Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

There’s a form of economic nimbyism that’s going on in this country. And if we want to get ahead, everyone knows there must be trade-offs. No economic miracle, new business, or growth opportunity comes without a cost. Whether its intensive agriculture on the environment or water to run the data centres that power your smart phones, every success costs you something. The trick is to be reasonable and take risks then mitigate them, or just be willing to wear the costs. The problem we have here is not a lack of opportunities, not even, in many cases, investment.  I was in Otago just recently - beautiful place, stunning.  There’s a gold mine permit been issued. Sam Neil’s dead against the project, as are many others.  There's opposition and legal challenges, etc, etc. Fair enough. He has a house around there and is worried about trucks on the road, etc. But it’s also an area that would be serviced by this brand-new hospital Dunedin’s getting.  Half the towns and buildings in Otago wouldn’

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 6th of November 2025, youth unemployment is continuing to rise, Zainab Ali, CEO of Youth Inspire tells Ryan why the situation is so bad.  Kiwis are calling in sick more than ever and businesses are feeling it, the EMA's Alan McDonald shares his thoughts.  Back in 2020 the Government passed the law to ban smoking and vaping in the car with kids, but the Police say their computer systems can't issue fines for it, Police Minister Mark Mitchell tells Ryan what he's going to do about it.  Plus US Correspondent Jagruti Dave, has the latest on the US elections and Trump's reaction.  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.

Our red meat sector's continuing to see strong international demand.  Latest data from the Meat Industry Association shows the value of our red meat exports in September was up 29% on September last year.  Exports to the US were up 25%, despite the introduction of Donald Trump's tariffs.  Association Chair Nathan Guy told Andrew Dickens that while they thought the tariffs would be problematic, in reality, demand has been really strong.   He says there’s a strong hamburger market in the States and New Zealand exporters are filling that market with quality product.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Fire and Emergency manager believes public fireworks sales should be banned as Guy Fawkes looms.  It's currently restricted to just four days a year, this year from November 2nd until Guy Fawkes.  It's one of the busiest periods of the year for firefighters, who had about 20 fireworks-related callouts in the 48 hours since sales began.  Community Safety Manager Adrian Nacey told Andrew Dickens they get between 150 and 200 fireworks related calls each year, and they’re not all necessarily caused by recklessness.  He says little things like wind can cause issues, so they’d prefer fireworks were kept in the hands of professionals.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unemployment has hopefully almost reached its peak. Latest Stats NZ data is expected to show unemployment has reached 5.3% in the September quarter. That's up from 5.2% in the June quarter. BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Andrew Dickens they expect another rise in the December quarter, before the job market starts to recover next year. He says there's still a bit of slog ahead of us, but there's encouraging signs, like job ads lifting and businesses wanting to increase employment. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pensioners marched on Parliament yesterday, demanding that politicians remember them.   And one of the biggest things on their mind is the rules around retirement villages. Here’s an example: A couple had been in their retirement village for 10 years. Needing more care, they decide to move out and find a more appropriate place to live.   They’d bought their villa for $600,000, but under the current situation they’ll get just $400,000 of that money back. So, no capital gain at all.  The village is then free to on sell the villa say for $1.2 million, and they don’t have to pay the couples $400,000 back until they find some to take over the licence. In some cases that may take two years.  So, no capital gain, in fact a loss, and then no funds at all in the bank until the village decides to re-licence  The only way a village works for you is if you stay in it until the day you die. But you will not be passing on any capital gains to your kids, you’re going to lose half your capital.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 5th of November 2025, the unemployment figures get released today with economists picking a nine-year high, BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones tells Andrew what today's figures mean for the Reserve Bank.  Winston Peters has submitted a members bill which would ban the importing and sale of fireworks, Fire and Emergency NZ Regulatory Compliance Manager Adrian Nacey shares his thoughts.  It seems the red meat industry might've survived despite trump's tariffs for now, Meat Industry Association Chair Nathan Guy tells Andrew what the future is looking like for the industry.  Plus, UK/ Europe Correspondent Peter Anderson has the latest on British far-right activist, Tommy Robinson found not guilty of a terror offence and former England football captain Sir David Beckham has been formally knighted for his services to football and British society. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you g

There’s concern our cemeteries are running out of space, with some councils taking too long to secure new land.  The Cemeteries and Crematoria Collective says many graveyards are already at or near capacity, forcing delays and limiting burial options.  It warns too many councils are failing to plan far enough ahead, and many are excluding cemeteries from urban growth strategies that often focus narrowly on housing.  Collective Chair Daniel Chrisp told Andrew Dickens that while 70-75% of New Zealanders prefer cremation now, there are still many communities and cultures that prefer burial.   He says the option needs to be provided, so councils need to think strategically and proactively about it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumer confidence could be turning around as borrowing rises.  Latest data from credit bureau service Centrix shows residential mortgage and household lending have both increased more than 20% year-on-year.  Personal loan and Buy Now Pay Later applications and business borrowing are also up.  Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold told Andrew Dickens we're heading in the right direction, but it's still early days.  He says many of the indicators for growth are still subpar but lower interest rates are starting to flow through.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rain's on the forecast for today's 165th running of the Melbourne Cup. There are no New Zealand-trained runners this year, but Smokin Romans and Torranzino were both bred here. Newstalk ZB's Melbourne Cup correspondent Donna Demaio says those heading to Flemington will need to pack their brollies and coats. She told Andrew Dickens the weather is dominating much of the conversation. Demaio says it's expected to rain all day and even during the race. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday 4th of November 2025, Centrix data shows more people are getting mortgages, Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold tells Andrew what this means for the economy.  A new NZ Initiative report’s calling on the government to tap into GP data, Chair of General Practice Owners Association Dr Angus Chambers shares his thoughts.  NZ Cemeteries and Crematoria Collective Chair Daniel Chrisp tells Andrew we’re running out of room to bury the dead. Plus, Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on the weather in Melbourne for the highly anticipated Melbourne Cup.  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.

The GP Owners' Association's backing calls for the Government to make better use of primary care data. A New Zealand Initiative report says information from GP clinics isn’t being systematically collected, unlike hospital and prescription data. It argues the information could help identify prescribing issues and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions. Association Chair Angus Chambers told Andrew Dickens this has been an acknowledged gap for a long time. He says it has been collected individually before, but not systematically, which requires investment. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9 people were left in a critical condition after a knife attack on a train in the UK.  It is believed that a man on the train, which was moving from Peterborough to London on a fast-track line, pulled out knives and started attacking passengers once it was on the move. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens that the incident was not terror related.  'Originally counterterrorism police were investigating this. We are now being told it is likely not to be terror related.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The public service union says ACC has breached employee contracts with its working-from-home rule change. The PSA's taking the agency to the Employment Relations Authority.  It says ACC gave the union only one hour's notice when it told staff four weeks ago they would have to come into work three days a week - up from two.  PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons told Andrew Dickens that ACC promoted jobs with three working-from-home days. She says workers who got the roles now feel deceived.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Attracting the extra staff needed for 140 new hospital beds could be a challenge. The Government's announced new wards for Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington and Nelson hospitals, in addition to a new Hawke's Bay ward announced earlier this year. Health Minister Simeon Brown told Andrew Dickens funding has been approved to recruit the additional 350 staff needed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday I interviewed a representative of oyster farmers in the Mahurangi area who were outraged at a wastewater dump by Watercare that had poisoned their oysters.  They have to close for 28 days. One farmer has to dump 80,000 oysters. That’s not good for business or their cashflow.  As the interview went on I found out that this is not an isolated incident.  It’s already happened 39 times before this year.  And even worse Watercare has the right to do a dump like this 200 times every year.  I was flabbergasted. That seems like an awful lot of dumping. Then in the weekend I got a call from a local MP.  She told me Watercare basically wrote their own consent.   They needed to involve public consultation yet all they did was drop some leaflets at the Warkworth library.  She's raised the issue with the mayor, the man who wants to make Auckland a global city, and Mr Fix it doesn't seem at all interested in fixing it. And now they dump the regions wastewater into the Mahur

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast 2025, the Government’s adding 140 new hospital beds across five hospitals from mid next year Health Minister Simeon Brown tells Andrew Dickens the difference it'll make to capacity. Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekends sport.  The PSA’s taking ACC to the employment relations authority, PSA National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons says workers have been blindsided over new work-from-home rules. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on two people in critical condition after ten were injured by two men with knives on a train heading to London from Doncater 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 All Blacks are set to face Ireland in Chicago for the first match of their Grand Slam Tour.  This will be the first time the two sides have faced each other in nearly a year, where the All Blacks beat Ireland 23 - 13.  ZB's Voice of Rugby Elliott Smith told Francesca Rudkin that '[the game] promises to be a special occasion even if it's not tearing the headlines off the front pages.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Minister receiving advice on allowing babies to receive measles vaccine as the outbreak spreads. New Zealand has two new Auckland cases bringing the total to 13.  A national immunisation week starts on Monday - to help bring it in under control.  Minister Simeon Brown told Francesca Rudkin there is the potential that if children are immunised earlier than 12 months, their longer term immunity wouldn't be as good. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Donald Trump testing the limits with his latest nuclear weapon testing comment? The US President posted on social media - saying he has no choice but to restart testing, because of other countries testing programs. If the US follows through it'd mark the first official nuclear weapon testing - apart from North Korea - this century. Geopolitical Analyst Geoffrey Miller told Francesca Rudkin that it's part of Trump's game. He says he's constantly playing this game of brinkmanship, where he'll go right to the brink before pulling back. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.