Concerns Labour's graduate nurse policy could simply shift staffing pressures from hospitals to aged care.

Labour's promising 525-million-dollars to give every graduate nurse a job offer after they pass their exams.

But the Aged Care Association says while that could ease pressure on hospitals, it could leave aged care struggling to recruit.

Chief Executive Tracey Martin told Ryan Bridge that's what's happened historically. 

She says generally when the hospitals stop hiring, their workforce is stable.

Concerns Labour's graduate nurse policy could simply shift staffing pressures from hospitals to aged care.
Labour's promising 525-million-dollars to give every graduate nurse a job offer after they pass their exams.
But the Aged Care Association says while that could ease pressure on hospitals, it could leave aged care struggling to recruit.
Chief Executive Tracey Martin told Ryan Bridge that's what's happened historically.&nbsp;
She says generally when the hospitals stop hiring, their workforce is stable.

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

Tracey Martin: Aged Care Association Chief Executive on concerns Labour’s nurse policy could shift staff pressures to aged care

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/862b1297-70af-4683-a955-b4b7012e7cc4/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 1st of September 2026, the Government has agreed not to raise the fuel excise tax next year, AA fuel spokesperson Terry Collins shares his thoughts. 

Act says it wants permanent residents to actually reside in New Zealand, Act Party MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar explains.

Labour’s promising every graduate nurse a job in the public health system if re-elected, Aged Care Association Chief Executive explains more of the nurses are needed in aged care to keep up with demand. 

Plus Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on massive fines and new rules for e-scooter riders in Queensland and a baby’s body found in a rubbish bin in Sydney.

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 Tuesday the 1st of September 2026, the Government has agreed not to raise the fuel excise tax next year, AA fuel spokesperson Terry Collins shares his thoughts.&nbsp;
Act says it wants permanent residents to actually reside in New Zealand, Act Party MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar explains.
Labour’s promising every graduate nurse a job in the public health system if re-elected, Aged Care Association Chief Executive explains more of the nurses are needed in aged care to keep up with demand.&nbsp;
Plus Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on massive fines and new rules for e-scooter riders in Queensland and a baby’s body found in a rubbish bin in Sydney.
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: 01 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/6ab50119-74f0-4f5d-b41a-b4b7012c6c4d/transcript

You know how New Zealanders love it when foreign countries, or media or even tourists talk about us? 

There always the most read stories on news sites. It's like a national past time. 

Oh look! Brad Pitt says New Zealand is beautiful! Oh look... Jason Mamoa did a bungy and Queenstown is beautiful!

Well. Have I got news for you, New Zealand. 

S & P, the global ratings agency, has just done a bungee on our out-country's finances. 

It's mostly good news. Low net debt. Growth of 2.5% a year. Good government. Safe. Sound. Stable outlook. 

The equivalent of a 4-star Tripadvisor review. 

BUT... there's one number that should be making headlines. 

It's on page 4. 

10%.

Our country has been borrowing more money to fund stuff, including everyday spending and election promises.

They issue bonds, or debt, to investors and pay them interest for the pleasure. 

Those interest costs are going up because of the bond market sell-off we've been talking about on this show. 

S & P says the amount we're paying interest will reach 9% of government revenue (i.e. tax) in 2029. 

That means for every million bucks the government earns in tax, it pays almost $100k just on interest on its debt. 

Interest is our 4th most expensive item on the government's books. 

More than we spend schooling our kids through primary and secondary. 

S & P says interest costs of more than 10% of revenue could result in 'weaker debt metrics'.

That's not a good thing. It means we're stretching ourselves. We could get a credit downgrade. 

People start looking at us sideways asking.... can those guys pay back what they owe us or they taking the Mickey? 

That's not the sort of reputation this country can afford. 

You know how New Zealanders love it when foreign countries, or media or even tourists talk about us?&nbsp;
There always the most read stories on news sites. It's like a national past time.&nbsp;
Oh look! Brad Pitt says New Zealand is beautiful! Oh look... Jason Mamoa did a bungy and Queenstown is beautiful!
Well. Have I got news for you, New Zealand.&nbsp;
S &amp; P, the global ratings agency, has just done a bungee on our out-country's finances.&nbsp;
It's mostly good news. Low net debt. Growth of 2.5% a year. Good government. Safe. Sound. Stable outlook.&nbsp;
The equivalent of a 4-star Tripadvisor review.&nbsp;
BUT... there's one number that should be making headlines.&nbsp;
It's on page 4.&nbsp;
10%.
Our country has been borrowing more money to fund stuff, including everyday spending and election promises.
They issue bonds, or debt, to investors and pay them interest for the pleasure.&nbsp;
Those interest costs are going up because of the bond market sell-off we've been talking about on this show.&nbsp;
S &amp; P says the amount we're paying interest will reach 9% of government revenue (i.e. tax) in 2029.&nbsp;
That means for every million bucks the government earns in tax, it pays almost $100k just on interest on its debt.&nbsp;
Interest is our 4th most expensive item on the government's books.&nbsp;
More than we spend schooling our kids through primary and secondary.&nbsp;
S &amp; P says interest costs of more than 10% of revenue could result in 'weaker debt metrics'.
That's not a good thing. It means we're stretching ourselves. We could get a credit downgrade.&nbsp;
People start looking at us sideways asking.... can those guys pay back what they owe us or they taking the Mickey?&nbsp;
That's not the sort of reputation this country can afford.&nbsp;

Ryan Bridge: We can't afford a credit downgrade

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7a1d67a0-d7dd-4ba6-af2a-b4b7012aba3d/transcript

Students are underwhelmed by the loan changes National would make, if re-elected. 

Graduates would be able to pay off their debt over a longer period - with compulsory repayments lowered from 12 to 10 percent. 

But those living overseas would be charged an extra one percent in annual interest. 

Victoria University Student Association president Aidan Donoghue told Ryan Bridge students have raised plenty of issues this year - that this policy doesn't touch on. 

He says there's no talk about increasing the income threshold for when you start repayments, or any changes to repayments if you're still studying. 

Students are underwhelmed by the loan changes National would make, if re-elected.&nbsp;
Graduates would be able to pay off their debt over a longer period - with compulsory repayments lowered from 12 to 10 percent.&nbsp;
But those living overseas would be charged an extra one percent in annual interest.&nbsp;
Victoria University Student Association president Aidan Donoghue told Ryan Bridge students have raised plenty of issues this year - that this policy doesn't touch on.&nbsp;
He says there's no talk about increasing the income threshold for when you start repayments, or any changes to repayments if you're still studying.&nbsp;

Aidan Donoghue: Victoria University Student Association on National's student loan changes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/463dd644-c88a-4e31-af33-b4b6012c51c6/transcript

Tracey Martin: Aged Care Association Chief Executive on concerns Labour’s nurse policy could shift staff pressures to aged care

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