The form of democracy used in the country's biggest city is about to change.  

Auckland Council members have voted to shift from postal voting to in-person booth voting, making them the first to do it since 1992. 

The current proposal has been costed at between $31 and $40 million, but the council's asked staff to drive that down to $20 million. 

Councillor Richard Hills told Ryan Bridge they're not saying this would completely change the turnout rate for the election, but it would help with integrity and trust. 

He says nobody uses the post for anything besides local elections nowadays, so it's time to move away from it. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The form of democracy used in the country's biggest city is about to change. &nbsp;
Auckland Council members have voted to shift from postal voting to in-person booth voting, making them the first to do it since 1992.&nbsp;
The current proposal has been costed at between $31 and $40 million, but the council's asked staff to drive that down to $20 million.&nbsp;
Councillor Richard Hills told Ryan Bridge they're not saying this would completely change the turnout rate for the election, but it would help with integrity and trust.&nbsp;
He says nobody uses the post for anything besides local elections nowadays, so it's time to move away from it.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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

Richard Hills: Auckland Councillor on Auckland Council ditching postal voting

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/390b1972-9f78-4127-b0bb-b4d4011b3341/transcript

The owner of ChatGPT has scrapped its latest AI model after safety concerns.  

OpenAI says its GPT-6.1 Astra model missed the bar, as it would've performed tasks, like browsing the web, by itself.

Debate's intensifying about risks posed by the tech, with Reuters reporting rival AI company Anthropic plans to warn investors of potential existential threats. 

Tech commentator Oskar Howell told Ryan Bridge you can't have rogue AIs off doing what they want.  

He says a recent OpenAI system gained access to a number of Australian government systems, which may've prompted this roll back. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The owner of ChatGPT has scrapped its latest AI model after safety concerns. &nbsp;
OpenAI says its GPT-6.1 Astra model missed the bar, as it would've performed tasks, like browsing the web, by itself.
Debate's intensifying about risks posed by the tech, with Reuters reporting rival AI company Anthropic plans to warn investors of potential existential threats.&nbsp;
Tech commentator Oskar Howell told Ryan Bridge you can't have rogue AIs off doing what they want. &nbsp;
He says a recent OpenAI system gained access to a number of Australian government systems, which may've prompted this roll back.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Oskar Howell: Technology Commentator on OpenAI scrapping its GPT-6.1 Astra model

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/322ad5e1-7246-4c3a-9021-b4d40166a631/transcript

ACT Party leader David Seymour says while the PREFU numbers are “hopeful”, they rely on there being further significant reduction in Government spending by the end of the decade. 

Asked how reliable the forecast was, Seymour told Ryan Bridge the 2023 PREFU had promised a $2 billion surplus by the current financial year, with debt at $193 billion, and in reality it was now at $209 billion. 

“So what this document has told us is that the surplus will be two years later than we were promised last election, and debt will be $16 billion higher than we were promised last election,” he said. 

Government spending was currently 32.5% and needed to be below 30% by 2030 for the PREFU figures to be accurate. 

“As the person in the Government who's been saying, 'Guys, we've got to save more money, we've got to save money faster', all of this slippage is in some ways a vindication, but also very bad news,” Seymour said. 

“We’re going to have to work a lot harder if we're going to make the numbers real this time, as they did not become real over the last three years.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

ACT Party leader David Seymour says while the PREFU numbers are “hopeful”, they rely on there being further significant reduction in Government spending by the end of the decade.&nbsp;
Asked how reliable the forecast was, Seymour told Ryan Bridge the 2023 PREFU had promised a $2 billion surplus by the current financial year, with debt at $193 billion, and in reality it was now at $209 billion.&nbsp;
“So what this document has told us is that the surplus will be two years later than we were promised last election, and debt will be $16 billion higher than we were promised last election,” he said.&nbsp;
Government spending was currently 32.5% and needed to be below 30% by 2030 for the PREFU figures to be accurate.&nbsp;
“As the person in the Government who's been saying, 'Guys, we've got to save more money, we've got to save money faster', all of this slippage is in some ways a vindication, but also very bad news,” Seymour said.&nbsp;
“We’re going to have to work a lot harder if we're going to make the numbers real this time, as they did not become real over the last three years.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

David Seymour: ACT Leader on the state of the Government's books revealed in Treasury's Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fb53b8e6-f686-451f-ab65-b4d401627b14/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 30th of September 2026, Treasury’s now forecasting a $4 billion surplus in 2028/29, up from $2.6 billion, Act Leader David Seymour shares his thoughts. 

Auckland Council is ditching postal voting, Auckland Councillor Richard Hills explains why he voted to ditch it. 

Open-AI is scrapping the rollout of its new model, tech commentator Oskar Howell tells Ryan if this is a concerning move. 

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says it is clear a "foreign actor" had been involved in the arrests of five young men near an RAF base in the west of England used by the US Air Force and the UK PM announcing a cut in pensions to pay for social care and a new government body to invest in Britain's electricity grid. 

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 Wednesday the 30th of September 2026, Treasury’s now forecasting a $4 billion surplus in 2028/29, up from $2.6 billion, Act Leader David Seymour shares his thoughts.&nbsp;
Auckland Council is ditching postal voting, Auckland Councillor Richard Hills explains why he voted to ditch it.&nbsp;
Open-AI is scrapping the rollout of its new model, tech commentator Oskar Howell tells Ryan if this is a concerning move.&nbsp;
Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says it is clear a "foreign actor" had been involved in the arrests of five young men near an RAF base in the west of England used by the US Air Force and the UK PM announcing a cut in pensions to pay for social care and a new government body to invest in Britain's electricity grid.&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: 30 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d51650c3-1295-4d98-9877-b4d4011a485c/transcript

Richard Hills: Auckland Councillor on Auckland Council ditching postal voting

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