Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Fifty-one business leaders have signed an open letter from business think tank the New Zealand Initiative urging political parties to drop interventionist policies.  

It responds to campaign proposals to structurally reform the grocery sector.   

National and New Zealand First propose splitting Foodstuffs.  

Labour wants grocery brands split into separate retail and wholesale arms, and the Greens want to establish a government owned grocery store.  

Initiative Executive Director Oliver Hartwich told Ryan Bridge parties shouldn't entertain policies that completely go against the economic constitution of the country. 

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2026, the independent review into how the Reserve Bank under Adrian Orr handled the Covid and post Covid era has landed, ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith shares his thoughts. 

Prominent business leaders have signed an open letter calling on all parties to protect private property rights and freedom of contract, NZ Initiative Executive Director Oliver Hartwich shares concerns of businesses. 

Workplace harm is seemingly going down, but there's still a way to go, Business Leaders' Health and Safety Forum Chief Executive Francois Barton tells Ryan what we can do to improve safety. 

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the UK providing defensive air-to-air refuelling supporting for Saudi Arabia, in response to Houthis attacks in Yemen and UK PM meets Donald Trump at the pair's first face-to-face meeting later.

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The problem with writing books and not fact-checking them properly is that you get yourself tangled in knots. 

At best, forced to apologise. At worst, sued. 

I haven't read the one launched in Wellington yesterday. I watched the press conference and the stand-up afterwards. 

There was one allegation made of note that has been denied by the current and past board chairs of the Taxpayer's Union. 

But writing a book based on interviews with people, without proper factchecking or documentation, is fraught business. 

Due diligence goes a long way. 

Look no further than Earl Spencer – Princess Diana's brother who wrote a book writing off Charles as some sort of giddy widow. 

Well, also in his book he claimed Piers Morgan was in-part behind the taking of photographs of Diana attending gym in a leotard with a secret camera. 

The only problem for Spencer, had he bother to check, was that Piers was not in fact the editor of the Mirror newspaper the book assumed him to be until two years rafter the photos were taken. 

Piers was ropeable. 

Spencer has been forced to apologise. 

It should serve as fair warning that, whether it's penned in London or Wellington, you can't believe everything that's written down. 

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A tax expert believes Labour's changed stance on interest deductibility makes complete sense. 

Labour's confirmed it won't change the current Government's rules allowing landlords to deduct 100% of interest in tax returns.  

It had previously criticised the policy as a tax cut for landlords, but Chris Hipkins believes their proposed Capital Gains Tax will address the issue. 

Deloitte Tax Partner Robin Walker told Ryan Bridge changing the rules would just be deferring when interest deductions get made. 

She says logically what would happen if deductions were denied is revenue from a capital gains tax would go much further down from what's forecast. 

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A student leader believes universities will hit a wall when it comes to funding without the Fees Free scheme.  

Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds says despite supporting more than 300,000 students from 2018-2025, covering more than $2 billion in fees, it didn't meaningfully lift participation or provide a good return.  

But Victoria University of Wellington Students Association president Aidan Donoghue told Ryan Bridge universities will have to change tack without the scheme. 

He says they will have to ask for more government funding or require more from students. 

Donoghue says fees have already increased 20% in three years. 

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There's a suggestion consumer spending is recovering, but essential costs are leaving less for the fun stuff.

Kiwibank research reveals more than 71% of card transactions in August was on credit cards – the highest share since records began in 2002.

A decade ago, credit cards made up less than half of card spending.

Independent economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge power bills and rates are eating into disposable income.

He says there's a structural shift underway, with more money going towards essential costs and less into the retail sector.

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Labour has finally seen the light on interest deductibility. 

That's where a landlord, like any other legitimate business in New Zealand, is able to deduct the expense of its capital borrowing, i.e. a mortgage, against taxable income. 

After expenses, what's left over is taxed. 

This is a genuine surprise to me. The word I'd been getting from some Labour MPs, and the industry, was that they would allow a 50% deduction rather than the current 100%. 

Of course, the deduction has always made sense and arguments against made little. 

"Housing shouldn't be a business because it's essential" has always been a bogus line. Food, electricity, and water are also essential. They're all free and able to deduct interest on their borrowing to own and build supermarkets, wind turbines, and treatment plants – whether publicly or privately owned. 

There are two reasons for this: 

Labour's capital gains tax revenue would have been hit by landlords claiming the deductions at point of sale, leaving a hole in their free GP budget. 

It's also a play for the centre. They're dropping in the polls – the nine new taxes adverts are, I think, largely to blame. 

Continuing landlord tax cuts (as they like to call them) is a play from the same political handbag as National's supermarket break-up. 

Neither party's MPs like the move. They're Captain's calls. They're centre plays. But they don't, in their hearts, these MPs, like backing them. 

On latest polling the legacy parties are scrapping for less than 60% of the vote, their lowest collective share on record. 

National's trying to out-Labour Labour, and Labour's trying to out-National National. 

The risk for both is that it only angers their base, who run screaming into the arms of Chlöe or David. 

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 22nd of September 2026, the Tertiary Education Minister says the taxpayer sent over $2 billion on the defunct fees free policy, VUWSA President Aidan Donoghue 
shares his thoughts. 

More Kiwis are relying on our credit cards to pay for stuff as cost-of-living pressures bite, Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie explains.  

The Labour Party has announced it will not campaign on reintroducing a tax rule that would cost residential property investors, Deloitte Tax Partner Robyn Walker shares her thoughts.

Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Anthony Albanese’s bid to get Australia onto the UN Security Council.

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An expert believes National's proposed pre-school check carries merit and is definitely worth exploring.

The party says its early childhood policy will set clearer expectations for what children are checked on before school.

If re-elected, National wants to end screen and device use in ECE and introduce a School Start Check before children transition to primary school. 

Advocates for Early Learning Excellence Chair Kelly Seaburg told Ryan Bridge it's good to see if children can manage basic things like getting dressed and going to the bathroom.

She says the checks may help show if additional teaching strategies are required.

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Labour says it will tackle the supermarket duopoly in its first 100 days, if it forms the next government. 

The party will force Foodstuffs and Woolworths to break their wholesale and retail arms up into separate businesses. 

It says it will also crack down on big companies ripping people off - by making price gouging illegal. 

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Spokesperson Arena Williams told Ryan Bridge the idea for a wholesale-retail split comes from the Commerce Commission's work. 

She says National could have done this in 2025 - when Woolworths brought a credible plan to transition the industry to separate wholesalers. 

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