A criminal lawyer is casting doubt on the benefits of throwing the book at troubled youth.

The Act Party wants 17-year-olds to be charged as adults, and for youth justice facilities to be run by Corrections, not Oranga Tamariki.

Steve Cullen told Kate Hawkesby that the policy would make problems worse.

He says putting 17-year-olds in prison would create a fertile source for gang recruitment.

LISTEN ABOVE

A criminal lawyer is casting doubt on the benefits of throwing the book at troubled youth.
The Act Party wants 17-year-olds to be charged as adults, and for youth justice facilities to be run by Corrections, not Oranga Tamariki.
Steve Cullen told Kate Hawkesby that the policy would make problems worse.
He says putting 17-year-olds in prison would create a fertile source for gang recruitment.
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

Steve Cullen: Criminal Lawyer on ACT's youth crime policy

President Donald Trump has said over the weekend that the United States is in the final stages of negotiations to extend a ceasefire in the US war against Iran and open the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump appears willing to let negotiations proceed while still threatening to hit Iran’s civilian infrastructure and energy plants if talks fail.

Washington bureau chief for The Guardian David Smith told Ryan Bridge the plan would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and require Iran to get rid of it's enriched uranium. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

President Donald Trump has said over the weekend that the United States is in the final stages of negotiations to extend a ceasefire in the US war against Iran and open the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump appears willing to let negotiations proceed while still threatening to hit Iran’s civilian infrastructure and energy plants if talks fail.
Washington bureau chief for The Guardian David Smith told Ryan Bridge the plan would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and require Iran to get rid of it's enriched uranium.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

David Smith: Iran-US ceasefire talks seem to be 'more optimistic than normal'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/50d653b5-bcef-45fc-8066-b45401436aac/transcript

Even if you're not into football, it's hard not to be excited about a local franchise winning the A-League final. You have to be a real Grinch not to get a smile on your face. Congratulations to all the players, Steve Corica, Nick Becker and the well-heeled who backed them. These guys have momentum. They've created a winning buzz.

There are two things that leapt to mind as the AFC party bus snaked its way through Queen Street yesterday:

1. This is part of a wider story about the rise of football, which now boasts more kiwi players than rugby union. A big part of that is to do with Auckland. Rugby has an Auckland problem which football and league are exploiting. Unlike the Blues, the Warriors and Auckland FC regularly fill stadiums. It's not come out of nowhere. In 2014, a council survey found rugby was 20th on the list of sports played by Aucklanders. In 2016, of the 150,000 registered union players in NZ, just 40,000 came from this region. That was less than 3% of Aucklanders. Rugby is stronger in the provinces. But if getting young players on the field is the aim of the game, then Auckland is king. Same story in politics. You can't win the election if you lose Auckland, as the last lot found out back in 2023.

2. Fans don't really care if the players, coaches, and even owners (in Bill Foley), are Aucklanders, let alone Kiwis. They just care that it's A) football, and B) they're winning. In that order. Another lesson, perhaps, for other codes with sticky rules and criteria?

In the end, it doesn't really matter which sport kids are playing, so long as they're playing something. A kid in sport is kid out of court.

LISTEN ABOVE

Even if you're not into football, it's hard not to be excited about a local franchise winning the A-League final. You have to be a real Grinch not to get a smile on your face. Congratulations to all the players, Steve Corica, Nick Becker and the well-heeled who backed them. These guys have momentum. They've created a winning buzz.
There are two things that leapt to mind as the AFC party bus snaked its way through Queen Street yesterday:
1. This is part of a wider story about the rise of football, which now boasts more kiwi players than rugby union. A big part of that is to do with Auckland.&nbsp;Rugby has an Auckland problem which football and league are exploiting. Unlike the Blues, the Warriors and Auckland FC regularly fill stadiums. It's not come out of nowhere. In 2014, a council survey found rugby was 20th on the list of sports played by Aucklanders. In 2016, of the 150,000 registered union players in NZ, just 40,000 came from this region. That was less than 3% of Aucklanders. Rugby is stronger in the provinces. But if getting young players on the field is the aim of the game, then Auckland is king. Same story in politics. You can't win the election if you lose Auckland, as the last lot found out back in 2023.
2. Fans don't really care if the players, coaches, and even owners (in Bill Foley), are Aucklanders, let alone Kiwis. They just care that it's A) football, and B) they're winning. In that order. Another lesson, perhaps, for other codes with sticky rules and criteria?
In the end, it doesn't really matter which sport kids are playing, so long as they're playing something. A kid in sport is kid out of court.
LISTEN ABOVE

Ryan Bridge: 'A kid in sport is kid out of court'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/16f9af0d-ae00-4a66-bc20-b454013cc684/transcript

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 25 May.

Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 25 May. 
Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 25 May 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4520b1ca-4013-4b2e-82a7-b454012ac645/transcript

Steve Cullen: Criminal Lawyer on ACT's youth crime policy

In 1 playlist(s)

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips