There’s a concern the Government’s school shakeup could drive more students to drop out early.  

New data shows that over 1,300 students were granted an early leaving exemption last year – the highest since 2007. 

The Government is proposing to remove subjects from senior school general subject list, reclassifying them as a limited vocational option – one being Outdoor Education. 

Whenua Iti Outdoors CEO Mark Bruce-Miller told Ryan Bridge that outdoor education allows all students flourish in areas that are difficult to work on within a classroom environment, such as teamwork, leadership, communication, resilience, and initiative.  

He says students need to be as well-rounded as possible when leaving school, and removing outdoor education from the list means some students won’t get those benefits. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

There’s a concern the Government’s school shakeup could drive more students to drop out early. &nbsp;
New data shows that over 1,300 students were granted an early leaving exemption last year – the highest since 2007.&nbsp;
The Government is proposing to remove subjects from senior school general subject list, reclassifying them as a limited vocational option – one being Outdoor Education.&nbsp;
Whenua Iti Outdoors CEO Mark Bruce-Miller told Ryan Bridge that outdoor education allows all students flourish in areas that are difficult to work on within a classroom environment, such as teamwork, leadership, communication, resilience, and initiative. &nbsp;
He says students need to be as well-rounded as possible when leaving school, and removing outdoor education from the list means some students won’t get those benefits.&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

Mark Bruce-Miller: Whenua Iti Outdoors CEO on the Government's curriculum changes, rising number of kids dropping out of school

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ae772be4-10d4-4265-9e4c-b353017d5cc5/transcript

The impact of the Heinz Wattie's restructure won't be felt by growers straight away. 

The company plans to shut three manufacturing facilitates in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin - and packing operations in Hastings. 

It's because of a planned move away from selling frozen vegetables, Gregg's Coffee and Several dips.

It will mean 350 jobs are on the line. 

Process Vegetables New Zealand Chair David Hadfield told Ryan Bridge the current year's contracts have been locked in. 
 
He says harvests are either finished, halfway through or about to start so it will only effect growers next season. 

The impact of the Heinz Wattie's restructure won't be felt by growers straight away.&nbsp;
The company plans to shut three manufacturing facilitates in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin - and packing operations in Hastings.&nbsp;
It's because of a planned move away from selling frozen vegetables, Gregg's Coffee and Several dips.
It will mean 350 jobs are on the line.&nbsp;
Process Vegetables New Zealand Chair David Hadfield told Ryan Bridge the current year's contracts have been locked in.&nbsp; &nbsp; He says harvests are either finished, halfway through or about to start so it will only effect growers next season.&nbsp;

David Hadfield: Process Vegetables New Zealand Chair on Wattie's plan to axe the production of frozen vegetables

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3caff6c3-2741-4b4f-b060-b40a011cb6b3/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Labour's new education spokesperson Ginny Anderson shares her thoughts on non-union teachers offered a pay rise from the Public Service Commission. 

Watties is looking to axe production of its frozen vegetables, Chair of Process Vegetables NZ David Hadfield explains how it will impact growers. 

All Blacks legend Tana Umaga has reportedly been picked by Dave Rennie to be an assistant coach, Newstalk ZB Rugby Editor Elliot Smith tells Ryan how significant this appointment could be.

Plus US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the latest on US strikes on Iranian naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the International Energy Agency's decision to release 400 million barrels of stockpiled oil. 

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 Labour's new education spokesperson Ginny Anderson shares her thoughts on non-union teachers offered a pay rise from the Public Service Commission.&nbsp;
Watties is looking to axe production of its frozen vegetables, Chair of Process Vegetables NZ David Hadfield explains how it will impact growers.&nbsp;
All Blacks legend Tana Umaga has reportedly been picked by Dave Rennie to be an assistant coach, Newstalk ZB Rugby Editor Elliot Smith tells Ryan how significant this appointment could be.
Plus US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the latest on US strikes on Iranian naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the International Energy Agency's decision to release 400 million barrels of stockpiled oil.&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;

Full Show Podcast: 12 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/36ee6144-5c43-45d6-a54d-b40a011a8f28/transcript

I can't see what the problem is with teachers getting a pay rise.

If that sounds weird, it's because it's the union complaining. 

The union that's always saying teachers are undervalued and underpaid. Doesn't want the pay rise. 

They're actually going to take legal action to try and stop it happening. 

It's upside down day today folks. 

The primary teacher union is dragging out their collective bargaining (9 months and counting). 

So in the meantime, old mate Brian Roche is offering non-union teachers employed on individual agreements up to an extra 4.7% within 12 months.

2.5 from 20 March + 2.1 percent next year.

That's, according to the government, an extra $50-$76 a week per teacher. 

A third of primary teachers - about 10k - aren't part of the union. 

Now the Union doesn't like this because, they say, it's the government trying to break their unity. 

But the reality is, they're not united. A third of them don't pay subs to the union so therefore can go down the individual route with school boards. 

Last time I checked, they were adults. It's the kids they're teaching. 

And the union members, by the way, can accept this offer too, but chose not. 

To your average kiwi, a union trying to stop non-union teachers from getting a pay rise during a cost of living crisis by bringing in their expensive lawyers looks messy controlling and unfair. 

Throw into the mix other teacher unions' demands for updates on the war in Gaza and the fact student achievement was in the bin and they start look beyond out of touch with the rest of us. 

I can't see what the problem is with teachers getting a pay rise.
If that sounds weird, it's because it's the union complaining.&nbsp;
The union that's always saying teachers are undervalued and underpaid. Doesn't want the pay rise.&nbsp;
They're actually going to take legal action to try and stop it happening.&nbsp;
It's upside down day today folks.&nbsp;
The primary teacher union is dragging out their collective bargaining (9 months and counting).&nbsp;
So in the meantime, old mate Brian Roche is offering non-union teachers employed on individual agreements up to an extra 4.7% within 12 months.
2.5 from 20 March + 2.1 percent next year.
That's, according to the government, an extra $50-$76 a week per teacher.&nbsp;
A third of primary teachers - about 10k - aren't part of the union.&nbsp;
Now the Union doesn't like this because, they say, it's the government trying to break their unity.&nbsp;
But the reality is, they're not united. A third of them don't pay subs to the union so therefore can go down the individual route with school boards.&nbsp;
Last time I checked, they were adults. It's the kids they're teaching.&nbsp;
And the union members, by the way, can accept this offer too, but chose not.&nbsp;
To your average kiwi, a union trying to stop non-union teachers from getting a pay rise during a cost of living crisis by bringing in their expensive lawyers looks messy controlling and unfair.&nbsp;
Throw into the mix other teacher unions' demands for updates on the war in Gaza and the fact student achievement was in the bin and they start look beyond out of touch with the rest of us.&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: Teachers deserve a pay rise

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/24b1885d-a37c-4d5f-b15b-b40a011bb4b6/transcript

Mark Bruce-Miller: Whenua Iti Outdoors CEO on the Government's curriculum changes, rising number of kids dropping out of school

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