Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Eleven o'clock. November 11th. Today marks 108 years since the end of the first world war. The Allies and Germany signed an armistice. It was finally all quiet on the Western Front. Think about the scale of it.... we lost 18,000 in battle. Back then, our total population was just over a million. Pretty much every single family, every street, every town... was mourning their dead. There was no social media, no phones, no live television. Most people found out the war was over the following day after telegrams and then the newspapers published. The National Library keeps a record of this day. In Naseby... the small-town in central Otago, they lit a bonfire to celebrate. They lit it under an effigy of the Kaiser which someone had put a bomb inside. It caught fire and blew off the Kaiser's head. It was a brutal war fought in trenches. Men lived with cold and hunger and rats, through European winters in snow with disease and despair. There's plenty of reason to bitch and moan in 2026. But life is a hell of a lot…

Don Brash, the former leader of the ACT and National parties, has admitted he wouldn’t give the Finance Minister role to another party if he were in Christopher Luxon’s position. But with ACT’s David Seymour gunning for the role, Brash told Ryan Bridge that Seymour was the only person who seemed to care that government debt was “going up like mad”. It was unclear who in National could do the job with Nicola Willis leaving Parliament, but Simeon Brown, Erica Stanford, or Todd McClay were possibilities, he said. NZ First leader Winston Peters would “obviously” oppose Seymour becoming Finance Minister, but the role couldn’t go to his party as its policies —including keeping NZ Super at 65 and buying BNZ— would mean big increases in public debt. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confidence is returning to Mount Ruapehu's Turoa ski area, as it's recording the longest season in the country. Its visitor numbers nearly doubled this year and it's already seeing an uptick in season passes for next year. It marks three seasons since the liquidation of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, which involved millions of dollars of taxpayer support. Turoa Skifield's Head of Brand and Marketing James Simpson told Ryan Bridge they're already able to look ahead to next season. He says reaching a solid surplus means they're able to invest in a new snowmaking programme. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions remain over whether AI marking of school writing exams can capture individual flair and personality. An independent review's found NZQA's AI system scored literacy writing assessments exactly the same as humans in 79% of cases. It's considered fit for continued use. Andy England —the Principal of Canterbury’s Darfield High School— told Ryan Bridge he has concerns, but he understands the tool is trained to recognise individuality. He says creativity is uniquely human, so people must remain involved in moderating and improving the system. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 10th of November 2026, there's a big hole for finance minister with Nicola Willis out of Parliament, former National party and Act leader Don Brash tells Ryan who he thinks should next get the job. Tūroa ski field visitor numbers nearly doubled this year compared with 2025, the ski field's head of brand and marketing James Simpson tells Ryan where the boost has come from. Darfield High School Principal shares concerns around AI used as a marking tool as the first day of NCEA exams kicks off. Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Cricketer David Warner speaking for the first time in 8 years on the ball tampering scandal of 2018 and war memorial vandalism in Queensland just before Remembrance Day. 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.

Trump's going. Xi's going. Even Putin will be there. But what about Christopher Luxon or Chris Hipkins? The APEC Leaders meeting is next week up in China. Shenzhen. They're a great thing for a trading nation like ours to be involved in. We get access. We get bi-laterals on the sidelines. Leaders eat together and sit together and build relationships. We are in caretaker mode at the moment, but we should send Luxon and/or McClay. Hell, why not send Hipkins too if that'll make it work? All the leaders have basically said they're not doing much in the way of negotiations before the 27th, so there's no good reason we shouldn't go to APEC. Especially with arguably the three most consequential leaders in the world present at a time when their actions, through war and trade, are responsible for doubling oil prices and choking gas to our friends in Europe. Hong Kong is 11 hours from Auckland. Then you nip over to Shenzhen. You'd be there and back in a jiffy. Back with plenty of time to form a government. One with…

The wait is on to see what New Zealand's next government will look like. Preliminary results favour the National Coalition, but that could change when special votes are counted. Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges says, "I'd like to see, ACT, New Zealand First and National really to come together on that, put aside a bit of politics, and do what the country needs" He says top priority for the coalition should be economic reform. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As predicted last week the strategy Luxon loathes is what got him back to power. Thank you overhang. His strategy of ruling Opportunity out didn't keep them out. But none of that really matters. The ends always justify the means. Here we are. At worst Labour's path to power is a like a winter trek up Mt Everest. National's is a walk in the park. For the left, the specials at best force Opportunity into play. But most likely to a hung parliament. So, the most likely outcome here is either the right alone. Or the right with Opportunity. And listen to how Erica Stanford described this to me on election night. Basically, pick up the phone, or you'll get knifed. And Quilae Wong. You see, even if everything goes Labour's way, they'd need Quilae. And the Te Pati Māori, Greens, Labour and Opportunity government would skate on thin ice with a slim margin and no room for error. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 9th of November 2026, Auckland Business Chamber CEO, former National MP Simon Bridges shares his thoughts National's result in this election and what happens from here. National MP for Hamilton East Ryan Hamilton shares his thoughts on the overhang and how he managed to retain his seats. Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on the Bank of England raising rates and the impact of the midterms on the European economy. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on a gunman believed to have been inspired by far-right ideology has killed six people in Poland and the UK’s most senior policeman says he wouldn’t be surprised if more victims of Russell Brand come forward. 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 deadly shooting in Krakow has left Poland reeling, after a gunman opened fire in the city's popular main square. Six people have been killed and dozens injured. Three more bodies were later found at the suspect's home, identified as his parents and sister. UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has shares the latest details with Ryan Bridge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's an action-packed weekend ahead, with plenty of sport on the agenda. Saturday will see Auckland FC and the Wellington Phoenix clash in an A-League derby, while the Black Caps take on India and the Kiwis face Tonga in the Rugby League World Cup semi-final. Then on Sunday morning the All Blacks are taking on Scotland over in Edinburgh. Jason Pine, host of Weekend Sport, joined Ryan Bridge to look ahead to the weekend. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A political commentator is struggling to predict the outcome of the election. Election Day is tomorrow, and thousands of votes have already been cast. Polls released throughout the campaign have fluctuated, no party showing a clear lead across all of the polls. Brigitte Morten told Ryan Bridge the election is all over the place. She says something that's also different now is it's not just a red-blue race, we're talking about individual electorate seats having a massive impact. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The police union says the Coalition's gang patch ban is working as intended. Newstalk ZB's revealed authorities are charging people for unlawful association more than four times as frequently as before the ban came into effect almost two years ago. Under the ban, those charged face up to six months prison time or a $5,000 fine. Police Association President Steve Watt told Ryan Bridge officers have the skills to identify gang members, whether they're wearing a patch or not, and if they're less visible, the community feels safer. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's an election prediction for you. Look out. Incoming. Hot take. Reckons. Newsflash. More people New Zealanders will watch sport this weekend than follow the election. I was chatting to a mate yesterday, not political, not engaged, plans to vote but doesn't care too much. He's been watching Netflix and listening to podcasts. Wouldn't know who Michael Laws is. Wouldn't know who Qiulae Wong is. He's no idiot. He knows his principles and loosely who they align with. But, for many New Zealanders, most Kiwis, elections are just noise. Like Cicadas. Or an air conditioner unit.... Humming away. News reporters working themselves in a lather. Breathless stories being 'broken'. To the relief of many of you listening/watching this morning, this weekend we have the Football derby, India will ship the Blackcaps, the World Cup semis on Saturday night and on Sunday morning, all eyes on Murrayfield for the All Blacks vs Scotland. By the way the weather is looking quite warm, the beach appealing, the BBQ good to go.…

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday the 6th of November 2026, Political Commentator Brigitte Morten shares her thoughts on how the campaign has gone so far and what the election result could turn out like. Newstalk ZB weekend sport host has the latest on the big weekend of sport ahead -- the A-league Derby, Black Caps and the All Blacks taking on Scotland. Fresh Ministry of Justice data shows unlawful association charges have quadrupled since the gang patch ban became law, Police Association President Steve Watt shares his thoughts. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on actor and comedian Russell Brand found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault at a south London court and protests once again taking place across France. 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.

With Guy Fawkes celebrations tonight, vets and animal advocates are renewing their push to end private fireworks sales. The Government rejected a recommendation to do so earlier this year. The SPCA is urging Kiwis to back an open letter to the incoming Government, calling to end consumer sales, while Fire and Emergency and MetService are warning people to take care. SPCA Senior Scientific Officer Dr Alison Vaughan told Ryan Bridge many animals become lost, injured, and are euthanised as a result of fireworks. She says that people also tend to forget that wildlife has no idea what's going on, and it can lead to nest abandonment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tackling the cost of living and corruption, and ending the war in Iran are all top of the agenda for the new Democrat-controlled US Senate. Democrats have powered through the US Midterm elections, flipping seven Senate seats and 31 in the House of Representatives from the Republicans. Democrat Chuck Schumer is set to be Senate Majority Leader. Economist and former Economic Advisor to John McCain Doug Haltz-Eakin told Ryan Bridge we'll likely see a lot of investigations by the Democrats over the next two years. He says they'll be looking into the finances around crypto, and things like the secret agreements between the Trump Administration and US drug companies. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest unexpected rise in unemployment could be a sign the economy isn't doing as well as expected. Four hundred and 38-thousand people aren't working as much as they could be in the September quarter. That includes 174-thousand - about 5.7 percent of the workforce - who wanted a job but didn't have one. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge the rise, along with other economic elements remaining weaker than anticipated, could see the Reserve Bank hold the Official Cash Rate in December. He says they're trying to balance inflationary pressures, but equally they don't want to kneecap the economic recovery. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world is now officially on Trump Temper Tantrum Watch. So far, he's been relatively gracious about the absolute thumping the Dems handed him. What happened last night has only happened three times since WWII – both the House and Senate flipping parties. The big losers are Republicans, the more MAGA the more damage, Pete Hegseth (look out), and Elon Musk. Musk pumped half a billion American bucks at candidates from a party that has now lost control of the law-making agenda. Tesla and SpaceX shares are down this morning. Butts are clenching over the Democrats running the ruler on AI companies and spending, and Musk's merger. Meanwhile, the race to replace Trump starts today. Marco Rubio and JD Vance are the front runners, but Trump's influence now will wane. Popularity is power. Trump's has taken a massive punch in the guts. Why do we care? Petrol. The war. Trump is so far taking this graciously, by Trump-standards, but if he wants to lash out and go bananas, he remains Commander-in-Chief. He's lost…

On the Early Edition with Full Show Podcast 2026, American Economist and former economic adviser to John McCain Doug Haltz-Eakin shares his thoughts on the U.S midterm results. Unemployment's risen to 5.7%, Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains why this reinforces the Reserve Banks move to hold the OCR. It's Guy Fawkes tonight, with fresh calls to ban the private sale and use of fireworks, Dr Alison Vaughan Senior Scientific Officer at SPCA explains. Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest reaction to the midterm results out of Ohio. 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.

Labour's Vanushi Walters has taken aim at the Government, saying its flip-flopping on foreign policy has created problems. The party's Foreign Affairs spokesperson told Ryan Bridge it's been inconsistent on calling out breaches of international law. Walters says the US and Israel's intervention into Iran is an example of when the Government hasn't called it out, with that war having a direct impact on fuel prices. National counterpart Todd McClay rejects that, saying we need to be careful about megaphone diplomacy. He told Bridge the Government's maintained our independent foreign policy. McClay says we can't have Iran developing nuclear weapons, and the Government's called out some of Israel's atrocities in Gaza. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How has the job market been faring? Stats NZ is releasing its latest quarterly unemployment data at 10.45am. Some economists expect unemployment to remain unchanged at 5.6%, an 11-year high, while others expect it will dip slightly to 5.5% or 5.4% – the first fall in five years. BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones told Ryan Bridge they expect the rate to stay the same, but they're also expecting employment itself to increase. He says they're forecasting a 0.4% increase for the quarter, so they're pretty confident New Zealand saw some decent job growth. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Charles has expressed sorrow over Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade but stopped short of apologising or offering reparations. Britain captured and transported an estimated 12 to 15-million Africans to the Americas between 1500 and 1800, with more than two million dying on the journey. Opening the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, the King acknowledged it's a shameful chapter in history. UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After all the hand-wringing and manufactured controversy, the 'Move On' orders are actually not controversial. The loser in this story is once again the media. The beat the story up into a frenzy. The government was trying to punish, or to use a phrase they readily adopted from Tory Whanau, 'punch down' on, the homeless. But what does nine days of the law in action actually look like? Yesterday morning we had the Assistant Police Commissioner Tusha Penny on Ryan Bridge TODAY. Guess what? 29 orders were issued. Of them, only four were actually homeless. That's 13%. None were 'moved-on' for rough sleeping. Zero for begging. There was no 'punching down'. To be 'moved on', Police say you have to be behaving badly. Confrontational. Aggressive. Disturbing other people. Most New Zealanders will see this for what it is: entirely acceptable. Most kiwis see Police for what they are: mostly reasonable. And unfortunately, most kiwis see the media for what it is: unreliable at best and biased at worst. They go big on a…

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 4th of November 2026, Todd McClay and Vanushi Walters join Ryan for an election special panel on foreign affairs and trade. BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones tells Ryan what we can expect from the unemployment number out today. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Antigua and the UK and EU have agreed a draft deal on removing post-Brexit checks from food and agriculture exports, ahead of the UK-EU summit later this month. 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.

Labour says it wants to better protect consumers from unfair pricing practices during the cost of living crisis. The party wants to shake-up the Fair Trading Act to make sure advertised specials relate to the lowest price in the preceding 30 days. It's also promising to ensure loyal phone, internet, and insurance customers don't miss out on specials offered to new sign-ups. Consumer Affairs Spokesperson Arena Williams told Ryan Bridge they want things to be more standardised and clearer, so customers know that when these deals are being offered, they're not missing out. She says we rely on switching to make the market competitive, but for things like insurance or power, which aren't easy to switch from, there's not enough competitive pressure. Williams says the UK brought in a law saying new customers couldn't be offered different rates to what would be offered for a renewal of the equivalent product, and they think that's the right approach to take here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…

There are concerns rugby league celebrations are coming at the expense of others. South Auckland police officers made nine arrests after Sunday's showdown between Tonga and Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup. Police had 160 officers monitoring the scenes, with some fans running on to roads, hanging out of cars, and driving dangerously. Councillor Alf Filipaina told Ryan Bridge he loves their passion, but it's shocking to see the behaviour. He says the council is receiving emails from families with young children, complaining of loud music and horns at three in the morning. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 3rd of November 2026, Labour’s promising a crackdown on business practices it says are pushing up the cost of living, Labour Consumer Affairs Spokesperson joins Ryan. Rugby League World Cup celebrations turned sour over the weekend with nine arrests, Manukau Ward Councillor Alf Filipaina is warning people to enjoy the celebrations without disrupting others. Retailer confidence sky-high despite challenging economy, First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson shares his thoughts. Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on the Reserve Bank of Australia decision and a preview of the Melbourne Cup. 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.

Consumers could be more hesitant to tap their card this Christmas if the country's government is in a state of limbo. Retail NZ's latest Retail Radar report finds 73% of respondents are confident their business will survive the next 12 months – the highest level in two years. First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge a definitive lead this election weekend is crucial for consumer confidence. He says retailers are typically optimistic, but a strong, decisive direction for the country is important. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

News alert for anyone who thinks the US midterms will save the world from Trump: they won't. The guy can still start wars and raise tariffs without Congress approval. He did so last year and this year. Losing the House to Democrats means funding gets harder and legal problems, but it's not a brick wall for the Presidential impulses that most affect us, the rest of the world. Latest polling shows a majority of his own supporters are unhappy with the state of the economy. Diesel prices are up 70% in America since the start of the war. Any impeachment move would be symbolic, as two-thirds of the Senate would need to agree to it. So, that's unlikely, unless he goes off the reservation in a major way. Like, even more major for Trump. The big worry is Iran. JD Vance has been back channelling comms to the Supreme Leader. The Supreme Leader is sending hints about diplomacy over missiles. That's dropped the price of oil in the last 12 hours. But it's just talk. The Wall Street Journal reckons the top US commander in…

The Head of Europe's central bank is resigning nine months before her eight year term ends. Christine Lagarde is stepping down as President of the European Central Bank on February 7th, 2027. Her resignation also comes ahead of France's next presidential election, and there's speculation the timing was chosen so her successor could be chosen while the pro-EU Emmanuel Macron was in power. Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce joined Ryan Bridge to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transport spokespeople from both major parties are welcoming the progress on closing the gap with Australia on road deaths. Between 2016 and 2018, New Zealand's road death rate was 2.5 people per 100,000 higher than Australia's. By last year, that gap had narrowed to just 0.4. National's Associate Transport Spokesperson James Meager told Ryan Bridge there are better roads, vehicles, and driver behaviour. He says new roads with 110 kilometre limits have seen few crashes and deaths, proving you can move quickly and safely. Labour's Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere told Bridge improvements in roadside testing and enforcement has made a difference. He says there's still work to go with the numbers of young people seriously injured and road safety data. But the two parties are clashing over how Labour would fund its proposed three-year freeze on fuel tax. Utikere told Bridge the cost of living is priority, and it would look at scaling back investment from the National Land Transport Fund to help pay for the…

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday the 2nd of November 2026, Associate Transport Minister James Meager and Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere join Ryan for a election special panel on transport policy. Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on the reaction from the UK Budget and ECB President Christine Lagarde to stepping down. More people are waiting longer for drug and alcohol rehab, Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm explains why. Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the Gen Z protests spreading across Europe and three days of national mourning in Spain following another fatal train crash which killed 69. 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.

Where people live could dictate how quickly they're seen by addiction services. Health New Zealand figures obtained by Newstalk ZB show more than two thirds of drug and alcohol referrals were within three weeks. But only 40.3% in Manawatū's MidCentral health district met that timeframe. Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm told Ryan Bridge the addiction space has been chronically underfunded over many years. She says wait times in general are too long – the window of opportunity for somebody with addiction who's interested in making a change is very short. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netball New Zealand's board strikes again. And is refusing to do interviews. Again. I don't know what it is with these guys but every time there's a bit of good news to celebrate, like the Silver Ferns winning the Constellation Cup, Netball NZ straps on the suicide vest and wanders into the conversation to blow things up. Last week they turned down the Mowbray/Williams bid for a private domestic competition. Without warning. Williams and Mowbray were told the day after the decision was made and the damage done. Nathan Limm, who you'll know from our sport panels, wrote at the weekend about players having to go on the dole because there's no certainty and no contracts to sign. The blow-up basically comes down to Netball NZ's principles, at least according to a statement from the CEO. They couldn't do a deal because their principles got in the way. Anyone reading that will assume it means they worried the money would be put before the sport. But for the players, there's no sport without the money. Otherwise,…

New Zealand Rugby Players' Association boss Rob Nichol has reflected on a needs-must moment for the sport. That follows the move for the five Super Rugby city hubs to consolidate franchise operations with their respective NPC teams from 2028, in a bid to reduce overhead costs. The governing body are also aiming to have more school leavers attending academies, something Nichol says is paramount in the current landscape. He told Ryan Bridge when kids are coming out of school, they really want to know what they're committing to. Nichol says the sporting landscape is competitive – it's not like 15, 20 years ago, people have options. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First-home buyers are still dominating the market. The latest Cotality Westpac First Home Buyer Report finds they made up almost 30% of property purchases in the third quarter of this year. It shows lower house prices and mortgage rates are helping, with many tapping into KiwiSaver. Cotality Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson told Ryan Bridge it varies, but on average homeowners are spending hundreds of dollars less on their mortgages than a few years ago. He says the huge savings there and the lower house prices are a big plus for first time buyers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Possible overhangs, high voter turnout, lower enrolment, and the Opportunity Party all mean the outcome of the election is too close to call, former Labour leader Phil Goff says. “Come Election Night, by midnight we may well not know who is going to govern New Zealand and that may take a couple of weeks after that, probably up to the edge of Christmas,” Goff told Ryan Bridge. While National could get a “huge overhang” if people split their candidate and party votes, it wasn’t clear if that campaign was working, Goff said. He also believed turnout this year would be better than in 2023, based on early voting levels. However enrolment was down, Goff said, claiming up to 100,000 people had been "disenfranchised" by the enrolment cutoff changing. The fate of Opportunity was also key, with leader Qiulae Wong saying she would find it very hard to work with NZ First. "If the Opportunity Party gets in then there is...a chance that there'll be a change of government. If they don't get in, that makes it much harder…

Halloween is the new fireworks for kids in New Zealand, and it's a hell of a lot less controversial. New Zealand First wants to ban backyard fireworks. Winston loves his horses and they get spooked. The Greens back a ban. They love adopted Greyhounds. And cats. When I was young, this time of year was all about shooting each other with Godzilla's. Smokebombs. Scraping all the powder off 50 sparklers to make a sparkler bomb. But these days Halloween is where it's at. The old English tradition has been overtaken by its American competitor. Well, it's not really American but the Americans have made it popular. That means it's a growth industry. If you're going to get Dracula teeth, you need Dracula blood. If you're getting the blood, why not get the whole costume? Australians are expected to spend half a billion dollars on Halloween this year. That's up on last year. If this trend continues, there'll probably be no point banning backyard fireworks, they'll just fizzle out on their own. And on the whole, that's…

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 30 October. 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.

A gin distillery at the bottom of the country is earning top-shelf recognition. Bluff Distillery's been inducted into the prestigious Gin Guild – one of the first in New Zealand to receive the honour. Co-founder Chris Fraser was installed as Warden Rectifier at the Lord Mayor of London's mansion earlier this month, just two years since launching the distillery. Fraser told Ryan Bridge there's no secret formula behind their success. He says it's gin that tastes like gin, as they just stick to the basics. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political paralysis in Israel could leave behind a caretaker government with Benjamin Netanyahu at its helm. With most votes counted, the incumbent's just ahead of his rival Gadi Eisenkot, with 53 seats to 48. The Arab parties are on a record 19 seats, and the 61 seats needed to govern are beyond the reach of all sides. CBS Middle East correspondent Linda Gradstein told Ryan Bridge coalition talks could drag on for weeks, with Netanyahu still in charge in the meantime. She says it basically means his government's still the government and can do anything it was previously doing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Thursday 29 October. 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.

National Party Finance Spokeswoman Nicola Willis said the Official Cash Rate not going up is "positive news for the economy". The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was split 4-3 in its decision to hold the rate at 2.75% yesterday. Willis told Ryan Bridge that the Reserve Bank said yesterday inflation was not as high as it previously forecast. "Ultimately, this is positive news for the economy because lower interest rates mean lower debt servicing costs for mortgage holders and for businesses." With so much uncertainty around the globe, it is important that New Zealand controls its own domestic response, Willis said. "We know from our last experience through Covid that when governments keep spending in a big way in response to international inflation pressures, that can make the situation a lot worse for Kiwis." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wanna know something weird? 1 in 7 Australian adults could imagine falling in love with an AI chatbot. They might tease us about our relations with sheep, but at least we're not actually getting into emotional relationships with a rack of computer hard drives. Weirdos. Anthony Albanese gave a speech yesterday about their new AI laws, which he's trying to pass and trying to get Opposition support for. Guess what would be banned if the law passes? Emotional Intimacy. How cooked. It's not just about adults, but they're worried young people are making chatbots their best friend. How insane is that? Did anybody think this would be the pressing issue of 2026? To be fair, there's probably a similar chance of this happening here. I've got a mate who is dangerously close to his Claude agent. Claude knows everything about him. They chat about life, work, and relationships. Anthropic, which is basically the AI emotional pimp of the world, said in its filing for an IPO this week that there is a real risk to its business…

Israeli voter turnout's reached a record high in the election that could determine Benjamin Netanyahu's political future. CNN exit polls show Gadi Eisenkot's on 52 seats to Netanyahu's 50. Security is the leading issue among voters, with many blaming Netanyahu for the October 7th attack. CBS Middle East correspondent Linda Gradstein told Ryan Bridge both camps will likely need a coalition to form a government. She says the Arab Citizens of Israel, who are at about 20%, could put Eisenkot over the top, but some of his partners are expected to refuse to work with Arab members. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The election could factor into whether this afternoon brings the Reserve Bank's third OCR hike of the year. Most economists predict a 25 basis point lift to 3%. Inflation's sitting at 3.7% – outside its target band. Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold told Ryan Bridge there's an argument for holding off until December, but he expects the Reserve Bank will toe the market's line. He says it might be disruptive otherwise, so close to the election, but that doesn't mean it's the best idea. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A property investor is questioning why Labour's rent-to-own scheme should stop at just state houses. The party is proposing allowing Kainga Ora to put aside $100 rent a week, working up to a deposit. Labour would also lift the income cap for 5% deposits to $300,000, making more buyers eligible. Property Investors Federation Advocacy Manager Matt Ball told Ryan Bridge it's a good idea but it's niche. He says it could be all for all working people, giving them this $100 credit wherever they go. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 28th of October 2026, mortgage holders are bracing for another OCR hike, Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold tells Ryan what we can expect. The Labour party want state housing tenants to own their own home, Property Investors Federation Advocacy Manager Matt Ball shares his thoughts. Israel is going to the voting booth today, CBS Middle East Correspondent Linda Gradstein has the latest. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the details on two British nationals charged over an alleged plot to assist Iran's intelligence service as part of the investigation into the incident at RAF Fairford and the leaders of Norway and Finland held a rare 'frank' phone conversation with Vladimir Putin. 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.

This morning I can't stay silent on this issue that's been raised in the campaign. This comment, made by New Zealand First candidate and former Defence Minister Ron Mark, is outrageous and wrong. Ron, Ron, Ron. There is nothing wrong with an expressing oneself via a man bun. Some call them twat tops. A douche donut. A head turd. They've been called a lot of things, but a sign of weakness? No. Have you never seen a Japanese Samurai? Or a Norse Viking? Both are elite warriors. Samurai fight with swords and use them to literally chop off their enemy's head. These guys are tough. Pete Hegseth tough. They're ruthless. They're clinical. But also a bit stylish. What about Jason Mamoa? They don't call him a Hollywood heavyweight for nothing, do they? He's just bought a house in Queenstown worth $15m. Do you know what he paid with? Warrior cash. Do you know what he looked like doing it? Amazing. As anyone who's grown a bun or a top-knot knows all-too well, it takes balls of steel to stick it out through the awkward…