On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 19th of May 2026, Government’s pouring $131 million of the Budget into education, Dr Michael Johnston, NZ Initiative Research Fellow and Chair of the Education Ministerial Advisory Group, shares his thoughts. 

Southland farmers have been given an extension to submit their freshwater plans, Associate Minister for the environment Andrew Hoggard tells Ryan what the next steps are for the Government.

New data shows one in five GP referrals are being turned down, Royal NZ College of GP's President, Luke Bradford tells Ryan what needs to change to improve the situation. 

Plus, Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans has the latest on problems for the development of a massive wind farm in Western Victoria and constant heavy rain across the east coast causing some issues for millions of people. 

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 19th of May 2026, Government’s pouring $131 million of the Budget into education, Dr Michael Johnston, NZ Initiative Research Fellow and Chair of the Education Ministerial Advisory Group, shares his thoughts.&nbsp;
Southland farmers have been given an extension to submit their freshwater plans, Associate Minister for the environment Andrew Hoggard tells Ryan what the next steps are for the Government.
New data shows one in five GP referrals are being turned down, Royal NZ College of GP's President, Luke Bradford tells Ryan what needs to change to improve the situation.&nbsp;
Plus, Australia Correspondent Lesley Yeomans has the latest on problems for the development of a massive wind farm in Western Victoria and constant heavy rain across the east coast causing some issues for millions of people.&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 &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: 19 May 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f0042983-8979-4490-ab32-b44e012aba6b/transcript

Calls for the Government to keep up the momentum - as educational reform doesn't follow political timelines. 

Education Minister Erica Stanford has announced a new 131 million dollar package, which includes spending on workbooks, more maths intervention teachers, and additional testing. 

New Zealand Initiative Research Fellow Michael Johnson told Ryan Bridge the reforms are positive - but long-term commitment is needed. 

He says you don't always see results in one electoral cycle - it takes time for the learning to embed and show in the data. 

Calls for the Government to keep up the momentum - as educational reform doesn't follow political timelines.&nbsp;
Education Minister Erica Stanford has announced a new 131 million dollar package, which includes spending on workbooks, more maths intervention teachers, and additional testing.&nbsp;
New Zealand Initiative Research Fellow Michael Johnson told Ryan Bridge the reforms are positive - but long-term commitment is needed.&nbsp;
He says you don't always see results in one electoral cycle - it takes time for the learning to embed and show in the data.&nbsp;

Michael Johnson: New Zealand Initiative Research Fellow on $131 million dollar education package

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fbfd37f3-8b76-4f48-a3ef-b44e012b6a71/transcript

In February last year I wrote a piece for the Herald about government department and Ministerial overload. 

It was partly informed by observation and partly by New Zealand Initiative paper on the subject.

Luxon's government has 81 portfolios, significantly more than similar-sized countries and far more than most larger ones.

Ireland, Norway, Singapore and Finland all have fewer than 20.

The UK, Canada, United States and Korea have fewer than 30. 

Australia’s population is five times larger than ours, but even they have almost half the number of portfolios.

The number has shot up under MMP.

Winston Peters’ got the reincarnated rail portfolio. 

Michael Wood got Auckland.

James Meager got the South Island. 

Judith Collins got space. 

This has all got a bit out of hand. I argued then, as I argue now, there are too many reporting lines and departments designed to report into them. 

We have a plethora of related portfolios that get chopped up and spread out for no good reason; think universities, vocational education and education.

We have three portfolios for young people; children, child poverty reduction and youth.

Imagine if we had 15 Ministers with 15 portfolios. If you're health, you're health. If you're transport, you're transport. Yes, that would include infrastructure. 

Nicola Willis last week hinted that change was coming. "Wait 'till you see the budget, I think you'll like what's in there". 

In February last year I wrote a piece for the Herald about government department and Ministerial overload.&nbsp;
It was partly informed by observation and partly by New Zealand Initiative paper on the subject.
Luxon's government has 81 portfolios, significantly more than similar-sized countries and far more than most larger ones.
Ireland, Norway, Singapore and Finland all have fewer than 20.
The UK, Canada, United States and Korea have fewer than 30.&nbsp;
Australia’s population is five times larger than ours, but even they have almost half the number of portfolios.
The number has shot up under MMP.
Winston Peters’ got the reincarnated rail portfolio.&nbsp;
Michael Wood got Auckland.
James Meager got the South Island.&nbsp;
Judith Collins got space.&nbsp;
This has all got a bit out of hand. I argued then, as I argue now, there are too many reporting lines and departments designed to report into them.&nbsp;
We have a plethora of related portfolios that get chopped up and spread out for no good reason; think universities, vocational education and education.
We have three portfolios for young people; children, child poverty reduction and youth.
Imagine if we had 15 Ministers with 15 portfolios. If you're health, you're health. If you're transport, you're transport. Yes, that would include infrastructure.&nbsp;
Nicola Willis last week hinted that change was coming. "Wait 'till you see the budget, I think you'll like what's in there".&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: A clean up of cabinet is overdue

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c27d6f04-6e6b-4c00-95de-b44e012a7416/transcript

The United Kingdom isn't facing as many financial troubles as predicted, after the latest data shows their GDP holding steady. 

The past few months in the UK have been dominated by challenges to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, and many believed the issues in Parliament would damage the country's financial stability. 

Business Correspondent Vicky Price told Ryan Bridge that, 'what we did see here was in the UK was an increase of 0.6% in the quarter in GDP, which is quite unexpected.'

But she said this won't be A relief for Starmer, who faces more leadership challenges from members of his cabinet. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The United Kingdom isn't facing as many financial troubles as predicted, after the latest data shows their GDP holding steady.&nbsp;
The past few months in the UK have been dominated by challenges to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, and many believed the issues in Parliament would damage the country's financial stability.&nbsp;
Business Correspondent Vicky Price told Ryan Bridge that, 'what we did see here was in the UK was an increase of 0.6% in the quarter in GDP, which is quite unexpected.'
But she said this won't be A relief for Starmer, who faces more leadership challenges from members of his cabinet.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Vicky Price: Business Correspondent says UK's GDP is better than expected in Q1

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c63894e0-c987-4bd7-90a9-b44d013ed5a2/transcript

Full Show Podcast: 19 May 2026

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