Anticipation is building over Government announcements at the second day of the Local Government New Zealand conference in Wellington today. 

It comes after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ruffled feathers yesterday with an address telling councils to cut back on wasteful spending.

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown is expected to speak to the delegates today.

But Local Government Business Forum Chair Matt Cowley told Ryan Bridge the Government won't be offering a handout.

He says it wants the big infrastructure issues addressed but ratepayers will have to chip in.

LISTEN ABOVE

Anticipation is building over Government announcements at the second day of the Local Government New Zealand conference in Wellington today.  
It comes after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ruffled feathers yesterday with an address telling councils to cut back on wasteful spending. 
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown is expected to speak to the delegates today. 
But Local Government Business Forum Chair Matt Cowley told Ryan Bridge the Government won't be offering a handout. 
He says it wants the big infrastructure issues addressed but ratepayers will have to chip in. 
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

Matt Cowley: Local Government Business Forum Chair ahead of the second day of the Local Government New Zealand conference

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2e19a13b-c863-4d60-b5a3-b1d3016fb3f7/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday the 18th of September 2026, construction was the biggest boost to GDP, Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma explains where the boom has come from. 

Labour’s hitting the brakes on the NCEA curriculum overhaul, Darfield High School Principal tells Ryan about what teachers and parents are looking for. 

Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has expressed no confidence in FENZ chief executive Kerry Gregory, NZPFU National Secretary Wattie Watson shares her thoughts. 

Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on King Charles is hosting an AI summit, warning of ‘existential danger’ in the wrong hands and the Palace have hit back strongly on comments Princess Diana’s brother claims he made shortly after her death. 

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 Friday the 18th of September 2026, construction was the biggest boost to GDP, Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma explains where the boom has come from.&nbsp;
Labour’s hitting the brakes on the NCEA curriculum overhaul, Darfield High School Principal tells Ryan about what teachers and parents are looking for.&nbsp;
Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has expressed no confidence in FENZ chief executive Kerry Gregory, NZPFU National Secretary Wattie Watson shares her thoughts.&nbsp;
Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on King Charles is hosting an AI summit, warning of ‘existential danger’ in the wrong hands and the Palace have hit back strongly on comments Princess Diana’s brother claims he made shortly after her death.&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: 18 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c6262727-8c84-439f-9cb9-b4c8012abfdf/transcript

What a week. 

AI's going to kill us all.

Unless Putin gets there first.

More drones and flare-ups from him, allegedly, in the skies above Europe. 

Trump's pushing Carney into the arms of another lover in Ursula von der Leyen.

It was all hugs and kisses in Strasbourg. 

The Aussies are making big moves to cut immigration. 

Central bankers are hiking off the back of war and oil. 

And here in New Zealand, we're dropping the C-bomb in Parliament again. 

This time it was Debbie from the Māori Party. 

Things got a bit out of hand. 

While the world was busy dealing with important matters, like preserving humanity, Willie Jackson was defending Debbie's C-bomb. 

Parliament's bouncer, The Serjeant-at-Arms, was called on to help kick him out of the House! 

Wild times in the debating chamber.

The Sergent is rarely called on to bounce politicians, because politicians normally take their punishment and leave. 

But Willie was having none of that. 

The Serjeant, whose frankly baler job title is up there with the Usher of the Black Rod, was thankfully saved from getting his hands dirty. 

He didn't need to bust out the Mace and start prodding the pollies with it.

Jackson eventually left the Chamber. 

Parliament carried on. 

As did the rest of the world, which was a bit busy on more important issues of the day. 

What a week.&nbsp;
AI's going to kill us all.
Unless Putin gets there first.
More drones and flare-ups from him, allegedly, in the skies above Europe.&nbsp;
Trump's pushing Carney into the arms of another lover in Ursula von der Leyen.
It was all hugs and kisses in Strasbourg.&nbsp;
The Aussies are making big moves to cut immigration.&nbsp;
Central bankers are hiking off the back of war and oil.&nbsp;
And here in New Zealand, we're dropping the C-bomb in Parliament again.&nbsp;
This time it was Debbie from the Māori Party.&nbsp;
Things got a bit out of hand.&nbsp;
While the world was busy dealing with important matters, like preserving humanity, Willie Jackson was defending Debbie's C-bomb.&nbsp;
Parliament's bouncer, The Serjeant-at-Arms, was called on to help kick him out of the House!&nbsp;
Wild times in the debating chamber.
The Sergent is rarely called on to bounce politicians, because politicians normally take their punishment and leave.&nbsp;
But Willie was having none of that.&nbsp;
The Serjeant, whose frankly baler job title is up there with the Usher of the Black Rod, was thankfully saved from getting his hands dirty.&nbsp;
He didn't need to bust out the Mace and start prodding the pollies with it.
Jackson eventually left the Chamber.&nbsp;
Parliament carried on.&nbsp;
As did the rest of the world, which was a bit busy on more important issues of the day.&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: Important things happening in the world and our pollies are fussing over the C-word

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b7888cc6-1345-40ef-9129-b4c8012aeec1/transcript

Blowback from a business advocate on National's plan to break up Foodstuffs.  

If elected, and if the Commerce Commission agrees, the party would separate Pak'nSave from New World and Four Square to create more competition. 

But Foodstuffs warns there'd be significant implications and would affect more than 500 locally owned and operated stores. 

Business NZ Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard told Ryan Bridge threatening to split up private property is hugely alarming.  

She says it sends a terrible signal to overseas investors – that the government could essentially take away business. 

Beard also says there's a lack of evidence to suggest our food is more expensive than other countries. 

She told Bridge that while food prices have gone up, they're no higher than Australia and the UK. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

Blowback from a business advocate on National's plan to break up Foodstuffs. &nbsp;
If elected, and if the Commerce Commission agrees, the party would separate Pak'nSave from New World and Four Square to create more competition.&nbsp;
But Foodstuffs warns there'd be significant implications and would affect more than 500 locally owned and operated stores.&nbsp;
Business NZ Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard told Ryan Bridge threatening to split up private property is hugely alarming. &nbsp;
She says it sends a terrible signal to overseas investors – that the government could essentially take away business.&nbsp;
Beard also says there's a lack of evidence to suggest our food is more expensive than other countries.&nbsp;
She told Bridge that while food prices have gone up, they're no higher than Australia and the UK.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Catherine Beard: BusinessNZ Director of Advocacy on National's plan to split up Foodstuffs to drive competition

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/6dab8331-dfbe-4d75-8323-b4c70179d176/transcript

Matt Cowley: Local Government Business Forum Chair ahead of the second day of the Local Government New Zealand conference

In 1 playlist(s)

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips