New Zealand faces significant obstacles to take down organised crime groups. 

A ministerial advisory group's first report reveals a sobering reality the country is losing the fight, and claims bold changes are needed. 

It says a significant spike in methamphetamine use last year was dire. 

Associate Police Minister Casey Costello told Andrew Dickens a series of reports will provide practical advice over the next six months. 

She says there will be specific actions released each month - including how agencies could work more closely together and breaking down barriers about information sharing. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

New Zealand faces significant obstacles to take down organised crime groups.&nbsp;
A ministerial advisory group's first report reveals a sobering reality the country is losing the fight, and claims bold changes are needed.&nbsp;
It says a significant spike in methamphetamine use last year was dire.&nbsp;
Associate Police Minister Casey Costello told Andrew Dickens a series of reports will provide practical advice over the next six months.&nbsp;
She says there will be specific actions released each month - including how agencies could work more closely together and breaking down barriers about information sharing.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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

Casey Costello: Associate Police Minister on the report into organised crime in New Zealand

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8d3eca2a-4837-4442-ab68-b2b90179cd0c/transcript

It's being suggested New Zealand is still suffering from a minimum wage freeze 30 years ago, and ACT's pledge would do long term damage.  

The party wants to set up a training wage for under-20s in their first year, allowing them only 60% of the minimum wage – that's $14.37 an hour. 

ACT also wants to freeze the minimum wage for three years. 

E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh told Ryan Bridge the wage is already well below what people need to survive on. 

She says the policy sends a message that some New Zealanders aren't worthy of earning enough to live. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

It's being suggested New Zealand is still suffering from a minimum wage freeze 30 years ago, and ACT's pledge would do long term damage. &nbsp;
The party wants to set up a training wage for under-20s in their first year, allowing them only 60% of the minimum wage – that's $14.37 an hour.&nbsp;
ACT also wants to freeze the minimum wage for three years.&nbsp;
E tū&nbsp;National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh told Ryan Bridge the wage is already well below what people need to survive on.&nbsp;
She says the policy sends a message that some New Zealanders aren't worthy of earning enough to live.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Rachel Mackintosh: E tū National Secretary on ACT's plan to freeze minimum wage, lower youth training rate

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d7777c5a-1874-4a63-a927-b4c60178c2bf/transcript

Tax cuts are back on the campaign agenda.  

Nicola Willis dropped a wee hint to the BusinessNZ election conference yesterday. 

Bracket creep is hurting workers – as wages increase and you creep into a higher tax bracket, you pay more marginal tax. That's not fair.  

So, something might be done about it.  

I say "might" because there are caveats and they're big ones.  

National must be re-elected. Its coalition partners would need to agree. That was far from a done deal yesterday. 

And the Government must have the books back in surplus – the plan is 2029/30. 

But as I said yesterday, even then it's wafer-thin, and how many times have we been promised a surplus that doesn't eventuate?  

More times than I can count. It feels like a mirage.  

We'll find out more after the fiscal update at the end of the month. On October 11th, ACT will make its pitch for flatter tax rates.  

New Zealand First is working on a foreign investment tax incentive. The Nats are looking at changes to the R&D tax credit.  

So, tax cuts, rather just hikes, are on the election agenda.  

But not quite worth getting particularly excited about. 

Too many hoops to jump through, hills to climb, and water to go under bridges before this becomes a serious pitch voters should start thinking about and factoring into a decision before November. 

Tax cuts are back on the campaign agenda. &nbsp;
Nicola Willis dropped a wee hint to the BusinessNZ election conference yesterday.&nbsp;
Bracket creep is hurting workers – as wages increase and you creep into a higher tax bracket, you pay more marginal tax. That's not fair. &nbsp;
So, something might be done about it. &nbsp;
I say "might" because there are caveats and they're big ones. &nbsp;
National must be re-elected. Its coalition partners would need to agree. That was far from a done deal yesterday.&nbsp;
And the Government must have the books back in surplus – the plan is 2029/30.&nbsp;
But as I said yesterday, even then it's wafer-thin, and how many times have we been promised a surplus that doesn't eventuate? &nbsp;
More times than I can count. It feels like a mirage. &nbsp;
We'll find out more after the fiscal update at the end of the month. On October 11th, ACT will make its pitch for flatter tax rates. &nbsp;
New Zealand First is working on a foreign investment tax incentive. The Nats are looking at changes to the R&amp;D tax credit. &nbsp;
So, tax cuts, rather just hikes, are on the election agenda. &nbsp;
But not quite worth getting particularly excited about.&nbsp;
Too many hoops to jump through, hills to climb, and water to go under bridges before this becomes a serious pitch voters should start thinking about and factoring into a decision before November.&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: I wouldn't hold your breath for tax cuts

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0852d7a3-f75b-426a-a716-b4c6012a909a/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2026, Children's Commissioner Jane Searle shares her thoughts on the damning report into the missing Phillips children. 

ACT’s small business policy is ruffling a few feathers, especially among the unions E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh tells Ryan why the policy is problematic for workers.

A quick change has been made to laws that will affect fast-track developments, independent urban planner and strategic development expert Bruce Weir tells Ryan if the changes go far enough. 

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Nato fighter pilots have shooting down a drone that entered Lithuania's airspace overnight.

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

LISTEN ABOVE  

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2026, Children's Commissioner Jane Searle shares her thoughts on the damning report into the missing Phillips children.&nbsp;
ACT’s small business policy is ruffling a few feathers, especially among the unions E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh tells Ryan why the policy is problematic for workers.
A quick change has been made to laws that will affect fast-track developments, independent urban planner and strategic development expert Bruce Weir tells Ryan if the changes go far enough.&nbsp;
Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Nato fighter pilots have shooting down a drone that entered Lithuania's airspace overnight.
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: 16 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0accd409-7161-4cfa-92c6-b4c6012acb55/transcript

Casey Costello: Associate Police Minister on the report into organised crime in New Zealand

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