Excitement in Northland, as the Transport Minister gives the green light to a prioritised regional expressway.

Simeon Brown's agreed to accelerate delivery — letting NZTA move at pace on the route between Auckland and Whangarei.

Locals have been growing irritated following repetitive road closures on the Brynderwyns.

Northland Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Darryn Fisher told Ryan Bridge the projected opening date is unknown.

“I think there’s still some work to go on there as far as consents and obtaining land and business cases go, but as a community, we’re here to make sure we accelerate that as quickly as we can.”

LISTEN ABOVE

Excitement in Northland, as the Transport Minister gives the green light to a prioritised regional expressway.
Simeon Brown's agreed to accelerate delivery — letting NZTA move at pace on the route between Auckland and Whangarei.
Locals have been growing irritated following repetitive road closures on the Brynderwyns.
Northland Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Darryn Fisher told Ryan Bridge the projected opening date is unknown.
“I think there’s still some work to go on there as far as consents and obtaining land and business cases go, but as a community, we’re here to make sure we accelerate that as quickly as we can.”
LISTEN ABOVE

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

Darryn Fisher: Northland Chamber of Commerce chief executive says they're working to accelerate work on prioritised regional expressway

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5eaaa580-8534-498a-a641-b1b6016071f6/transcript

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 29 May.

Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 29 May. 
Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 29 May 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/9c30c5a1-0159-4cac-a464-b458012ac7f5/transcript

The ACT Party is defending voting in favour of homeschooling legislation before it was scrapped after pushback from families. 

The amendments announced last week would've increased checks on children taught at home. 

Education Minister Erica Stanford now concedes homeschooling is more complex than first thought. 

ACT's Laura McClure told Ryan Bridge they were rushed into voting for it. 

She says they didn't have a lot of time to consider the changes and how they would've worked, and whether the homeschooling community was given enough of a say. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The ACT Party is defending voting in favour of homeschooling legislation before it was scrapped after pushback from families.&nbsp;
The amendments announced last week would've increased checks on children taught at home.&nbsp;
Education Minister Erica Stanford now concedes homeschooling is more complex than first thought.&nbsp;
ACT's Laura McClure told Ryan Bridge they were rushed into voting for it.&nbsp;
She says they didn't have a lot of time to consider the changes and how they would've worked, and whether the homeschooling community was given enough of a say.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Laura McClure: ACT Education Spokesperson on the Government backing down from changing homeschool laws

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/9341f328-e7ef-42c9-9aef-b457017f4123/transcript

ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says the window for low mortgage rates has closed, with multiple Official Cash Rate hikes expected later this year following the Reserve Bank’s decision to hold the rate at 2.25% yesterday. 

The RBNZ's Monetary Policy Statement said Official Cash Rate (OCR) increases would likely be required this year, predicting inflation would peak at 4.3% in the September quarter before returning to 2% mid-2027. 

Tuffley told Ryan Bridge people had been fixing their mortgages at higher interest rates since it became clear that there would be no further cuts to the OCR and it would soon start increasing. 

The Monetary Policy Committee was predicting the average interest rate on outstanding mortgages would climb to 5.3% over the next year, up from 4.9% in March. Tuffley said that increase was “not too dramatic” although the impacts would show up slowly. 

“Your window for a low mortgage ... really did slam shut late last year, and unfortunately we’ve already seen rates that have climbed to some degree and that will continue.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says the window for low mortgage rates has closed, with multiple Official Cash Rate hikes expected later this year following the Reserve Bank’s decision to hold the rate at 2.25% yesterday.&nbsp;
The RBNZ's Monetary Policy Statement said Official Cash Rate (OCR) increases would likely be required this year, predicting inflation would peak at 4.3% in the September quarter before returning to 2% mid-2027.&nbsp;
Tuffley told Ryan Bridge people had been fixing their mortgages at higher interest rates since it became clear that there would be no further cuts to the OCR and it would soon start increasing.&nbsp;
The Monetary Policy Committee was predicting the average interest rate on outstanding mortgages would climb to 5.3% over the next year, up from 4.9% in March. Tuffley said that increase was “not too dramatic” although the impacts would show up slowly.&nbsp;
“Your window for a low mortgage ... really did slam shut late last year, and unfortunately we’ve already seen rates that have climbed to some degree and that will continue.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Nick Tuffley: ASB Chief Economist on the Reserve Bank's decision to hold the OCR at 2.25%

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b033d894-5e36-465d-a12f-b457017b96bd/transcript

Darryn Fisher: Northland Chamber of Commerce chief executive says they're working to accelerate work on prioritised regional expressway

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