Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

The Government's being criticised for giving the country the run-around with next year's fuel tax.
It's cancelled the 12 cent per litre hike and equivalent lift to road user charges that were set to take effect in January.
The next rise of five cents a litre now kicks in from January 2028.
AA Fuel Spokesperson Terry Collins told Ryan Bridge the Land Transport Fund has been under stress because it's unable to get enough money to do the work that's needed.
He says any time there's funding uncertainty or money is removed from it, it adds to the problem, kicking it down the road and making it bigger in the future.
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ACT's proposing changes to Permanent Resident Visa requirements to make sure holders are actually living here.
The party wants to increase the initial two-year travel condition for Resident Visa holders to five.
Residents would be able to travel freely in and out of the country after this period, but would need to spend at least 730 days here during any rolling five-year period.
Immigration Spokesperson Parmjeet Parmar told Ryan Bridge they want people to be living, working, and contributing in New Zealand.
She says they're welcoming all migrants who genuinely want to be here, but her job is to fix the system if it's being exploited.
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There are concerns Labour's graduate nurse policy could simply shift staffing pressures from hospitals to aged care.
Labour's promising $525 million to give every graduate nurse a job offer after they pass their exams.
But the Aged Care Association says while that could ease pressure on hospitals, it could leave aged care struggling to recruit.
Chief Executive Tracey Martin told Ryan Bridge that's what's happened historically.
She says generally when the hospitals stop hiring, their workforce is stable.
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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 1st of September 2026, the Government has agreed not to raise the fuel excise tax next year, AA fuel spokesperson Terry Collins shares his thoughts.
Act says it wants permanent residents to actually reside in New Zealand, Act Party MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar explains.
Labour’s promising every graduate nurse a job in the public health system if re-elected, Aged Care Association Chief Executive explains more of the nurses are needed in aged care to keep up with demand.
Plus Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on massive fines and new rules for e-scooter riders in Queensland and a baby’s body found in a rubbish bin in Sydney.
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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You know how New Zealanders love it when foreign countries, or media, or even tourists talk about us?
They're always the most read stories on news sites – it's like a national pastime.
Oh look! Brad Pitt says New Zealand is beautiful! Oh look, Jason Mamoa did a bungee and Queenstown is beautiful!
Well, have I got news for you, New Zealand.
S&P, the global ratings agency, has just done a bungee on our country's finances.
It's mostly good news: low net debt, growth of 2.5% a year, good Government. Safe, sound, stable outlook.
The equivalent of a 4-star Tripadvisor review.
But there's one number that should be making headlines – it's on page 4.
10%.
Our country has been borrowing more money to fund stuff, including everyday spending and election promises.
They issue bonds, or debt, to investors and pay them interest for the pleasure.
Those interest costs are going up because of the bond market sell-off we've been talking about on this show.
S&P says the amount we're paying interest will reach 9% of government revenue (i.e. tax) in 2029.
That means for every million bucks the Government earns in tax, it pays almost $100k just on interest on its debt.
Interest is our fourth most expensive item on the Government's books – more than we spend schooling our kids through primary and secondary.
S&P says interest costs of more than 10% of revenue could result in 'weaker debt metrics'.
That's not a good thing. It means we're stretching ourselves. We could get a credit downgrade.
People start looking at us sideways asking, can those guys pay back what they owe us or are they taking the Mickey?
That's not the sort of reputation this country can afford.
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