Less than half of students are regularly attending school.

The latest truancy data shows regular attendance in term one dropped to just 46 percent.

It's down on 72.8 percent in 2019 - pre Covid - and 50.5 percent in 2020.

Post Primary Teachers' Association President Melanie Webber told Kate Hawkesby the numbers don't surprise her.

She says irregular attendance is having more than two days off school a month.

Webber says while that adds up and isn't ideal, there is huge variation in the data.

LISTEN ABOVE

Less than half of students are regularly attending school.
The latest truancy data shows regular attendance in term one dropped to just 46 percent.
It's down on 72.8 percent in 2019 - pre Covid - and 50.5 percent in 2020.
Post Primary Teachers' Association President Melanie Webber told Kate Hawkesby the numbers don't surprise her.
She says irregular attendance is having more than two days off school a month.
Webber says while that adds up and isn't ideal, there is huge variation in the data.
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

Melanie Webber: Teachers' union says attendance numbers drop is not surprising

Fears the upcoming shut down of the Methanex plant in Taranaki won't just hurt the region. 

Its closure will affect 200 to 300 jobs.

Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie tells Ryan Bridge it's rough to see a major exporter go out of business because it can't access enough gas. 

Fears the upcoming shut down of the Methanex plant in Taranaki won't just hurt the region.&nbsp;
Its closure will affect 200 to 300 jobs.
Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie tells Ryan Bridge it's rough to see a major exporter go out of business because it can't access enough gas.&nbsp;

John Carnegie: Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive on Methanex closing its Taranaki plant

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/84a9131b-0ace-447d-b200-b4b9012cf0e9/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 3rd of September 2026, Co-Operative Bank CEO Mark Wilkshire shares his thoughts on the Reserve Bank hiking the OCR for the second time. 

The country's biggest gas user Methanex announcing its getting out of New Zealand, Energy Resources Aotearoa John Carnegie tells Ryan this is the economic cost the country is paying for a shrinking domestic gas supply.

We've finally got answers about what happened at Moa Point, Water New Zealand Chief Executive Gillian Blythe explains.

Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on Iran saying the US bombed a wedding party in Sirik, killing at least four people and a women has been arrested for taking photos of jury members outside the courthouse in the Lindsay Clancy trial. 

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 Thursday 3rd of September 2026, Co-Operative Bank CEO Mark Wilkshire shares his thoughts on the Reserve Bank hiking the OCR for the second time.&nbsp;
The country's biggest gas user Methanex announcing its getting out of New Zealand, Energy Resources Aotearoa John Carnegie tells Ryan this is the economic cost the country is paying for a shrinking domestic gas supply.
We've finally got answers about what happened at Moa Point, Water New Zealand Chief Executive Gillian Blythe explains.
Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on Iran saying the US bombed a wedding party in Sirik, killing at least four people and a women has been arrested for taking photos of jury members outside the courthouse in the Lindsay Clancy trial.&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: 03 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/45760a1a-7a31-4de1-a37b-b4b9012ac940/transcript

There's an air of arrogance and butt-covering to the stench that is Moa point. 

In a nutshell, the council, its water management company and the contractor were all a bit shit at their jobs. 

And Wellington's South Coast has been shat on.

14 billion litres of raw sewage, to be precise. 

None of them took charge of and ownership of the water treatment plant. 

And they didn't talk to each other, or listen, to some quite critical information and warnings. 

Anyone getting Mount Manganui vibes here? 

But the part that gets me, and should get us all, is the no show from ratepayer-funded bureaucrats ducking for cover. 

Council infrastructure leaders, who clearly are leaders in job title only, did not meet with the Crown Review team to tell them about their role in this shambles. 

They were asked for in-person meetings. They were asked to sit down in front of somebody and explain themselves. 

And they ran. They ducked. They gave written responses. 

14 billion litres of Wellington's digested breakfasts on the beach deserves more than written answers. 

It's like the politicians who dodged the Covid inquiry. 

Why would you do not front up in person unless you had something to hide? 

Why would you not speak in person, unless you were worried about what you'd say?

Did lawyers and comms staff, at ratepayer's expense, review all those written responses before you hit send? 

People don't necessarily lose trust in councils over mistakes. Mistakes happen to us all. 

Coverups and accountability dodgers. They're the ones who flush our trust down the toilet. 

There's an air of arrogance and butt-covering to the stench that is Moa point.&nbsp;
In a nutshell, the council, its water management company and the contractor were all a bit shit at their jobs.&nbsp;
And Wellington's South Coast has been shat on.
14 billion litres of raw sewage, to be precise.&nbsp;
None of them took charge of and ownership of the water treatment plant.&nbsp;
And they didn't talk to each other, or listen, to some quite critical information and warnings.&nbsp;
Anyone getting Mount Manganui vibes here?&nbsp;
But the part that gets me, and should get us all, is the no show from ratepayer-funded bureaucrats ducking for cover.&nbsp;
Council infrastructure leaders, who clearly are leaders in job title only, did not meet with the Crown Review team to tell them about their role in this shambles.&nbsp;
They were asked for in-person meetings. They were asked to sit down in front of somebody and explain themselves.&nbsp;
And they ran. They ducked. They gave written responses.&nbsp;
14 billion litres of Wellington's digested breakfasts on the beach deserves more than written answers.&nbsp;
It's like the politicians who dodged the Covid inquiry.&nbsp;
Why would you do not front up in person unless you had something to hide?&nbsp;
Why would you not speak in person, unless you were worried about what you'd say?
Did lawyers and comms staff, at ratepayer's expense, review all those written responses before you hit send?&nbsp;
People don't necessarily lose trust in councils over mistakes. Mistakes happen to us all.&nbsp;
Coverups and accountability dodgers. They're the ones who flush our trust down the toilet.&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: It's not the mistakes that kills trust, it's the accountability dodgers

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/04a9afcb-023c-40d4-b15f-b4b9012c0621/transcript

Melanie Webber: Teachers' union says attendance numbers drop is not surprising

In 1 playlist(s)

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips