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;

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

Full Show Podcast: 16 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0accd409-7161-4cfa-92c6-b4c6012acb55/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. 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 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.
Bracket creep is hurting workers - as wages increase and you creep into a higher tax bracket; you pay more marginal tax.&nbsp;
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.
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?&nbsp;
More times than I can count. 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.
Too many hoops 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 Bride: 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

The Children Commissioner's demanding action - with a multitude of failures in the search for the Marokopa children brought to light. 

A four-year manhunt for notorious fugitive Tom Phillips ended a year ago - when he was shot dead by Police. 

An inquiry finds our public agencies overlooked concerns, delayed action and missed opportunities to find the children earlier and prevent their disappearance. 

It criticises the lack of information sharing - particularly across Oranga Tamariki and Police. 

Commissioner Jane Searle joins Ryan Bridge. 

The Children Commissioner's demanding action - with a multitude of failures in the search for the Marokopa children brought to light.&nbsp;
A four-year manhunt for notorious fugitive Tom Phillips ended a year ago - when he was shot dead by Police.&nbsp;
An inquiry finds our public agencies overlooked concerns, delayed action and missed opportunities to find the children earlier and prevent their disappearance.&nbsp;
It criticises the lack of information sharing - particularly across Oranga Tamariki and Police.&nbsp;
Commissioner Jane Searle joins Ryan Bridge.&nbsp;

Jane Searle: Children's Commissioner on the inquiry into the Phillips children

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f2d1eb17-5365-45cd-86d2-b4c6012b932d/transcript

Net migration is back on the rise as the brain drain eases. 

Stats NZ data shows the number of people moving here in the year to July outnumbered those leaving by 20,300. 

Annually, that net migration has risen almost 55%, with arrivals up 5% and departures down 4%. 

Immigration Expert Simon Laurent told Andrew Dickens that much as it has in the past, the security and safety of New Zealand is making it an attractive place to put down roots. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Net migration is back on the rise as the brain drain eases.&nbsp;
Stats NZ data shows the number of people moving here in the year to July outnumbered those leaving by 20,300.&nbsp;
Annually, that net migration has risen almost 55%, with arrivals up 5% and departures down 4%.&nbsp;
Immigration Expert Simon Laurent told Andrew Dickens that much as it has in the past, the security and safety of New Zealand is making it an attractive place to put down roots.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Simon Laurent: NZ Association of Migration and Investment Chair on net migration hitting a two year high

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c17805cb-7081-4a69-8dec-b4c5018a13ec/transcript

Full Show Podcast: 16 September 2026

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