Our current period of high inflation isn't over yet.

Latest figures due out this morning are expected to show consumer prices rose between 6.9 percent and 7.2 percent in the year to March.

ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Roman Travers says two major factors are driving the high inflation rate.

"One is food prices really have rocketed and the second thing is housing costs remain really elevated, despite the softer housing market."

LISTEN ABOVE

Our current period of high inflation isn't over yet.
Latest figures due out this morning are expected to show consumer prices rose between 6.9 percent and 7.2 percent in the year to March.
ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Roman Travers says two major factors are driving the high inflation rate.
"One is food prices really have rocketed and the second thing is housing costs remain really elevated, despite the softer housing market."
LISTEN ABOVE

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 Smith: Economist says food prices and housing costs are the two major factors driving high inflation rate

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. It 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 to 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.&nbsp;
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. &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.&nbsp;
And the Government must have the books back in surplus – the plan is 2029/30.&nbsp;
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. It 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.&nbsp;
Too many hoops to 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 Bridge: 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

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;

Full Show Podcast: 16 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0accd409-7161-4cfa-92c6-b4c6012acb55/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 told Ryan Bridge this report makes it clear coordination needs to be better across government agencies. 

She says it's not easy, and cases like this are very complex, but it can be done. 

LISTEN ABOVE

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 told Ryan Bridge this report makes it clear coordination needs to be better across government agencies.&nbsp;
She says it's not easy, and cases like this are very complex, but it can be done.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

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

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

Mark Smith: Economist says food prices and housing costs are the two major factors driving high inflation rate

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