New research highlights a need to send more public health procedures to the private system. 

Westpac's latest healthcare report shows New Zealand currently spends about 10% of GDP on healthcare, split between 7% on public care and just 3% on private. 

It argues the private sector is nimbler, with extra capacity that can help cut wait times and improve outcomes. 

Private Surgical Hospitals Association Chief Executive Chris Roberts told Ryan Bridge its hospitals are investing in new facilities and operating theatres. 

He says they don't tend to have the staffing issues some public hospitals do, so are looking to provide a bigger service. 

LISTEN ABOVE   

New research highlights a need to send more public health procedures to the private system.&nbsp;
Westpac's latest healthcare report shows New Zealand currently spends about 10% of GDP on healthcare, split between 7% on public care and just 3% on private.&nbsp;
It argues the private sector is nimbler, with extra capacity that can help cut wait times and improve outcomes.&nbsp;
Private Surgical Hospitals Association Chief Executive Chris Roberts told Ryan Bridge its hospitals are investing in new facilities and operating theatres.&nbsp;
He says they don't tend to have the staffing issues some public hospitals do, so are looking to provide a bigger service.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;&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

Chris Roberts: Private Surgical Hospitals Association CEO on the report finding the private health sector has the capacity to ease the burden on public health

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0a9ecec2-99f7-4865-a895-b4080168ebc2/transcript

“Enormous” swings in the price of oil are making it very difficult to gauge the severity of the shock to markets from the Iran war, ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner says.

Oil hit $120 per barrel yesterday but dropped back below $100 after the G7 nations signalled they could release strategic oil reserves.

Zollner told Ryan Bridge she agreed with Finance Minister Nicola Willis' assertion that the duration of the shock was just as important as its size.

Market volatility would continue, with “headlines all over the place”, and that uncertainty could lead to people spending less money.

But central banks would be keen not to do anything rash by rushing to raise interest rates, Zollner said.

For New Zealand’s Reserve Bank, “as long as inflation expectations remain well anchored then they can tolerate a bit of noise in the near term, rather than feel they need to deliberately head the recovery off in order to make sure inflation's back at 2% quickly”.

But if the shock was long and sustained “it will be more difficult to look through those inflationary impacts - and then it could get a bit ugly”. 

LISTEN ABOVE   

“Enormous” swings in the price of oil are making it very difficult to gauge the severity of the shock to markets from the Iran war, ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner says.
Oil hit $120 per barrel yesterday but dropped back below $100 after the G7 nations signalled they could release strategic oil reserves.
Zollner told Ryan Bridge she agreed with Finance Minister Nicola Willis' assertion that the duration of the shock was just as important as its size.
Market volatility would continue, with “headlines all over the place”, and that uncertainty could lead to people spending less money.
But central banks would be keen not to do anything rash by rushing to raise interest rates, Zollner said.
For New Zealand’s Reserve Bank, “as long as inflation expectations remain well anchored then they can tolerate a bit of noise in the near term, rather than feel they need to deliberately head the recovery off in order to make sure inflation's back at 2% quickly”.
But if the shock was long and sustained “it will be more difficult to look through those inflationary impacts - and then it could get a bit ugly”.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;&nbsp;

Sharon Zollner: ANZ Chief Economist on the economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/859f64f9-58bf-4359-80d3-b4080164e38f/transcript

Little is known about Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, but he’s likely to continue his father’s “hardline, hostile attitude” toward the US, Israel and the West more generally, one expert says.

Andrew England, the Financial Times’ Middle East editor, told Newstalk ZB’s Ryan Bridge that hostility would be compounded because Khamenei's father, mother, wife and sister have all been killed.

Khamenei has not given any statement since the war began, England said.

“We don't know where he is and we don't really know what the fate of him is. We don't know if he was in that compound, you know, if he's wounded, if he's fit and healthy.”

US President Donald Trump had called Khamenei a “lightweight” and warned any new Iranian leader wouldn’t last long without his approval, while the Israelis had suggested they would assassinate a new leader.

The choice of Khamenei was a sign of defiance from Iran, suggesting the regime would continue to fight, so he was likely to be a prime target, England said.

It was unclear how big Iran’s arsenal was nor how badly they had been damaged, England said. But “from the Islamic regime's perspective, endurance is a victory, survival is a victory. And as long as they can continue firing a missile here, a drone there, and survive this onslaught from the world's most powerful army, to them that will be victory.”

LISTEN ABOVE

Little is known about Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, but he’s likely to continue his father’s “hardline, hostile attitude” toward the US, Israel and the West more generally, one expert says.
Andrew England, the Financial Times’ Middle East editor, told Newstalk ZB’s Ryan Bridge that hostility would be compounded because Khamenei's father, mother, wife and sister have all been killed.
Khamenei has not given any statement since the war began, England said.
“We don't know where he is and we don't really know what the fate of him is. We don't know if he was in that compound, you know, if he's wounded, if he's fit and healthy.”
US President Donald Trump had called Khamenei a “lightweight” and warned any new Iranian leader wouldn’t last long without his approval, while the Israelis had suggested they would assassinate a new leader.
The choice of Khamenei was a sign of defiance from Iran, suggesting the regime would continue to fight, so he was likely to be a prime target, England said.
It was unclear how big Iran’s arsenal was nor how badly they had been damaged, England said. But “from the Islamic regime's perspective, endurance is a victory, survival is a victory. And as long as they can continue firing a missile here, a drone there, and survive this onslaught from the world's most powerful army, to them that will be victory.”
LISTEN ABOVE

Andrew England: Financial Times Middle East Editor explains who Mojtaba Khamenei is

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/181888e1-abd7-4f02-b79f-b4080120686c/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner shares her thoughts on how the New Zealand economy will react to the war in Iran. 

A new Westpac report says we need to send more public health procedures to the private system, NZ Private Surgical Hospitals Association CEO Chris Roberts shares his thoughts.

Iran has appointed a new supreme leader, Financial Times Middle East editor Andrew England tells Ryan what we should know about about him. 

Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on fuel rations beginning in Western Australia in response to Iran war and hundreds of people evacuated to Darwin in Northern Territory floods, with loads of crocodile sightings.

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 2025, ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner shares her thoughts on how the New Zealand economy will react to the war in Iran.&nbsp;
A new Westpac report says we need to send more public health procedures to the private system, NZ Private Surgical Hospitals Association CEO Chris Roberts shares his thoughts.
Iran has appointed a new supreme leader, Financial Times Middle East editor Andrew England tells Ryan what we should know about about him.&nbsp;
Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on fuel rations beginning in Western Australia in response to Iran war and hundreds of people evacuated to Darwin in Northern Territory floods, with loads of crocodile sightings.
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: 10 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4c9c8d58-5c8c-4b1a-826d-b408011a9706/transcript

Chris Roberts: Private Surgical Hospitals Association CEO on the report finding the private health sector has the capacity to ease the burden on public health

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