The Minister for Children's $41 million workforce investment is expected to train and retain youth care staff. 

Karen Chhour says her new funding follows a 2023 Oranga Tamariki review, which found many workers weren't equipped to deal with the high needs of some kids in care. 

The boost will qualify more staff, recruit capable workers to vacant positions, and establish clinical roles in each residence. 

Child Matters CEO Jane Searle told Ryan Bridge dealing with high-risk kids takes a level of expertise. 

She says they were having staff who didn't have that level of training and struggled, causing high turnover. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The Minister for Children's $41 million workforce investment is expected to train and retain youth care staff.&nbsp;
Karen Chhour says her new funding follows a 2023 Oranga Tamariki review, which found many workers weren't equipped to deal with the high needs of some kids in care.&nbsp;
The boost will qualify more staff, recruit capable workers to vacant positions, and establish clinical roles in each residence.&nbsp;
Child Matters CEO Jane Searle told Ryan Bridge dealing with high-risk kids takes a level of expertise.&nbsp;
She says they were having staff who didn't have that level of training and struggled, causing high turnover.&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

Jane Searle: Child Matters CEO on the $41 million investment into Oranga Tamariki staff training

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4ab2c778-ea55-4ae5-accd-b30e01555ac9/transcript

China remains vital to our education sector, but the market is shifting. 

A new NZ China Council report shows Chinese students make up about a third of revenue, spending nearly $60 thousand a year. 

But it warns families are increasingly price-conscious and weighing up other countries. 

Executive Director Alistair Crozier told Ryan Bridge New Zealand must keep visa processing world-class and offer more flexible study options. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

China remains vital to our education sector, but the market is shifting.&nbsp;
A new NZ China Council report shows Chinese students make up about a third of revenue, spending nearly $60 thousand a year.&nbsp;
But it warns families are increasingly price-conscious and weighing up other countries.&nbsp;
Executive Director Alistair Crozier told Ryan Bridge New Zealand must keep visa processing world-class and offer more flexible study options.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Alistair Crozier: NZ China Council Executive Director on the need to work to retain Chinese international students

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Wednesday the 18th of March, Beef mince and Steak are driving the latest spike in food prices, BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones shares his thoughts. 

Resource Minister Shane Jones is putting money into geothermal; Mercury Energy CEO Stew Hamilton tells Ryan how big of an impact this will have. 

We’re in a global scramble for Chinese students and the stakes are high, New Zealand China Council Executive Director Alastair Crozier shares why. 

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits UK to agree a new defence partnership aimed at tackling cheap attack drone attacks and an English council bans any more memorial benches saying it's overwhelmed by them.

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 2025 Wednesday the 18th of March, Beef mince and Steak are driving the latest spike in food prices, BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones shares his thoughts.&nbsp;
Resource Minister Shane Jones is putting money into geothermal; Mercury Energy CEO Stew Hamilton tells Ryan how big of an impact this will have.&nbsp;
We’re in a global scramble for Chinese students and the stakes are high, New Zealand China Council Executive Director Alastair Crozier shares why.&nbsp;
Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits UK to agree a new defence partnership aimed at tackling cheap attack drone attacks and an English council bans any more memorial benches saying it's overwhelmed by them.
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;

Full Show Podcast: 18 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5db0d5af-48be-4116-800d-b410011a91c7/transcript

Mercury Energy believes geothermal has a huge role to play in the future of the country's electricity industry.

The Government's released a strategy on how to double the use of geothermal energy by 2040. 

It's also ring fenced $50 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund for the development of geothermal energy projects. 

Mercury Chief Executive Stew Hamilton told Ryan Bridge the power just one of its geothermal sites produces is enough for around 150 thousand houses.

He says it also produces clean, reliable energy 24 hours a day, no matter the weather or season.

LISTEN ABOVE

Mercury Energy believes geothermal has a huge role to play in the future of the country's electricity industry.
The Government's released a strategy on how to double the use of geothermal energy by 2040.&nbsp;
It's also ring fenced $50 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund for the development of geothermal energy projects.&nbsp;
Mercury Chief Executive Stew Hamilton told Ryan Bridge the power just one of its geothermal sites produces is enough for around 150 thousand houses.
He says it also produces clean, reliable energy 24 hours a day, no matter the weather or season.
LISTEN ABOVE

Stew Hamilton: Mercury Energy CEO on the Government's plan to double the use of geothermal energy by 2040

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bda2a3e9-d914-4388-80bc-b410011a630f/transcript

Jane Searle: Child Matters CEO on the $41 million investment into Oranga Tamariki staff training

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