The All Whites are kicking off their FIFA World Cup campaign this afternoon. 

It’s the first time since 2010 that they’ve made it into the tournament, and they’re facing Iran in their opening match. 

Weekend Sport’s Jason Pine told Andrew Dickens set pieces will likely be All Whites’ best opportunity to score goals. 

He says the opportunities won’t come along very often, so when they do, they will have to take them. 

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The Middle East War has left Iran with a harder-line regime than before, says The Guardian's Washington Bureau Chief. 

David Smith told Andrew Dickens that although the United States and Iran have agreed on a deal to end the war, it is more relief than resolution. 

“I think it's hard to celebrate after such a rough war with so many civilian casualties, we should not forget them. And frankly, a war that's left the Iranian population worse off now with a more hardline regime and an economic crisis. 

"Also many critics would argue [the war] has dealt a real blow to US power and prestige and shown the limits of that power." 

Smith said he believes the Iranian regime will be less likely to make concessions on its nuclear programme. 

"I think partly because the Iranian regime does feel emboldened. For them, nearly hanging on and surviving was victory, and they achieved that. And we now have something more like a military junta that is younger and more radicalised and feels emboldened that it managed to stand up to the Goliath Americans." 

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MPs may be underestimating just how negatively the public views their use of parliamentary allowances.

There's renewed scrutiny of politicians claiming taxpayer-funded accommodation allowances while owning their own Wellington homes.

The Opportunity Party is campaigning on reforming the rules.

Political commentator Bryce Edwards told Andrew Dickens there could be real public appetite for change.

He says story-after-story seems to receive strong feedback. 

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There are a lot of people who think the media are a left-wing lobby group.

And they think Stuff is one of the leftiest of them all.

So, explain to me why Stuff has just appointed Mathew Hooton as their new editor, apparently after he was shoulder tapped by Sinead Boucher.

Yesterday the Post reported this about their new editor.

"Hooton's CV includes being a Young Nat, a press secretary in the Bolger Government, a strategist for National during the Don Brash years ... an adviser for ACT, a strategic consultant for iwi, banks, most corporate sectors, government departments, and the ultra-rich - and a short-lived stint as Wayne Brown's adviser."

Totally socialist. Not.

But if you read Matthew and if you meet Matthew, you'll know he has one of the clearest understandings of how power works in this country both left and right politically. And at a corporate level. And in Te Ao Māori.

People in this country are far too quick to generalise. They don't understand the difference between left and right, often confusing them between conservative and liberal and the difference between demand side and supply side economics.

I've grown frustrated at hearing supposedly rightist people demanding government intervention and not realising they're straying out of their lane.

So, Matthew I think is a genius move - so let the ructions begin.

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On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 16th of June 2026, The US and Iran have agreed a deal to end the war, which Pakistan says will be signed on Friday in Switzerland, Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian David Smith tells Andrew if this deal is going to stick. 

The All Whites will take on Iran in their first game of the FIFA World Cup, Weekend Sport Host Jason Pine shares his thoughts on how the All Whites will play. 

Political commentator and Director of the Democracy Project Bryce Edwards shares his thoughts on the Opportunities Party committing to all their MPs not getting taxpayer funded entitlements in an unfair way.

Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on a shark attack at a Sydney beach and Australia’s richest person investing in Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

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Donald Trump's peace deal with Iran's could be dead in the water - with Israel being the one to push it overboard. 

Israeli forces have killed three people in Beirut, in strikes the US President says shouldn't have happened - and that Iran's now vowing to respond to.

Earlier Trump insisted the deal will still be signed today. 

Global affairs reporter Simon Marks told Andrew Dickens there is absolute fury at the White House over the Israeli attack. 

He says the Iranians have said there's no point continuing talks with the US - as it clearly doesn't have control over Israel. 

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On Saturday I went to my local rugby club’s game. North Shore versus Northcote. A game Shore comfortably won

And there I met the president of the club Laurie Magrain, who as it happens is a fan of this station and the Chair of New Zealand’s second largest dairy company, Open Country.
He told me he’s been down at Field Days all week.

Of course being a nosey radio guy I googled Laurie when I got home and discovered he’d been making a noise at Field Days
He’d been talking about the review of the Act that regulated our milk industry

The Act gives the responsibility of calculating the farmgate milk price to Fonterra because when it was set up it was the biggest player by far

These days Fonterra controls 78 per cent national milk so he’d like other milk companies to have more say in setting the farmgate price

he argues the market isn’t truly competitive, and without clear, open pricing rules, smaller processors can’t compete on equal footing.

I agree.

It’s a funny thing about business philosophy.  More competition does create better scenarios. Meanwhile monopolies can be bloated yet can also in certain cases create efficiencies.

With the rise of the independent milk companies it’s time to let them have more say to sharpen up Fonterra and give more choice to farmers.

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On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday 15th of June 2026, Trump says a US/Iran agreement could be signed today, with mediators saying a deal is within reach.

Business correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on oil prices following a potential US/Iran peace deal, how will the UK pay for defence and forthcoming Bank of England interest rate decision this week and the European Central Bank raised rates a bit, what does it mean for growth? 

Nicola Willis has called out Labour for having a $18.2 billion spending hole in their policy plan, Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts on whether we need a independent verifier to stop 'fiscal holes'. 

Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on British armed forces intercepting a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel and Switzerland votes in a referendum to decide on a proposal to cap their population at 10 million.

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun.  

Mexico claimed victory over South Africa in the opening match of the tournament – scoring a goal in each half to win the match 2-nil. 

Next up, South Korea and the Czech Republic are taking the centre stage at Guadalajara Stadium. 

The current favourites to win the Cup are Spain, France, Brazil, and England, with Argentina close behind. 

But Weekend Sport Host Jason Pine told Francesca Rudkin there are some underdogs worth keeping an eye on, such as Japan and Ecuador.  

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Johns Hopkins foreign policy analyst Jeffrey Pryce is sceptical of US President Donald Trump’s claim that an agreement in the Middle East is approved and ready to be signed. 

Speaking to Francesca Rudkin, Pryce pointed to the extensive demands in a proposed Memorandum of Understanding from several weeks ago, which did not progress. 

That MoU had included a permanent ceasefire, likely including Lebanon; the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and removal of the US naval blockade; and the beginning of nuclear negotiations, possibly including progress on unfreezing Iranian assets or lifting sanctions on Iran.  

There was also a push for the Gulf states to sign the Abraham Accords – all of which was “a lot to put into an agreement”. 

Pryce did agree with Trump that the Iranian decision-making progress could be very extended. 

“Things have to be brought up to the Supreme Leader, who is by all accounts severely injured, and they have a sort of a long, painstaking process of decision making. So it's possible that we're getting closer to a deal.” 

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