be stalling.  She says the coming summer's airline schedule expects just 2% growth.  O’Brien says it will bring fewer tourists, and it's counterproductive to steeply increase visa costs at the same time.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buying a house is hard, but still worth it.  There's new CoreLogic data out this morning, it's a housing affordability report looking at median property values versus median income for households.  Let's put all the detail aside for a second and cut to the chase. Basically, the good news for you, houses are worth 7.9% household income – they were worth 10 times.  So that is good news.  Also good news: the time it takes to save for a deposit is now 10 years. It's better than the 13 years that it took in 2021.  So that's the good news.  The bad news from the start of this morning: mortgage payments, 54% of your median household income, that is 10% above the average.  So there's good news and there's bad news.  It's hard but not impossible for most people, and still very much worth it.  Long term values go up, there's the stability of owning your own place and there's great stories, like this Auckland 20-year-old Lewis Pollock who was in the news the other day. He left school early, worked in retail, became a ma

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 14th of August, it's OCR day - will the Reserve Bank cut our official cash rate? Jarden's John Carran joins the show to discuss.  NZ's 30-year gene editing ban is set to be lifted, taking GE out of just the lab. Michael Bunce speaks to Ryan about what it means for new products, productivity, and our economy.  Tourism numbers are out for the June quarter and they’re still down from pre-pandemic times. Airline and tourism groups aren't happy about changes to visitor visa fees.  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 Australian Government is facing calls to go further with proposed restrictions on gambling ads.  It's looking to ban ads during sports broadcasts, during children's programming, and online.  But a 60-strong alliance —including former prime ministers John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull, and prominent figures from across the political spectrum— are calling for a complete ban.  Australia correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge minor parties are also backing the ball, particularly the Greens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AA says the devil will be in the details when it comes to “time of use” charging.   Transport Minister Simeon Brown says he'll introduce legislation by the end of the year which will see drivers taxed to use some sections of road at certain times.   AA Policy Director Martin Glynn says while there are benefits, there are also kinks to be worked out.   He says certain tweaks to the charge will likely be needed.   Martin Glynn says people going to work or school at set times with no access to public transport need to be catered for.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's being accused of failing to learn from past mistakes with its new benefit sanctions scheme.  It's announced new rules requiring beneficiaries to reapply more often.  People who fail to follow the rules could see half their benefit put on a payment card can that only be spent on essentials.  Youth justice consultant Shirley Johnson told Ryan Bridge we've had measures like this before and claims they didn't work.   She says it feels foolish to go back and re-do what didn't work before, when other measures are already working and are very effective.  Johnson said that while accountability's important, many young people are grappling with a challenging job market.   She told Bridge that unemployment's going up, and it's currently twice as high for young people.  Johnson says many young people are doing it tough and punishing them won't help.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every government is thinking ahead to when they next need to be re-elected.  There's a risk here that the government is taking when it goes for sanctions on beneficiaries, when it goes for tougher requirements and criteria when it comes to social housing, for example, and you're starting to see some kick back already in response to some of these changes.  If you're a centrist voter you might think those are reasonable expectations to put on social housing providers, to put on emergency accommodation criteria, to put on beneficiaries through sanctions or obligations.  You might think those things are reasonable.  On the other hand, you might think that seems a bit cruel. And actually, in an economy like this where jobs are hard to come by, I might find myself in that position. I don't want to have those types of obligations; I don't understand what those obligations are.  So, there is a political risk to doing it stuff, but it's bread and butter for National and it's bread and butter for ACT, this is exactly w

It's a waiting game for the construction sector as the economic downturn continues to bite.  The latest EBOSS Builder Sentiment Report shows 67% of builders are seeing less demand for their services.  70% feel industry conditions will continue to decline in the next 12 months.  Construction Industry Council Executive Director Tommy Honey told Ryan Bridge everyone is waiting for economic conditions to pick up again.  He says people are holding off selling their homes, which has resulted in fewer people renovating or building new homes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday the 13th of August 2024, new requirements and a traffic light sanction system have been introduced for beneficiaries, but what does it mean for our jobless youth?  Congestion charging is on the way for our busiest roads. AA Policy Director Martin Glynn talks to Ryan about what it means for you.  Construction confidence is down, and builders believe the slowdown in jobs will continue for at least another year. The Construction Industry Council's Tommy Honey speaks to Ryan.  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.

Taylor Swift's upcoming London shows will go ahead after a foiled plot to attack her now-cancelled Vienna concerts. A 19-year-old with Islamic State ties has been arrested and confirmed they planned a terror attack involving explosives and knives. Two other teen suspects have also been arrested. UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge there's major security concerns for Swift's five Wembley Stadium shows, which kick off Thursday. “Naturally as you can imagine, high alert here in London as those teenagers are being questioned in Austria.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who are we to believe when it comes to kids in motels? It’s undeniably a disaster. At its worst, we had 4000 kids living in motels and emergency accommodation in New Zealand. And the last lot who said it was a complex problem that required complex solutions, they said it would take time, and we sort of bought that argument because it does seem incredibly complex. And then yesterday, the Government comes along and claims to have cut the number of households living in emergency housing by a third in six months. What’s more, they said in Auckland, they’ve almost halved the number of people living in emergency housing in three months. How can you halve the number of people in emergency housing in three months? Does that make sense to you? In Christchurch, it's gone from 285 to 183 in three months. They said they’d used intensive work to cut the numbers. I don’t know whether I’m just cynical but, do you believe that? Or do you think there’s some trick, some fudging of the numbers here or the categories that they'r

By Kris Shannon in Paris Ellesse Andrews has confirmed what this week already seemed clear – she is the world’s fastest woman on two wheels. The Kiwi claimed a second gold medal on the final day of the Paris Olympics, her victory in the individual sprint even more commanding than an earlier triumph in the keirin. Andrews won all nine sprint races she contested inside Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome. The 24-year-old eliminated the reigning Olympic champion, two former world champions and a rider who last year proved superior in the discipline. And Andrews accomplished it all with a level of ease rarely seen at the top level. That’s not to suggest there was anything simple about her achievements. But right now, Andrews is simply too fast, too strong and too self-assured to be beaten. That was the case in the keirin final earlier in the week, when Andrews led from start to finish and was never seriously threatened by any potential attack. The same was true in the individual sprint, whether riding from the fr

Trade Minister Todd McClay is visiting India this week for the fifth time in nine months. He’ll meet with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, for talks around forestry, agriculture and trade between the two countries. It follows Indian President Droupadi Murmu’s visit here last week. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls joined Ryan Bridge. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.