Just because New Zealand hasn't recorded more bird flu cases, doesn't mean it's time to relax.

Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has announced legislation requiring anyone with more than 100 birds, to have a bird flu prevention and response plan.

This country has two confirmed cases of the globally circulating H5N1 strain, in Petone and Carterton.

Hoggard told Andrew Dickens MPI has investigated around one-thousand notifications, with no further cases found.

But he says if infected birds are reaching New Zealand, they're probably also reaching Antarctica, meaning more cases could arrive in spring.

Just because New Zealand hasn't recorded more bird flu cases, doesn't mean it's time to relax.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has announced legislation requiring anyone with more than 100 birds, to have a bird flu prevention and response plan.
This country has two confirmed cases of the globally circulating H5N1 strain, in Petone and Carterton.
Hoggard told Andrew Dickens MPI has investigated around one-thousand notifications, with no further cases found.
But he says if infected birds are reaching New Zealand, they're probably also reaching Antarctica, meaning more cases could arrive in spring.

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.

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.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Andrew Hoggard: Biosecurity Minister on preparing farms for a bird flu outbreak

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f7136625-a5f6-4028-8fa2-b495012c2314/transcript

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday 29th of July 2026, The Government's shaking up the Recognised Seasonal Employment Scheme, NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated CEO Colin Bond shares his thoughts. 

Supercars’ first-ever ITM New Zealand Double Header delivered a major boost to New Zealand’s visitor economy, generating $21.4 million in domestic and international visitor expenditure events and venues manager at Taupo District Council, Steve Giles tells Andrew how big of an impact it's had on the region. 

The Government is tightening up the rules for poultry farmers ahead of a mass bird flu outbreak, Biosecurity Minister tells Andrew what the new regulations will look like.

Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on deadly wildfires latest in France and Spain and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party have reported the Green Party leader to the police, after he shared an Instagram post including a photo of a man wearing a top featuring the name "Nigel" alongside an image of a guillotine. 

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

LISTEN ABOVE  

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday 29th of July 2026, The Government's shaking up the Recognised Seasonal Employment Scheme, NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated CEO Colin Bond shares his thoughts.&nbsp;
Supercars’ first-ever ITM New Zealand Double Header delivered a major boost to New Zealand’s visitor economy, generating $21.4 million in domestic and international visitor expenditure events and venues manager at Taupo District Council, Steve Giles tells Andrew how big of an impact it's had on the region.&nbsp;
The Government is tightening up the rules for poultry farmers ahead of a mass bird flu outbreak, Biosecurity Minister tells Andrew what the new regulations will look like.
Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on deadly wildfires latest in France and Spain and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party have reported the Green Party leader to the police, after he shared an Instagram post including a photo of a man wearing a top featuring the name "Nigel" alongside an image of a guillotine.&nbsp;
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 29 July 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/135dab67-a10b-49d9-b0b5-b495012ac2ba/transcript

It took a while for the Commonwealth Games to get going but yesterday they did.

Lewis Clareburt took gold in the 200 metres butterfly with an insane burst over the last 50 metres in a race even he called stupid.

It was a good feeling for the nation, because no disrespect to the earlier medallists, it’s gold that gets the nation going.

It’s been a funny old Comm Games thus far.  

A scaled down replacement event after Victoria lost their bottle and cancelled their scheduled games.

And it’s been plagued by no shows from high-performance athletes who thought it beneath their participation.

But it’s a good meet.  

To win at the Commonwealth Games still supersedes any win in a national competition.

To be the best swimmer from amongst nations like Australia or England or any of the 74 nations present is a big thing.  

By the way this is a record number of countries.

When Christchurch hosted back in 1974, they were called the friendly games.

Watching the coverage from the Crowd Goes Wild team, which is on both Sky and 3, they’ve got into that vibe.  

They celebrate the great but also the wacky, the loose and the fun aspects of the games with their tongues firmly in their cheeks.

It’s a good watch and a healthy antidote to the cynical and world-weary news we get day in and day out from a globe mired in difficulty.

It took a while for the Commonwealth Games to get going but yesterday they did.
Lewis Clareburt took gold in the 200 metres butterfly with an insane burst over the last 50 metres in a race even he called stupid.
It was a good feeling for the nation, because no disrespect to the earlier medallists, it’s gold that gets the nation going.
It’s been a funny old Comm Games thus far. &nbsp;
A scaled down replacement event after Victoria lost their bottle and cancelled their scheduled games.
And it’s been plagued by no shows from high-performance athletes who thought it beneath their participation.
But it’s a good meet. &nbsp;
To win at the Commonwealth Games still supersedes any win in a national competition.
To be the best swimmer from amongst nations like Australia or England or any of the 74 nations present is a big thing. &nbsp;
By the way this is a record number of countries.
When Christchurch hosted back in 1974, they were called the friendly games.
Watching the coverage from the Crowd Goes Wild team, which is on both Sky and 3, they’ve got into that vibe. &nbsp;
They celebrate the great but also the wacky, the loose and the fun aspects of the games with their tongues firmly in their cheeks.
It’s a good watch and a healthy antidote to the cynical and world-weary news we get day in and day out from a globe mired in difficulty.

Andrew Dickens: Maybe we were too quick to write off the Comm games

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/dc72f4c6-da8a-4bbb-ad9a-b495012ab71c/transcript

A digital marketing agency says more New Zealanders are turning to TikTok to decide where to eat and shop. 

A new Infometrics report shows the app supported almost 10 thousand local jobs last year and helped boost the local economy by an estimated $1.2 billion. 

It reveals more than 300 thousand New Zealand businesses are using the platform each month. 

Squid Group founder Laurence Carey told Andrew Dickens it's becoming a useful research tool. 

He says it's without a doubt the easiest way to find a restaurant to eat at or something to do. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A digital marketing agency says more New Zealanders are turning to TikTok to decide where to eat and shop.&nbsp;
A new Infometrics report shows the app supported almost 10 thousand local jobs last year and helped boost the local economy by an estimated $1.2 billion.&nbsp;
It reveals more than 300 thousand New Zealand businesses are using the platform each month.&nbsp;
Squid Group founder Laurence Carey told Andrew Dickens it's becoming a useful research tool.&nbsp;
He says it's without a doubt the easiest way to find a restaurant to eat at or something to do.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Laurence Carey: Squid Group Founder on TikTok reportedly boosting local economies by $1.2 billion

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ecc40fd9-a855-4515-bc6c-b494018865f6/transcript

Andrew Hoggard: Biosecurity Minister on preparing farms for a bird flu outbreak

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