Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

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A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

  1. 7h ago

    Ankit Sharma: Master Builders CEO on the construction sector being a primary driver in GDP growth

    The GDP has grown as expected – rising 0.2% in the June quarter.  Construction was the biggest boost, up 2.7%, driven by more residential building projects.  It's the largest increase in construction activity since the June 2023 quarter.   Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma told Ryan Bridge they've been seeing steady signs of improvements in both business and consumer confidence, so it's good to see that confidence turning into real growth.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. 7h ago

    Andy England: Darfield High School Principal on Labour's plan to pause educational reforms, set up independent council

    A Canterbury principal likes the idea of taking politics out of curriculum decisions, but says it’ll be interesting to see whether that happens in practice.   If elected, Labour's promising a pause the Government's school curriculum overhaul, including delaying the replacement of NCEA by a year.  It also wants to establish an Independent Council for Curriculum and Assessment.  Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Ryan Bridge the proof will be in the pudding.  He says Labour is promising to make decisions guided by evidence rather than playing politics, but whether that does happen is up in the air.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. 7h ago

    Wattie Watson: Professional Firefighters' Union National Secretary calling for a clear-out of the FENZ board

    The Firefighters' Union says it's been warning the Government for years about problems at Fire and Emergency.  Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has lost confidence in the agency's CEO Kerry Gregory, accusing him of withholding information about a serious incident for a year.  The agency has also been referred to the Serious Fraud Office.  Professional Firefighters' Union National Secretary Wattie Watson told Ryan Bridge Gregory and the board need to go.  She says the union has been trying to get the Government's attention over the “dire” state of Fire and Emergency for years.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. 12h ago

    Full Show Podcast: 18 September 2026

    On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday the 18th of September 2026, construction was the biggest boost to GDP, Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma explains where the boom has come from.  Labour’s hitting the brakes on the NCEA curriculum overhaul, Darfield High School Principal tells Ryan about what teachers and parents are looking for.  Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has expressed no confidence in FENZ chief executive Kerry Gregory, NZPFU National Secretary Wattie Watson shares her thoughts.  Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on King Charles is hosting an AI summit, warning of ‘existential danger’ in the wrong hands and the Palace have hit back strongly on comments Princess Diana’s brother claims he made shortly after her death.  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.

    Full Show Podcast: 18 September 2026

  5. 12h ago

    Ryan Bridge: Important things happening in the world and our pollies are fussing over the C-word

    What a week.   AI's going to kill us all – unless Putin gets there first. More drones and flare-ups from him, allegedly, in the skies above Europe.   Trump's pushing Carney into the arms of another lover in Ursula von der Leyen. It was all hugs and kisses in Strasbourg.   The Aussies are making big moves to cut immigration. Central bankers are hiking off the back of war and oil.   And here in New Zealand, we're dropping the C-bomb in Parliament again.   This time it was Debbie from the Māori Party.   Things got a bit out of hand.   While the world was busy dealing with important matters, like preserving humanity, Willie Jackson was defending Debbie's C-bomb.   Parliament's bouncer, The Sergeant-at-Arms, was called on to help kick him out of the House!   Wild times in the debating chamber.  The Sergent is rarely called on to bounce politicians because politicians normally take their punishment and leave. But Willie was having none of that.   The Sergeant, whose frankly baller job title is up there with the Usher of the Black Rod, was thankfully saved from getting his hands dirty.   He didn't need to bust out the Mace and start prodding the pollies with it. Jackson eventually left the Chamber. Parliament carried on.   As did the rest of the world, which was a bit busy on more important issues of the day.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. 1d ago

    Catherine Beard: BusinessNZ Director of Advocacy on National's plan to split up Foodstuffs to drive competition

    Blowback from a business advocate on National's plan to break up Foodstuffs.   If elected, and if the Commerce Commission agrees, the party would separate Pak'nSave from New World and Four Square to create more competition.  But Foodstuffs warns there'd be significant implications and would affect more than 500 locally owned and operated stores.  Business NZ Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard told Ryan Bridge threatening to split up private property is hugely alarming.   She says it sends a terrible signal to overseas investors – that the government could essentially take away business.  Beard also says there's a lack of evidence to suggest our food is more expensive than other countries.  She told Bridge that while food prices have gone up, they're no higher than Australia and the UK.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. 1d ago

    Cameron Bagrie: Economist expects the economy to improve with GDP expected to rise in Q2

    The economy is expected to keep improving as the year goes on.   Stats NZ is releasing GDP data for April-to-June later this morning.  Economists are expecting economic growth will come in between 0.1% and 0.3% for the quarter and between 2.2% and 2.4% for the year.  Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge we could soon get back to the growth we were seeing last year.  We says we took a detour in the June quarter because fuel prices got so expensive, but quarter three is suggesting a number up around 0.8% to 0.9%.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. 1d ago

    Kathan Parikh: NZ Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s pretzels franchise owner on bringing new brands to NZ

    Two classic American food brands are landing in New Zealand, with Auntie Anne’s pretzels and Carvel soft serve opening in Auckland this month.  Auntie Anne’s sells pretzels, lemonades, dips, and “pretzel dogs”, with more than 1,200 stores across 600 international locations.  Carvel claims to have invented soft-serve ice cream.  NZ Cinnabon franchise owner Kathan Parikh told Ryan Bridge they'll use mostly New Zealand ingredients while sticking to the classic American recipes.  He says Kiwis travel a lot and this is a great opportunity for them to enjoy America on home soil.    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

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