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Sophie Trigger: Senior Political Reporter on the preparations ahead of Waitangi Day
The Government's announced a funding boost for Māori economic development projects on the eve of Waitangi Day. Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says $7.1 million will go towards three projects in Northland and Taranaki. He says a major infrastructure upgrade at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds is going well, and some new facilities will be open in time for this year's celebrations. Senior Political Reporter Sophie Trigger is on the ground and told Andrew Dickens it's set to be a busy day, with politicians arriving this morning. She says last year there was a separate powhiri for Government and Opposition, but they'll all be arriving side-by-side today. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Kieran McAnulty: Labour's housing spokesperson on the Government's new Kainga Ora plan
The opposition is criticising Kainga Ora's turnaround plan. The Government's told the landlord to focus on its core service: social housing. It's announced savings including ending sustainable housing certification requirements and shedding a quarter of its staff. Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty told Andrew Dickens he's perplexed that the Housing Minister calls this a success. He says the need for social housing continues to grow and the governments answer is to not build houses. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Andrew Dickens: My theory on why the PM is avoiding Waitangi
This week it was the perennial should he or shouldn’t he go debate about the Prime Minister. Personally, I’d always go to Waitangi if I were Prime Minister, even if it was just for one of the days of ceremonies. The Air Force is weak but they’re perfectly capable of getting him to both Waitangi and Akaroa if he wanted to. It’s said his non-attendance is a snub of Māori but there’s another way of looking at it. He could be staying away because he doesn’t want to ruffle Māori feathers. He has publicly said repeatedly that the Treaty Principles Bill is going nowhere so why go somewhere where he’ll get the heat for something he’s never intended to do? David Seymour can go and is. It’s David’s baby and he’s more than happy to stand to it. He’ll take the heat, and he’ll give it back But our PM doesn’t want to go somewhere where he’ll be yelled at for something he won’t do. So maybe this isn’t a snub of Māori but it is one of his right wing supporters. They are getting increasingly vocal that they’ve been sold a damp squib. That he’s no different to the other mob. A liberal. A globalist. A Māori apologist. And worst of all, a man without a plan. His weekly media round is becoming increasingly fractious with all sides demanding he actually do something more than cutting all spending. Questions about policy is being answered repeatedly with “we’re looking at that down the track”. Which is this year’s version of working groups and announcements of announcements. Hopefully Christopher Luxon has a pleasant time at Akaroa Harbour because that’s the way he likes it. A quiet deferential crowd who loves the PM just because he’s the PM. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Full Show Podcast: 05 February 2025
Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 5 February. 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.
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Mark Smith: ASB Senior Economist on New Zealand's unemployment data
An economist says some groups of people will be hit harder by rising unemployment. The country's labour market data for the final quarter of 2024 will be released this morning. Most experts predict the unemployment rate will rise from 4.6-percent to about 5-percent. ASB senior economist Mark Smith told Andrew Dickens the Wellington region's likely to be heavily impacted He says it picks up in the younger age group, because what typically happens is the last ones into the labour market are the first ones out. Smith says some ethnic groups will also be effected, like Maori and Pacific Islanders. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.
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