Fran O'Sullivan: NZ Inc Managing Director on the US Business Summit, tariffs

New Zealand is bracing for a high stakes poker game, preparing for Donald Trump’s tariffs to be introduced.  The US Business Summit is taking place in Auckland, and Trump is set to be a significant talking point.  NZ Inc Managing Director Fran O’Sullivan told Ryan Bridge that there’s likely to be…

Toby Adams: Hauraki District Mayor on the need for more ways to raise revenue for councils

Councils are putting a range of ideas on the table to raise revenue, as they push back against the idea of a cap on rates rises.  Rates shot up by an average of 15% this year.  Local Government New Zealand is proposing a range of options from civil defence levies to accommodation levies.  Haurak…

Ryan Bridge: I trust police to make the call around regular arming

Almost 70% of cops want to be armed, and I say who the hell are we to get in their way?  The new Commissioner has come in, and he's been more gung ho on this idea of regular arming of our police force than any of his predecessors.  The fact is they're on the front line, aren't they?  Last year, …

Vincent McAviney: Europe Correspondent on the claims that Russia has launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into Ukraine

Ukraine is claiming Russia's launched a missile with greater range into one of its cities.   It's claiming an intercontinental ballistic missile has been used, but CNN reports two western officials have said it was another type of ballistic missile.   Europe correspondent Vincent McAviney told Ry…

Full Show Podcast: 22 November 2024

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 22nd of November, the US Business Summit is on in Auckland today, and Donald Trump's second term as US president will be a big talking point with possible tariffs on the way. Fran O'Sullivan joins the show ahead of the summit.  How…

Mitch McCann: US Correspondent on JD Vance's efforts to bolster support for Donald Trump's cabinet picks

JD Vance is facing a tricky task on Capitol Hill.  The vice president-elect has arrived at the Capitol to shore up support for Trump’s controversial cabinet picks.  He’ll spend the week organising meetings between Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth and key Republican senators involved in their confirmat…

Paul Basham: Police Assistant Commissioner on the increased reports of gang insignia before the ban came into effect

Police hope an increased focus on gang activity will pay dividends.   The gang patch ban has been in force since midnight.   Police Assistant Commissioner Paul Basham says in the lead up to the ban, there was an increase in reports of gang members wearing their patches prominently in public.  He…

Dave Tilton: Temporary Traffic Management Chair on NZ Transport's $800 million spend

There's little doubt there's unnecessary spend at the Transport Agency.  The Transport Minister's called NZTA's costs eye-watering and excessive, after revealing a near $800 million spend over the past three years.  That went to road cones, traffic management, state highway maintenance, and capit…

John Harbord: Major Electricity Users' Group Chair says the rising electricity costs will impact industrial manufacturers more significantly

Households and businesses are set to face higher electricity bills.  The Commerce Commission estimates the average household's monthly electricity bill will rise by around $10 from April.  The Commission's allowing Transpower and local lines companies to raise prices as they aim to upgrade and ma…

Ryan Bridge: Is the patch ban going to solve the underlaying causes of gang crime?

Everyone hates gangs. Unless you're in them, you hate them because they intimidate, they cause misery, they beat their wives, they do all sorts of awful things.  But I just worry that the gang patch ban in and of itself is not really going to solve the underlying causes, is it?  And what I worry …