Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast for Friday 28th of February 2025, The energy competition task force is making moves to bring down power bills.   The Government is committing to speeding up approvals for animal and plant health products, Liz Shackleton Chief Executive of Plant and Animal Health NZ tells Andrew Dickens what she'd like to see come out of it.   Warriors CEO Cameron George joins Andrew from Las Vegas where the Warriors will take on the Raiders in the season opener this Sunday.   Sir Keir Starmer makes his first trip to visit President Trump in the White House in the hope of convincing him to support Ukraine ahead of President Zelensky's visit tomorrow, UK Correspondent Vicent McAviney shares the latest.   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.

Now I'm a bit of a policy wonk. I don't care which party it is. If they come up with a policy, I like to break it down and see if it makes sense. Now I know politicians are addicted to announcements, attention and media coverage. Which means they sometimes say the first thing in their heads that sound like they’ll get votes. No matter if it’s deliverable or not. Labour had a bad case of it. Phil Twyford and his 100 thousand Kiwibuild fantasy.  Michael Wood was the champion. Based on five minutes on the back of an envelope he announced a nearly $900 million bike bridge. Faced with backlash from Dominion Road businesses he stuck the light rail project underground. Tripling the price to an unaffordable $18 billion dollars. Now it seems like the National led coalition has a case of the same disease.  Paul Goldsmith has it bad. This week he announced a change to citizen's arrest rules but had no idea of what the changes are going to be. Classic announcement of an announcement. But the king of wishful thi

A return to form for international tourist spending.  Data shows it was up 60% to nearly $17 billion in the year to March 2024, just under pre-pandemic levels.  Total industry expenditure crossed $44 billion – a near 15% rise on the year prior.  Tourism Holdings Chief Executive Grant Webster told Andrew Dickens it was bound to happen.  He says it's in people's DNA globally to want to explore, and New Zealand's an attractive destination, so they're coming.  However, there are questions over whether our infrastructure is up to a tourism boom.  Queenstown officials believe New Zealand's shift from seeking high-wealth visitors to mass tourism is unsustainable.  But Webster told Dickens he’s pushing back.  He says it's a very small point relative to a few locations, at a short time of the year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Government has raised concerns about China's warships in the Tasman Sea at the highest level, as our Defence Force continues to monitor the ships' movements.  Foreign Minister Winston Peters has discussed the issue with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during a meeting in Beijing.  Former Defence Minister Andrew Little says it will have been a frank conversation.  The Chinese Naval vessels are now moving west in Australia's exclusive economic zone, but Little told Andrew Dickens they still aren't in Australia's territorial waters.  Little says China is following the law of the sea and will presumably seek permission before entering the 12-mile zone.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Safety concerns are top of a mind for one retail representative, at news the Government is proposing to loosen citizen arrest laws.   The measure is being pitched as a remedy for retail crime, by allowing workers and the public to detain suspected thieves with "reasonable force".  But Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young told Andrew Dickens it's dangerous, especially when many retailers are so young.   Young says they fear it will create situations where offenders will arm themselves more out of fear of being restrained.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The power of citizen’s arrest was all the talk yesterday.   And I think we all agree that poor old dairy owners and small retailers who watch ratbags nicking their stuff need the ability to be able to detain the thieves.   But the announcement comes without many details.   Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the changes will expand a person’s ability to detain someone committing a crime to any time of the day and over any stolen goods.   Under current legislation, a citizen’s arrest couldn’t be made outside the hours of 9pm-6am unless the goods being stolen were worth at least $1000. You can make a citizen’s arrest, but you need to know your law.   You need to know whether the crime committed is going to attract a custodial sentence of more than three years and you need to know the legal definition of reasonable.   When appearing on Ryan Bridge's show last night the Minister stammered and stressed that it’s only a proposal and he seemed vague on the rules of engagement. Which is

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast for Thursday 27th of February 2025, Retailers don't seem to be onboard with the Government's proposed changes to citizens arrests, Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young tells Andrew Dickens why.   International tourism expenditure has returned to pre-Covid levels.   Former Defence Minister Andrew Little analyses Foreign Minister Winston Peter's visit to China to meet their Foreign Minister Wang Yi.   Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK's confirmed the biggest boost in defence spending since the Cold War.  It comes as our Government is committing to a "very significant" increase in defence spending.  British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says the world has entered a "dangerous new era", where defence and national security must come first.  UK Correspondent Wesley Smith told Andrew Dickens the funding is coming at the cost of cuts to international aid, much to the disquiet of those fearing the impact this will have on the UK’s international reputation.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A growing infrastructure pipeline is being welcomed, but more work is needed.   The latest update from the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission shows the value of projects in the pipeline increased $60.4 billion in the last quarter.   The pipeline is now made up of 7,600 projects, worth $204 billion.   Infrastructure New Zealand Policy Director Michelle McCormick told Andrew Dickens it's good to see growth, but only half those projects have funding committed.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Praise from a vocal retail crime critic and ministerial advisor over the Government's strategies to curb crime rates.  New data shows ram raids halved last year while violent crime dropped 2%.   However, overall retail crime increased 12%.  Dairy and Business Owners Group Chair Sunny Kaushal told Andrew Dickens it will take time, but the tougher approach is working.  He says retailers and dairy owners have lived in fear every day for years, and people are feeling the difference between the two governments.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concern about the uptick of opioid use in the workplace.  The Drug Detection Agency released its drug testing findings in the three months to December.  Cannabis continues to be the most prevalent substance detected in workplace drug tests, accounting for 59 per cent of cases.  But CEO Glen Dobson told Andrew Dickens 12 percent involved opioids, which is the most high-risk drug in the workplace.  He says we're starting to see the trends we see internationally, like the widespread Fentanyl issue in the US. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 26th of February 2025, Violent crime has increased by 2% for the first time since 2018, Dairy Business Owners Group Chairperson Sunny Kahsual shares the experience of business owners.  The Drug Detection Agency has found use of the drugs amphetamines and opioids is on the rise.   Infrastructure NZ Michelle Mccormick shares how the Government can speed up our infrastructure pipeline.   UK Prime Minister announces biggest rise in defence spending since the Cold War, UK/ Europe Correspondent Wesley Smith tells Andrew Dickens the latest.   Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Say what you like about Cam Slater, but the boy can write. He's had his ups and downs and paid for some bad behaviour on his website, but he has a good flow in his writing. He’s also had a good contact book but whether those contacts are still talking to him is anybody’s guess. On his website, now called good oil, he’s written a think piece called the coming National coup. He reckons Christopher Luxon’s continued bad numbers mean the National Party is now seriously talking about replacing him as leader.  He claims sources inside caucus say that Luxon has three months to turn around his numbers. He claims Women don’t like him. People who believe in anything don’t like him because nobody knows what he believes. His Coalition partners know what they believe. Free marketers can go with Act. Nationalists can go with New Zealand First. He says the opposition can smell blood and then lumps the media into the opposition camp. Even though ironically, he is the media as well and getting stuck into Christopher Luxo

More than 3,000 charges have been filed against gang members in the three months from the launch of new laws.  Police have seized 76 gang patches and 67 guns under the Government's patch ban.  The Police Commissioner says gang members have been mostly compliant since the laws banning insignia began.  Police Association President Chris Cahill told Andrew Dickens the gangs seem to have realised very quickly that if they wear their patches, they’ll lose them permanently.  And if they don’t act immediately, police will turn up with a search warrant the next morning, he says.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germany's conservatives are celebrating after the country's snap election.  Friedrich Merz is most likely to become the country's next chancellor.  His centre-right Christian Democratic Union has topped votes at just under 29%, with far-right Alternative for Germany, AFD, inching more than 20%.  Merz must now form a coalition, but has ruled out working with AFD.  Director of Berlin's Global Public Policy Institute, Thorsten Benner told Andrew Dickens the only option is for the CDU to govern with the outgoing Social Democrats.  He says it's one of the better outcomes, as only a two-party coalition is necessary.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A defence of the gap between Andrew Bayly's resignation and it being revealed to the public.   The Port Waikato MP resigned from his ministerial portfolios after a staffer complained about him laying a hand on them last week.   Bayly resigned on Friday, and it was then made public yesterday.   Political commentator Brigitte Morton says giving him time to tell his family was a good move and reminds us that politicians are human too.   She told Andrew Dickens the delay is no big deal.   Morton says his portfolios weren't important ones like health or civil defence where an emergency is likely to arise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How many times in the middle of an intense argument with a stupid work mate have you been tempted just to smack their stupid little face. But you don’t.   In fact, you know that you can’t even touch them. You can glower and scowl and talk with a low harsh intensity.   But no touchy touchy and no raised voices.   It’s hard but being civilised and rational and being grown up demands you keep control.   Andrew Bayly didn’t. But what is good is that he knew it.   Sometimes you have to hold yourself to account is what he said when he resigned. That was a great line. Wouldn’t you love more people to hold themselves account.    Some might say that he was just trying to get urgency in getting things done. But that’s not so.   In these uncivil times we need to remember that basic courtesy and respect for others must exist.   If the strength of your argument is so strong you will not need to shake some sense into anyone.   And I think the world would be better if we had

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 25th of February 2025, Andrew Bayly is giving up his Ministerial portfolios after an incident with a staffer Political Commentator Brigitte Morton shares her take.   It has been a momentous 24 hours in German politics, Co-founder and Director of the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin tells Andrew Dickens about the reaction following the snap election.   The gang patch ban appears to be going well according to Police figures Police Association President Chris Cahill shares his thoughts on whether the ban will be sustainable or not.   A Queensland company is planning to launch Australia's first orbital rocket, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio tells Andrew they plan to take a jar of Vegemite to space.  Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour has announced the Government will make it easier for Kiwi businesses to receive international investment.  The Associate Finance Minister said a reform will be made to the Overseas Investment Act.  How is the business world reacting?  Business New Zealand Director of Agency talks to Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB's Andrew Alderson join the show to update the biggest sporting moments of the weekend.  Auckland FC beat Wellington in an enormous 6-1 win, electrifying their home stadium.  After Daniel Dubois pulled out of his fight against Joseph Parker, the Kiwi instead took on Martin Bakole, and the India v Pakistan ODI is live.   LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.