Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

More turmoil could be waiting in the wings for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.   He won't be standing down in the wake of his press secretary and chief of staff resigning.   Starmer's former deputy leader, Angela Rayner, has set up a website as part of a potential leadership challenge.   UK correspondent Mike Pearse told Ryan Bridge an upcoming byelection could be another blow for Starmer.   He says the polls have Labour coming last which would be a massive challenge for Starmer.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters' politicking around the India free trade agreement is nothing new.   There's been weeks of back and forth within the coalition about the contents of the deal, which still hasn't been publicly released.   Peters has spoken out about the deal prohibiting a specific cap on Indian student visas.  Queen City Law managing director Marcus Beveridge told Ryan Bridge Peters made similar criticisms about 20 years ago, but was shut down by Helen Clark.  He says Todd McClay and Christopher Luxon have been a bit more feeble and weak on this one, so Peters has more mileage.   Beveridge says we don't cap any foreign students, so the whole thing is a bit of a red herring.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Critical minerals are starting to be wielded as a geopolitical weapon.   The Trump administration's ramping up pressure on allies to strike a deal in order to shore up US supply.   Talks with New Zealand officials are said to have been picking up steam.   US Critical Materials Executive Director Harvey Kaye told Ryan Bridge the US is aware of China's dominance in this space, and won't accept it.  He says innovation in every area of human development from medicine to defence to AI, is dependent on having a ready supply of rare earth.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s no evidence retail crime has fallen, despite claims the Government’s Retail Crime Advisory Group delivered more change than ever before.   The Justice Minister has confirmed the group will be disbanded early, months ahead of schedule, after several members resigned.  Chair Sunny Kaushal says he doesn't think there is any other Ministerial advisory group that's delivered eight key reforms in two years.   But Retail NZ CEO and former group member Carolyn Young told Ryan Bridge it's an election year, he's a politician and he wants votes.    She says people must focus on what's headline news and what's actual news, to see what's been put in place and has actually made a difference.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's getting flak, especially in Auckland, for their capital gains tax.  Rightly so.  But National's approach, as is usually the case with centre-right parties, is user-pays.  It's a way to get revenue without appearing to tax-grab your starving constituents.  Yesterday it was whacking a new tax on our power bills in order to make them cheaper - we hope.  Last week they scrapped the full driver licence test but then NZTA came out and said they may need increase fees for the first test and other bits to make up costs.  We'll pay tolls to get the roads we want. We're about to get hit with congestions charging. International tourists pay the tourists' tax. Domestic tourists pay to use DOC huts and, more recently, carparks at peak places. Wellington will probably soon get a targeted special rate for pumping their number twos into the Cook Strait.  Now, so long as this stuff is ring-fenced, I prefer things are charged this way because if you don't want to use a toll road, use

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 11th of Feburary 2025, Todd McClay's confirmed the FTA with india will not allow the Government to cap the number of students coming in from India, Managing Director & Immigration Lawyer at Queen City Law, Marcus Beveridge shares his thoughts.  The Retail Crime advisory group is being disbanded in early May, Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young tells Ryan where it all went wrong.  US Critical Materials Executive Chairman Harvey Kaye tells Ryan what a Critical Minerals deal could look like between the US and New Zealand.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Mike Pearse has the latest on Keir Starmer refusing to resign and organisers at the Winter Olympics have been forced to apologise to some athletes after their medals broke. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A promise of certainty and hopes of cheaper power prices with a facility to import liquefied natural gas.  The Government’s confirmed it will build a liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki, with a contract expected by mid-year.  It says the project will save the country about $265 million annually – roughly $50 per household.  Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie told Ryan Bridge it’s a necessary dry year insurance policy, as the country faces a massive fuel shortage.  He says there will be a large upfront cost, but officials say the investment will effectively take the heat out of the electricity market and lower peak prices.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More consistency across the Tasman in the standards for goods and services could reduce administrative burdens and free up business capacity.  A new agreement aims to streamline operations, reduce costs, improve quality, and meet regulatory requirements in New Zealand and Australia. Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge we were out of kilter with the Aussies on about 24 standards, so businesses effectively had to hire someone just to handle the paperwork.  He says it's a main below-the-surface issue and barrier for businesses that can put them off doing the work.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Government's running into similar problems Jacinda's one did on energy - they're getting too much 'official' advice and reports.  The problem when you ask 'the experts' for advice on every thought that pops into your head, is that they tend to agree with it. And if they don't, you tend to ignore them. And what does that tell you about the need for the advice in the first place?  Latest case in point is the LNG terminal in Taranaki. A billion bucks. We'll be paying a levy on our power bills to fund it.  Big announcement at the Beehive theatrette yesterday.  The 'official advice' from MBIE and the rest was that this is the way to go. This will save us all, on average, apparently, $1 a week on electricity.  If we're lucky. Because remember, as with all advice, there are caveats. The caveats are "depends on this" and "depends on that". So, we've got an announcement and we hope for the best and this thing will be built, come hell or high water, bar a change of government, by 2027.&nbs

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 10th of Feburary 2025, The Government's given the all clear to build an LNG import facility to help with energy security, Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie shares his thoughts.  The Government's signed a new standards agreement with Australia, Infometrics CEO and Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains.  Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on a multi million dollar boost to help veterans transition to civilian life and an investigation into work conditions on a luxury cruise liner docked in Darwin. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 9 February. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff has quit - claiming he's responsible for advising Starmer to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.  Morgan McSweeney's position had been in doubt - after emails revealed Mandelson’s relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson's facing a criminal investigation - into claims he'd passed sensitive information to Epstein.  UK correspondent Mike Pearse told Ryan Bridge the scandal has Starmer's popularity waning.  He says a new poll reveals Starmer has the support of fewer than one in five people in the UK - with some of his own MPs saying it's a matter of time before he pays the price. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I was having a good old debate with a mate at the weekend about interest rates.  We're of the age where, mortgages are a thing.  In Auckland, quote a bog and annoying thing.  Paying them down is the aim of the game.  Now this mate of mine knows a bit more about this stuff than I do and watches the markets closely. He's worried about the middle of the year - potentially this recovery if that's what we can official call it yet - coming to a bit a standstill/abrupt halt.  We've spoken before about elections putting the kaibosh on growth. We've spoken about Bill English's comments about our recovery, unlike across the ditch, coming isn't spite of a rebound in house prices.  In Australia, everything's how. The weather. House prices. Inflation. Growth. Employment.  It's like they're on a different hemisphere to us.  There was a good podcast talking about some of this, Of Interest, with a Westpac economist.  The RBA'S rate is now 3.85%. Ours is 2.25%. It's been about 15 y

Westport’s only air link could be cut within months.  Originair won’t guarantee its Westport-Wellington service beyond May after failing to secure Government and local funding.  NZ Airports Association CEO Billie Moore says Westport is one of the last remaining airports still co-owned by the taxpayer.  She told Ryan Bridge taxpayers already cover half the airport’s annual shortfall, just to keep essential services running.  Moore says the public contribution needs to be beneficial.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington City Councillor says he's frustrated to see yet another example of the capital's water infrastructure failing.  Heavy rain flooded the city's wastewater treatment plant's lower floors, causing sewage to leak into Tarakena Bay, writing off equipment and forcing the plant to shut down.  Untreated wastewater is currently flowing into the southern coast, with Wellington Water saying it could take days to fix.  Wellington Eastern Ward Councillor Sam O'Brien told Ryan Bridge it's an ongoing issue, and this isn't an isolated thing.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 5th of Feburary 2025, unemployment’s jumped to a 10-year high of 5.4%, EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald tells Ryan what the outlook is for the rest of the year.  Wellington's water is contaminated after an equipment failure flooded multiple floors of the moa point wastewater treatment plant, Eastern Ward Councillor Sam O'Brien tells Ryan what's being down to stop the contamination.  In less than 18 months in, Originair could be axing its Westport to Wellington route, NZ Airports CEO tells Ryan why the airline can't stay afloat.  Plus US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on Trump's "border tsar" saying he will reduce the number federal immigration and border patrol agents in Minneapolis and Bill Gates interview on Epstein allegations.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener

New Zealand's economic recovery could be more of a crawl, or a climb, than a bounce.  The job market remains tough, with unemployment now at a ten-year high.  EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Ryan Bridge it's going to take a while for improved conditions and Government policy changes to flow through to the job market.  ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith says while jobs are being created, we're still about 30-thousand jobs shy of where we were three years ago.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ll probably see and hear a bit of argy-bargy up North today as the politicians get welcomed onto the Treaty Grounds. If you’ve never been up there, it’s easily one of the best ‘Kiwi’ weekends you’ll experience. The sunshine’s guaranteed. People are friendly. The grub’s good and there’s plenty of watering holes filled with political chats flowing long into the night. Protest is an important part of democracy, it lances society’s boils and keeps powerful people in check. But it must be peaceful. The minute you start throwing fists, pushing cops, and shoving people round, you lose the room. I’ve seen that happen at Waitangi several times. I’ve seen that happen at many protests about a whole bunch of different issues. I hope it doesn’t happen this year. There’s a group of twenty online who apparently say they’re ready to be arrested in the name of protest. What a shame that would be. If there’s one thing we’ve shown each other as a country over the last fortnight, with the storms, flooding, landslides, and th

A view more practical training for drivers will be essential, with the full licence test in the rear-view mirror.  After passing the restricted licence test, drivers under the age of 25 will have to wait out a mandatory 12-month period before they can apply for a full licence.   Those aged over 25 will have to wait six months.   Institute of Driver Educators President Mark Revill-Johnson told Ryan Bridge it's important to get training all the way to a full licence.  He says lots of people fail that test for things like speeding and failing to follow stop and give way signs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growers are counting the cost as drinking habits change.  Around 100 thousand tonnes of grapes —a fifth of the crop— were left on the vine last year after exports couldn’t keep up.   Soljans Estate vineyard manager Tai Nelson told Ryan Bridge they just haven't been able to sell their product.  He says demand generally has dropped.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.