Sir Sam Neill is being remembered as a gentle soul - who helped put New Zealand film on the map.

The Northern Ireland-born actor, who moved here at the age of seven, has died suddenly aged 78. 

He was surrounded by family at a Sydney hospital. 

Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio tells Ryan what the reaction has been in Australia. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Sir Sam Neill is being remembered as a gentle soul - who helped put New Zealand film on the map.
The Northern Ireland-born actor, who moved here at the age of seven, has died suddenly aged 78.&nbsp;
He was surrounded by family at a Sydney hospital.&nbsp;
Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio tells Ryan what the reaction has been in Australia.&nbsp;
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

Donna Demaio: Australia Correspondent on Sir Sam Neill's passing

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d9f98a8a-e783-4b39-849f-b486012d01ea/transcript

A sign the economy is getting back on track. 

The latest BNZ-BusinessNZ Performance of Services Index shows the sector's grown in June – only the fifth month of growth in the last two and a half years. 

The hospitality industry is continuing to contract, but it’s offset by the good results in transport and storage. 

Economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge the car is moving in the right direction – we’re not exactly sprinting or going at a full pace, but we’re certainly moving towards where we need to be. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A sign the economy is getting back on track.&nbsp;
The latest BNZ-BusinessNZ Performance of Services Index shows the sector's grown in June – only the fifth month of growth in the last two and a half years.&nbsp;
The hospitality industry is continuing to contract, but it’s offset by the good results in transport and storage.&nbsp;
Economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge the car is moving in the right direction – we’re not exactly sprinting or going at a full pace, but we’re certainly moving towards where we need to be.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Cameron Bagrie: Economist on the latest BNZ-BusinessNZ Performance of Services Index, state of the economy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/cc7e2208-b95b-4a87-9f14-b486018aaff6/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 14th of July 2026 the services sector is just barely creeping back into growth, founder of Bagrie Economics Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts. 

Retired Major General and New Zealand Initiative Senior Fellow John G. Howard, tells Ryan why he's sounding the alarm about the state of the New Zealand's Navy fleet.

Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on a former Sydney childcare worker charged with 329 offences and the Australian tributes for Sam Neill including Anthony Albanese. 

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 Tuesday 14th of July 2026 the services sector is just barely creeping back into growth, founder of Bagrie Economics Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts.&nbsp;
Retired Major General and New Zealand Initiative Senior Fellow John G. Howard, tells Ryan why he's sounding the alarm about the state of the New Zealand's Navy fleet.
Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on a former Sydney childcare worker charged with 329 offences and the Australian tributes for Sam Neill including Anthony Albanese.&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

Full Show Podcast: 14 July 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2db1565c-5e63-4f63-a2e5-b486012ab72f/transcript

We're cruising towards 2% growth off the back of these two bits of good news on the economy. 

2% is not rocketing along, but it's not stuck in a ditch either. 

And given the war, and diesel, and Trump, some (i.e. the Government) might even say it's fantastic. 

As you know, we follow the data quite closely on this show – many of you are businesspeople, farmers, small business owners, do-ers in the economy and want to know what's going on. 

Manufacturing hit it out the park and now services, two-thirds of our growth, is expanding. 

The key missing ingredient is consumer spending – discretionary spending. 

You see that in hospitality and the other fine print from the services sector read yesterday. 

And while an OCR hiking cycle doesn't help with confidence, most of it's priced in and at this point, the rates are still technically wind at our backs, not our faces. 

American consumers are far more robust and confident that us. They spend like tomorrow they'll win Lotto, and they basically do that 99% of the time. 

We're far more cautious, and often with good reason. 

Not only does that demand help push their economy along, even when headlines suggest they shouldn't, but their ability to dream big, invent new things, and create value is also important here. 

The AI surge. The share prices. The investment it generates. The plants it builds. The jobs it creates. 

If success is a positive mindset and unequivocal self-belief, the Americans have it bottled.

We have it too, but perhaps we can take a leaf out of their book and actually believe it. 

We're cruising towards 2% growth off the back of these two bits of good news on the economy.&nbsp;
2% is not rocketing along, but it's not stuck in a ditch either.&nbsp;
And given the war, and diesel, and Trump, some (i.e. the Government) might even say it's fantastic.&nbsp;
As you know, we follow the data quite closely on this show – many of you are businesspeople, farmers, small business owners, do-ers in the economy and want to know what's going on.&nbsp;
Manufacturing hit it out the park and now services, two-thirds of our growth, is expanding.&nbsp;
The key missing ingredient is consumer spending – discretionary spending.&nbsp;
You see that in hospitality and the other fine print from the services sector read yesterday.&nbsp;
And while an OCR hiking cycle doesn't help with confidence, most of it's priced in and at this point, the rates are still technically wind at our backs, not our faces.&nbsp;
American consumers are far more robust and confident that us. They spend like tomorrow they'll win Lotto, and they basically do that 99% of the time.&nbsp;
We're far more cautious, and often with good reason.&nbsp;
Not only does that demand help push their economy along, even when headlines suggest they shouldn't, but their ability to dream big, invent new things, and create value is also important here.&nbsp;
The AI surge. The share prices. The investment it generates. The plants it builds. The jobs it creates.&nbsp;
If success is a positive mindset and unequivocal self-belief, the Americans have it bottled.
We have it too, but perhaps we can take a leaf out of their book and actually believe it.&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: We need to believe in our economy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/160b7665-abd9-4673-ad56-b486012ac2d7/transcript

Donna Demaio: Australia Correspondent on Sir Sam Neill's passing

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