Gavin Grey: UK Correspondent gives updates on European wildfires

Two people have died after their helicopters collided in mid-air, while fighting wildfires west of Athens in Greece.  A British pilot and Greek fire service liaison officer survived the crash and have been taken to hospital.  Greece is among many parts of Europe suffering devastating wildfires af…

Full Show Podcast: 03 August 2026

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday the 3rd of August 2026, NZ First's wants to give parents money to have more children, parenting expert Nathan Wallis tells Ryan if it's enough of an incentive.  Paul Henry's unveiled his first Act Party policy, giving teachers the lega…

Steve McCracken: Secondary Principals' Council Chair on teachers given more legal power to remove disruptive students from class

A view ACT's classroom behaviour policy misses the mark. It wants to give teachers more legal power to remove seriously or persistently disruptive students from class and introduce mandatory stand-downs for those who assault teachers or classmates. Parents who repeatedly fail to engage with schoo…

Ryan Bridge: David Brent strikes again

Did you see the news Prime Minister's pep talk to business leaders on Friday?  The business chamber boss said Rotorua's had its sharpest fall in business confidence in a decade, and business are wondering how long they can actually stay in business.  Luxon's reply is what got people talking. A f…

James Smith: National Road Carriers Association General Manager of Policy and Advocacy on the first stage of the Northland Expressway

Freight operators are laying out what they want out of the first stage of the Northland Expressway.  The Government's signed a $3.6 billion deal with the Northway consortium to design, build, and operate the 26-kilometre, four-lane expressway from Warkworth to Te Hana.  Construction's due to star…

Kim Mundy: ASB Acting Chief Economist on the construction and manufacturing sectors showing signs of recovery in latest survey

Manufacturing and construction are showing signs of recovery.  ANZ's latest Business Outlook survey finds confidence rose 19 points over the last month, to 56%.  In terms of past activity, manufacturing was highest, while agriculture saw a marked fall and construction lifted.  ASB acting chief e…

Full Show Podcast: 31 July 2026

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Friday 31st of July 2026, the Government has signed a PPP with the Northland consortium to get the first part of the Northern Expressway built, General Manager of Policy & Advocacy at National Road Carriers James Smith tells Andrew Dickens …

Mike Casey: Rewiring Aotearoa CEO on the Ministry of Regulation wanting to cut red tape for solar

Confidence that cutting regulations to make solar power more accessible - won't jeopardise people's safety. A new Regulation Ministry reports laid out a potential blueprint to legalise plug-in solar and reduce the time and cost of panel installation. Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey shares his th…

Andrew Dickens: Winston should know better

Winston Peters escaped censure yesterday from the Speaker after his little outburst against a Green MP. But Mr Peters is still being judged in the court of public opinion.   Carmel Sepuloni was jumping up and down demanding he resign, or be sacked, or just go away, which is not going to happen. …

Alison Vaughan: SPCA Senior Scientific Officer on the Government's decision not to ban the public sale of fireworks

The SPCA says it's devastated by the Government's decision to override official recommendations to ban the public sale of fireworks.   A cross-party Parliamentary select committee unanimously recommended the full ban in May – also supported by Fire and Emergency.  The Government's opted not to ch…