Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

Optimism in the education sector as the number of people studying to be a teacher rises.  There's been about 3,500 new domestic enrolments to initial teacher training this year – up 30% on the same time last year.  Primary education's grown by 31%, while enrolments in secondary are up 28%, and 24% for ECE.  PPTA President Chris Abercrombie told Andrew Dickens that doesn't reflect the need, in terms of shortages.  He says in secondary education, they are often short of subject specialists.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Thursday 4th of September 2025, a report from the Chief Justice says trials are becoming longer, more complex and it's clogging up the system, former high court judge and former Chair of the NZ parole board, Sir Ron Young shares his thoughts. Independent tax expert Geof Nightingale gives his take on how big tech pay their fair share to our economy. Data from the Ministry of Education show enrolment numbers are up 30%, PPTA President Chris Abercrombie tells Andrew how big of a difference it'll make to our teacher shortage. Plus US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on Trump hitting out at President Xi and other leaders during China's military parade. 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.

Complex cases appear to be clogging up our justice system, with manslaughter and murder offences making up more than 70% of all High Court trials. Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann says the system is struggling to keep pace, in her latest Annual Report. Her report reveals a mix of delays, burnout, safety issues, and under-funding. Former High Court Judge and Parole Board Chair Sir Ron Young told Andrew Dickens it's horrifying that manslaughter and murder trials are taking 17 days or more. He says in the 1970s and 80s, murder trials took about three to five days.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The game of rugby this weekend is starting to take on a life of it’s own.  Some have called it the biggest game of rugby since the last World Cup Final featuring the same two teams - and this is even though the Lions have just toured Australia in a record-breaking financial success.  But it is going to be a cracker. It’s been fortified by Eden Park’s record as a fortress - 30 years and 50 games where the All Blacks have not been defeated.  We’re vulnerable as the last test against Argentina showed, meanwhile the South Africans seem genuinely inspired by playing at Eden Park.  It’s been 8 years since they have done that. The revenue is generated by them, and I wonder if it's been purposeful to keep them away from it for so long.  And the French have been in the media as they were the last to beat New Zealand at the Garden of Eden way back in 1994. Interestingly the first time I went to an All Blacks game, only to see them lose.  They too have been rhapsodising about the mythical q

The Government's tertiary refresh has sparked conversation around whether the country's dumbing down the sector.  Universities Minister Shane Reti's announced a package of initiatives, including a new education strategy and updated governance rules.  He decided against making university entrance harder.  Universities NZ chair Grant Edwards told Andrew Dickens there's no need for more limits on who can hand out the top academic qualifications.  He says universities are the only institutions to do research-led teaching in the country, so research-led Masters and PhDs should be awarded within them.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers are pushing ACT and New Zealand First for less politicking and more action.   The two parties have expressed interest in withdrawing from the global Paris Agreement unless more realistic emissions targets are produced to fight climate change.   But Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says they're in government and could be resolving the problems creating uncertainty for farmers now.   He told Andrew Dickens the Paris Agreement in itself isn't necessarily the problem.   Langford says we need to dig deeper and look at what's setting Paris back, because it's actually what we're setting on ourselves as a government.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday 3rd of September 2025, Should we pull out of the Paris Climate Accord? Federated Farmers National President Wayne Langford makes his case.  A international visitor survey shows there was a 5% increase in visitors over the last year, Hospitality NZ Head of Advocacy Sam Mackinnon shares his thoughts. The Government’s rejected tougher entry rules for universities, Grant Edwards Vice Chancellor Lincoln University tells Andrew whether or not we need tougher restrictions.  Plus UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the UK government long-term borrowing costs reaching their highest level since 1998. 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.

Pulling out of the Paris Climate agreement has got the backing of ACT and New Zealand First, who say we're overdoing it. And my first reaction is yes. The thing isn't working. It's never worked.  It has always felt like something the world does to make itself feel like it's doing something, even though it's doing nothing When you combine it with the Emissions Trading Scheme —which is a giant Ponzi scheme made to make Coldplay feel better about touring the world in jet planes, meanwhile filling our pastures with trees— then the whole thing seems useless, so why be involved? And we're so little. New Zealand's biggest contribution to CO2 numbers is our farming, which is fairly benign polluter, because the world needs food.   The world doesn't need more cheap jeans and plastic crap, but the people who make that stuff are merrily pumping rubbish into our atmosphere. So why should we be punishing the cornerstone of our economy when in the scheme of things, it contributes so little while the real poll

Overseas visitors are back and here to spend, with tourism hotspots like Queenstown reaping the benefits. The latest International Visitor Survey results show a 5% increase in international tourists over the past year. Spending has increased by more than 4%, but still remains at 86% of pre-pandemic levels.  Hospitality New Zealand spokesperson Sam Mackinnon told Andrew Dickens he's hoping the spending will soon become more regionally dispersed. He says councils across the country are working on their destination management plans, so they can get a slice of the tourism pie. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A push to slim down New Zealand’s unusually large number of ministerial portfolios is being met with caution.  A report by the New Zealand Initiative's found comparable countries have a third of our 81 portfolios and is calling for a cull.  PSA's national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says they don't object to a discussion around this.  But she told Andrew Dickens it's taking place in a political context, driven by the ACT Party.  Fitzsimons says David Seymour's been vocal about dismissing more public servants and moving to a model of privatisation.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A drive to attract foreign investors could deliver more than just financial gain.  The Government’s tweaking visa rules, letting Active Investor Plus holders buy or build one New Zealand home worth at least $5 million.  This is on top of the minimum $5 million investment pledge needed to get the visa.  Former Labour Cabinet minister Stuart Nash told Andrew Dickens these investors will bring experience, contacts, and networks with them.    He says they'll bring in a whole mix of different skills and competencies - which will create a lot of value  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More people are getting mortgages approved as they prepare for the Official Cash Rate to fall further. Latest Centrix figures show mortgage enquiries are up 16% for the month of July and new mortgage lending rose almost 25%. Key Mortgages broker Jeremy Andrews told Andrew Dickens many people are getting approved and just holding off. He says there's been more activity lately - with one client of his going to auction, and nine people registered to bid. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government’s new plan for water services is called Local Water Done Well. It’s all about keeping control in the hands of local councils and communities, rather than shifting everything to big centralised bodies.  Which was what Three Waters did. Eventually Labour caved and the policy got renamed 10 Waters because there would be 10 regionalised bodies, but even that was not popular. And of course there was the troublesome identity politics around Māori co-governance that freaked a lot of people out. So now, Councils have to submit Water Services Delivery Plans showing how they’ll manage drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater safely, sustainably, and affordably.  There’s still strong oversight from regulators, but the focus is on local decision-making, community accountability, and better outcomes for everyone.  So Councils must submit their Water Services Delivery Plans (WSDPs) to the Secretary for Local Government and the deadline is the third of September. These plans outline how

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday 2nd of September 2025, the government's made moves of the foreign buyers ban, former Labour minister Stuart Nash shares his thoughts.  Interest rates are softening but the property market’s still in limbo, Jeremy Andrews from Key Mortgages provides analysis on the latest Centrix Credit data. The NZ Initiative has done a report which found we have about three times as many ministries as countries we like to compare ourselves to, PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons shares her thoughts. Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Anthony Albanese speaking on the Nauru deportation plan.  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.

The New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey reveals most violent crimes have been dropping in the past two years. It finds the number of sexual assault victims steadily increased over this time. More beat officers are being deployed in Auckland to act as a deterrent to crime. Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money told Andrew Dickens that these numbers are highly volatile. She says there's lots of high pressure times, like Christmas which can see an uptick of crime in the community. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 1 September. 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.

Concern tertiary students are having to choose extra work over studying - to keep up with increased living costs. More than 34-million-dollars in hardship funds has been given out by institutions since 2020. Victoria University's Student Association spokesperson, Aidan Donoghue, says things haven't improved much since Covid. He told Andrew Dickens they received 940 applications for their Winter Energy Grant this year, compared to 265 two years ago. Donoghue says every application is limited to one address - so that's 940 households.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neil Quigley marched off into the sunset at 5.49pm on Friday. Late enough for the news to miss the TV 6pm bulletin.  It’s an old PR trick. Leaving the shock value to dissipate over the weekend before the start of play on Monday.  It was evidence to me that successive governments and the Reserve Bank have failed to respect each other or realise that even though they are independent their actions combine and affect all of New Zealand  In the Covid years the Reserve bank reacted and made money essentially free.  But the Labour government wanted to be seen to be doing something, so they started overspending and throwing borrowed money away.  The result was a superheated economy that crashed spectacularly and spectacularly quickly  So, then the Reserve Bank made money expensive again to attack the overheating.  But the new Government, this time National, again wanted to be seen to be doing something so they cancelled government expenditure throwing us into a deeper economic funk

The Black Ferns’ opening Rugby World Cup win has come at a cost.   They crushed Spain at the start of the week, claiming victory 45-8, but lost loose forward Kaipo Olsen-Baker to injury.  However Back and Skills coach Riki Flutey told Ryan Bridge they’re confident Olsen-Baker, along with outside backs Ayesha Leti-I’iga and Amy du Plessis will play in next week’s clash against Ireland.   But before that is a clash against Japan, and the Ferns aren’t taking the team lightly.  Flutey told Bridge there’s threats throughout the Japanese team, but they’re confident in the team’s ability to defeat them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine has suffered its worst night of strikes in months.  Nineteen people have been killed, including four children, and dozens are injured following a bombardment of missiles and drones in the capital of Kyiv.   It marks Russia's deadliest onslaught on Kyiv since July.   UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Ryan Bridge the strikes hit residential areas and the offices of those representing the EU and UK.   He says Britain is taking it as an attack on their presence there, and Ukraine's President Zelensky says this is evidence that Putin's not serious about negotiating a peace settlement.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.