On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 26th of August 2026, the Government’s pushing ahead with its 4% rates cap, Wellington Mayor Andrew Little shares his thoughts.

The Labour party says they'd bring back our Smokefree generation goals if they get back in government, Action for Smokefree 2025 Director Ben Youdan tells Ryan why this is important. 

A new report shows Auckland is quickly becoming a world-class city once again, Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck tells Ryan what work needs to be done to improve the city. 

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on an adviser to the Kremlin, saying there might be a "semi-military" response against UK drone factories and Police say five young men who died after their vehicle hit a police car on a dual carriageway may have had links to “serious and organised criminal activity”.

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 Wednesday the 26th of August 2026, the Government’s pushing ahead with its 4% rates cap, Wellington Mayor Andrew Little shares his thoughts.
The Labour party says they'd bring back our Smokefree generation goals if they get back in government, Action for Smokefree 2025 Director Ben Youdan tells Ryan why this is important.&nbsp;
A new report shows Auckland is quickly becoming a world-class city once again, Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck tells Ryan what work needs to be done to improve the city.&nbsp;
Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on an adviser to the Kremlin, saying there might be a "semi-military" response against UK drone factories and Police say five young men who died after their vehicle hit a police car on a dual carriageway may have had links to “serious and organised criminal activity”.
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: 26 August 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1f8e8c36-65a6-4cab-b132-b4b1012ac5fa/transcript

A number of wins for Auckland as the city heads into a new era.  

The fourth annual State of the City report, commissioned by the independent non-partisan Committee for Auckland, compares the super city to others globally.  

It scored well on innovation, international business events, and the number of people coming here, but did less well on things like productivity and keeping talent. 

Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck told Ryan Bridge Auckland now has the International Convention Centre and the City Rail Link's about to open. 

She says it can now leverage investments like this to drive density, growth, and vibrancy. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

A number of wins for Auckland as the city heads into a new era. &nbsp;
The fourth annual State of the City report, commissioned by the independent non-partisan Committee for Auckland, compares the super city to others globally. &nbsp;
It scored well on innovation, international business events, and the number of people coming here, but did less well on things like productivity and keeping talent.&nbsp;
Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck told Ryan Bridge Auckland now has the International Convention Centre and the City Rail Link's about to open.&nbsp;
She says it can now leverage investments like this to drive density, growth, and vibrancy.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Viv Beck: Heart of the City CEO on the State of the City report for Auckland

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/376b6891-6ba2-44bd-99e4-b4b1017f301a/transcript

Wellington's Mayor says new rates cap could mean cutting back on important work. 

The Government's clarified key aspects of its plan to cap council rate hikes at 4%, which is expected to come into force in 2029.  

Councils would be expected to prepare for it from next July, although the scheme excludes water services. 

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little told Ryan Bridge they currently have a work programme underway to shore up the city against potential slips. 

He says not continuing with this goes against another government instruction to make sure they're climate resilient. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Wellington's Mayor says new rates cap could mean cutting back on important work.&nbsp;
The Government's clarified key aspects of its plan to cap council rate hikes at 4%, which is expected to come into force in 2029. &nbsp;
Councils would be expected to prepare for it from next July, although the scheme excludes water services.&nbsp;
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little told Ryan Bridge they currently have a work programme underway to shore up the city against potential slips.&nbsp;
He says not continuing with this goes against another government instruction to make sure they're climate resilient.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Andrew Little: Wellington Mayor on the Government's promise to introduce a 4% council rates cap

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c6ad1cdc-dbcf-470e-8032-b4b1017d726f/transcript

This past week is proof a four-year Parliamentary term is probably a good idea. 

Elections disrupt the housing market. People get scared off buying for fear of the unknown – who knows what government will get in and what they'll do to price of a house. 

Same goes for business decisions – should I buy that extra tractor if a pro-regulation party gets round the cabinet table? 

But the bigger problem, and we've seen it with this frankly farcical social media ban announcing this week, is legislation. 

The Nats called Labour's bluff and announced it. Then Labour called the Nats bluff and said they'd support a first reading before the election. 

Only for the Nats to turn around and say oh no, we actually don't have time this term. 

There's a 100-bill log jam of bills —potential new laws waiting to get debated — sitting in Parliament. 

It's like the Southern Motorway on, well, pretty much any day of the week and any time. She's backed up like a dump truck. 

RMA reform is a priority, but outside that, she's a pretty ropey agenda. 

Politics at election time actually gets in the way of what Parliament is supposed to do, which is pass laws. 

City deals get ripped up on the fly. Mayors across the country get butthurt. 

Of course, elections are not the enemy of democracy. They're the basis of it. 

But too many, too often, is probably doing more harm than good. 

This past week is proof a four-year Parliamentary term is probably a good idea.&nbsp;
Elections disrupt the housing market. People get scared off buying for fear of the unknown – who knows what government will get in and what they'll do to price of a house.&nbsp;
Same goes for business decisions – should I buy that extra tractor if a pro-regulation party gets round the cabinet table?&nbsp;
But the bigger problem, and we've seen it with this frankly farcical social media ban announcing this week, is legislation.&nbsp;
The Nats called Labour's bluff and announced it. Then Labour called the Nats bluff and said they'd support a first reading before the election.&nbsp;
Only for the Nats to turn around and say oh no, we actually don't have time this term.&nbsp;
There's a 100-bill log jam of bills —potential new laws waiting to get debated — sitting in Parliament.&nbsp;
It's like the Southern Motorway on, well, pretty much any day of the week and any time. She's backed up like a dump truck.&nbsp;
RMA reform is a priority, but outside that, she's a pretty ropey agenda.&nbsp;
Politics at election time actually gets in the way of what Parliament is supposed to do, which is pass laws.&nbsp;
City deals get ripped up on the fly. Mayors across the country get butthurt.&nbsp;
Of course, elections are not the enemy of democracy. They're the basis of it.&nbsp;
But too many, too often, is probably doing more harm than good.&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: Parliament's backlog is becoming a problem

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/daff7612-8fdf-4dd5-a6df-b4b101780aa2/transcript

Full Show Podcast: 26 August 2026

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