Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

There’s a concern the Government’s school shakeup could drive more students to drop out early.   New data shows that over 1,300 students were granted an early leaving exemption last year – the highest since 2007.  The Government is proposing to remove subjects from senior school general subject list, reclassifying them as a limited vocational option – one being Outdoor Education.  Whenua Iti Outdoors CEO Mark Bruce-Miller told Ryan Bridge that outdoor education allows all students flourish in areas that are difficult to work on within a classroom environment, such as teamwork, leadership, communication, resilience, and initiative.   He says students need to be as well-rounded as possible when leaving school, and removing outdoor education from the list means some students won’t get those benefits.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A children's advocate says Tom Phillips' children are not "public property" and the public don't have a right to know and debate their lives.  Authorities say the children are safe and healthy and continuing to receive support.  Their father died on Monday morning after being shot by police near Marokopa in western Waikato.  Child Matters Chief Executive Jane Searle told Ryan Bridge we don't need to know everything we want to know about the children.  She says they have a lengthy process of reintegrating into society and rebuilding their lives, and for that to be a public story wouldn't be healthy for those children.  The Police officer injured in Monday's altercation is still in hospital.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 10th of September 2025, the missing Marokopa kids have been found, but how can we make sure we don't traumatise them further? Child Matters CEO Jane Searle shares her thoughts.  There's concern the Government's change up of the school curriculum could drive more students to drop out early, Mark Bruce-Miller CEO of Whenua Iti Outdoors explains why it's important to focus on more than just the core subjects.  A report on organised crime says we need a dedicated minister to be responsible for transnational crime and bring agencies together, Customs Minister Casey Costello shares her thoughts. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on French President Emmanuel Macron urgently seeking a new Prime Minister after his government collapses.  Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.           LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/l

Organised crime is being described as the number one threat to New Zealand's national security. The Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime see it as such a significant issue, it's recommending the government should give one minister the responsibility of tackling the problem. A new report says police and customs regularly encounter drug shipments which were once thought unthinkable.  Customs Minister Casey Costello told Ryan Bridge she sees merit in the recommendation. She says it's been done before, in the 80s when the Serious Fraud Office was set up to respond to a specific type of criminal offending. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I watched a movie Sunday with a group of friends. Here are 12 things I learnt: 1. You probably aren’t hungover on the couch at home uber-eatsing Maccas from the sofa. 2. You have taken the extraordinary measure of walking, using your perfectly capable legs even though you're still a bit stiff and sore from the gym. 3. This means you have visited the gym four times this week to ensure your ass will squeeze into the ever-shrinking vice of a seat provided these days. 4. You chat amongst yourselves loudly while the shorts are playing because you just do not give a flying shite about that level of decorum any longer. Nobody paid for the shorts, they paid for the film - the rest is marketing. 5. The short you do watch has Leonardo DiCaprio (heartthrob of youth) playing the cantankerous father figure to group of young actors you wouldn’t know from a bar of soap. 6. You feel nostalgia that the movie is set in the early 2000s. 7. You find the young actors replicating that style —the clothes, the hair, the style— immed

New data shows rents are down to the lowest point since 2023.  They’ve dropped 3% in the last year to $628 per week according to realestate.co.nz.  Urban centres had the biggest decline, with Wellington leading with 11.8% drops and Auckland following with 2.3%.  ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge its very much an economics lesson in basic supply and demand.  He says that we not only have more listings coming onto the market, but also net immigration has fallen over the past few years, so there’s less demand for rentals.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A private investigator who previously tried tracking down Tom Phillips says the area where the fugitive’s campsite was found was where people expected.  Phillips was killed in a shootout with police after a quad bike he was riding with one of his children was spiked by police on a rural Waitomo road yesterday morning.  Following a large manhunt, the remaining two children were found at a campsite two kilometres away.  Chris Budge told Ryan Bridge the area is rugged in parts, back country gravel roads, with little isolated farming communities.  He says the area is quite hard to look through, which is why police weren’t able to locate them over the last few years.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 9th of September 2025 Tom Phillips has been shot dead and his three children have been found safe, Private investigator Chris Budge tells Ryan what happens from here.  New data shows rents are down 3% nationwide to the lowest point since 2023. The PPTA is telling members to vote down the government's new pay offer, Leighton Watson Senior Lecturer of maths and statistics at Canterbury University, shares his thoughts.  Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the details of Mushroom Cook Erin Patterson's sentencing.  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.

New comparisons show teacher salaries have plummeted relative to the minimum wage. PPTA members are voting on a new Government pay offer, while primary teachers have decided to reject their latest offer. Canterbury University maths lecturer Leighton Watson's done a comparison of teachers' pay with the minimum wage. He told Ryan Bridge a beginning teacher was paid $33 thousand in 1999, and now they get $64 thousand. Watson says it seems like a great increase, but if they got paid the same now, relative to the minimum wage, it would be $100 thousand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s brutal, but Tom Phillips brought this whole thing on himself. Yes, he was killed and that is a very hard and sad fact his kids are going to have to live with for their rest of their lives.   Their father is dead. But, he shot a cop - an innocent local Constable who was trying to do his job. Tom Phillips also deprived his children of their mum, of any professional medical attention, of any formal education, for four years. Ember was five when they were taken to the bush and hasn’t been to school since - she is now 9. The kids were essentially used as helpers as their dad carried out bank robberies, burglaries, and break-ins.  These are not the actions of a father who wants the best for his kids. Any parent who loves their children knows you don’t put them in harm's way. Much will be made of the custody situation in the coming days, but the fact is we don’t know much detail about this. and likely never will. The full story won’t come out. When he went bush the second time, Tom was in breach of a

Unfinished business for a former Labour minister, who may jump ship and campaign for New Zealand First.  Stuart Nash, who was Police Minister during the last Government, made a surprise appearance at New Zealand First's annual convention in Palmerston North over the weekend.  He was sacked from the last Government's Cabinet after a string of scandals including revealing confidential information to former donors.   Nash told Ryan Bridge he's been enjoying running a business, but believes there are things that need to be done in Parliament.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 8th of September 2025, The Government's patting itself of it's back for new data showing it’s smashed elective surgery targets, Health Minister Simeon Brown gives an update on surgery wait times.  Former Labour leader Stuart Nash makes his pitch for becoming a NZ first MP.  Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.  Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on UK police arresting thousands at an ongoing demonstration against the government's ban of the campaign group Palestine Action. 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.

As you know I’ve been saying for some time this election is National’s to lose.  The economy will pick up, this government’s only two years in and kiwis like to give incumbents the benefit of the doubt. I still think this holds true. But, as we’ve been reporting since April, Trump’s tariffs - which took everybody (including the markets) by surprise, making a bear of a bull - hammered business and consumer confidence just as we were showing signs of those green shoots the pundits love talking about. This has shortened Luxon’s window for a real economic recovery, which is the platform he’s relying on for re-election. Talk of a leadership coup by Christmas is in my view daft.  Any National MP who thinks they can outpoll Luxon in the current climate’s got to be dreaming. A short-term bump, maybe. But there are political costs - namely - instability. Remember Muller? Then this newly elected Leader must go to Winston and David and no doubt relitigate all and sundry just as the later begin firing up for a

Belief progress is being made, when it comes to cutting wait times for elective surgeries. The Government's exceeded its half-year target, by delivering more than 16-thousand extra operations before the end of June.  It's also wanting 95 percent of patients to be waiting less than four months by 2030. Health Minister Simeon Brown told Ryan Bridge they're on track to reach 63 percent this year. He says the list kept growing until the beginning of this year, when it dropped to 58 percent - so they have caught up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s world No 1 v No 2, a repeat of the World Cup final, two of the great sporting rivals squaring off once again. It might just be the biggest test for the All Blacks this year.  Scott Robertson’s side look to continue a proud record at Eden Park stretching back to 1994, while also needing to bounce back from a defeat to Argentina.  The All Blacks have remained undefeated at the Fortress for over 30 years – a record that could be tested tomorrow.  Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner is nervous about the record being broken, telling Andrew Dickens that they want it to continue, and are confident it will.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Truck drivers are feeling increased pressure to deliver on time – even breaking the law to do so.  The Workers First Union believes the timeframes set up for drivers to complete jobs within allocated driving hours is unachievable.  The union signed up to support the Safe Rates international labour campaign, which makes employers and customers responsible for the financial pressures put on drivers.  Union organiser Lance Gush told Andrew Dickens the campaign makes a level playing field for those fighting for contracts.  He says companies are dropping vehicles out of their fleets in order to try to keep up with contract costs.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast 2025, criminals with New Zealand residency could now face deportation for up to 20 years after arriving, immigration lawyer Simon Laurent shares his thoughts.  The All Blacks will be taking on the Springboks at Eden Park this Saturday, Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner tells Andrew what they're doing to prepare for the big match.  Truck drivers say they’re being pushed to speed, skip breaks, and bend the law just to keep freight moving, Workers First Union organiser Lance Gush tells Andrew the impact it's having on drivers.  UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on a Portuguese funicular crash and the possible digital ID scheme to combat illegal migration.  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.

What could be a reactive move - as Immigration Minister Erica Stanford sends a clear message to immigrants, to obey the law. Criminals with New Zealand residency could now face deportation if they've been here for less than 20 years. That's double the current limit of under 10 years.  Immigration lawyer Simon Laurent told Andrew Dickens this is a response to an overall mood that's surfacing, particularly in the UK and Australia. He says it's an approach that's been sweeping through other democracies, for the past few years. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now seeing as I am a 60 year old white guy, some will consider my comments inherently racist, but I am allowed my opinion just as you are allowed yours.  Opinions are like bums - we all have one, so why fight it? Firstly, the coming out of the Māori Queen.  One thing is for sure, Māori do this customary and ceremonial stuff well. The attendees are seeing history, a young Queen about to take leadership.  But I’m always amazed at the one year silence thing. Sure you’re getting the lay of the land and forming your ideas for your reign and paying respect to your predecessor, but come on.  It seems to me that the year's silence gives the courtiers more power over affairs of state. When the cats away the mice will play.  Now to the Tamaki Makaurau by-election.  I couldn’t believe how many voters got the City Council Elections and the by-election to be a Member of Parliament confused.   One person on telly wondered if Oriini Kaipara was running for Mayor. And you wonder why we get

A separate argument against major tech firms paying more tax.  A report from tax expert Nick Miller says companies like Google are able to skirt their dues by taking payments from New Zealand subsidiaries, listed as service fees.  He says they could be seen as royalties, which come under a withholding tax.   However, another independent expert in the field, Geof Nightingale, told Andrew Dickens the Trump administration would push the cost back onto New Zealand businesses and consumers.  If we were to tax the US tech giants more, we'd be slapped with a higher tariff on exports.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.