Early Edition with Ryan Bridge
Brad Olsen: Infometrics Principal Economist on the fragile economic recovery
A view that increased employment will be the key to our economic bounce back. Infometrics says there's worrying indicators which show economic momentum is fragile. But more signs of improvement are expected by midyear, when labour market conditions should be turning. Infometrics’ Principal …
03:32
Darryl Lew: West Coast Regional Council CEO on the efforts to make insurance more competitive as AA stops offering new policies
West Coast officials are working to make the insurance market more competitive so Westporters can continue to insure their homes. AA Insurance has temporarily stopped offering policies to properties in the 7825 postcode due to flood-risk exposure. Existing policyholders can renew as usual. R…
02:55
Rebekah Armstrong: Head of Advocacy and Justice on National and Labour teaming up on modern slavery bill
World Vision is welcoming the new bill around fighting modern slavery. The new bill, co-sponsored by National and Labour, will require large businesses to make reports on modern slavery in their supply chains public. Head of Advocacy and Justice Rebekah Armstrong says it will change how compani…
03:50
Full Show Podcast: 30 January 2026
On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 30th of January 2025, AA insurance has announced they will not be accepting any new insurance policies on homes in Westport because the flooding and weather events are too risky, West Coast Regional Council Chief Executive Darryl Lew te…
34:46
Ryan Bridge: Here we go again with privacy breaches
This week we've heard about another privacy breach. We don't tell strangers on the street everything about ourselves but for some reason, when a business does it online, who we also don't know or trust, you just cannot shut us up. Name and address? Sure. Phone number? Why not. Signature? Fil…
02:34
Jagruiti Dave: US Correspondent on the increased tensions between the US and Iran, Trump's latest threats
The US and Iran are trading threats, with the President warning a massive naval armada is moving towards the country. Donald Trump says time's running out for Iran to make a deal to limit its nuclear programme. The BBC reports satellite images show a steady and significant build-up of US milita…
03:06
Mark Quinn: Ambulance Association National Secretary on the rising number of calls for ambulances
A struggle to secure GP visits could be playing a role in skyrocketing calls for ambulances. National ambulance data shows there's been a 30% increase in 111 calls for ambulances over the past five years. St John fielded more than 700 thousand calls for the first time last year and attended mo…
03:05
Full Show Podcast: 29 January 2026
On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 29th of January 2025, new numbers show Labour's "fees free" wasn't all that it was supposed to be, VUWSA Vice President Aidan Donoghue tells Ryan what it did for students. ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley shares his thoughts on a ho…
34:33
Ryan Bridge: What was the point in Fees Free?
Reading this story this morning about Fees Free, you've got to wonder how the policy got through the boffins in Wellington. It has, by all accounts, failed to achieve it's objective. Did we see floods of people charging into lecture halls and studying at university? No. Did we see loads of poo…
01:56
Aidan Donoghue: VUWSA Vice President on Labour’s fees-free university scheme
Cost barriers continue to keep disadvantaged students out of university. Of the 26 thousand students who went straight from Year 13 into study in 2024, just 1.3%, or around 230 students, came from the most disadvantaged schools. It's despite the fees free policy aiming to alleviate costs. Vict…
02:59