Concerns the Middle East conflict will make rising grocery prices worse.

The Infometrics-Foodstuffs New Zealand Grocery Supplier Cost Index finds suppliers charged 2.3 percent more on average in February, compared to a year earlier.

Annual average produce department costs rose 2.9 percent, the fastest in two years.

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge this doesn't capture rising fuel prices.

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Hamilton's welcoming the Homegrown Music Festival back to the city where it all began. 

Organisers announced last year the festival would leave Wellington after being held on the capital's waterfront for 18 years. 

Homegrown Chief Executive Andrew Tuck says Hamilton's Claudelands Oval will offer two-and-a-half times as much space, with acts like SIX60 and LAB set to take the stage. 

He says the lineup for this year’s festival is the strongest they’ve ever put together. 

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An electrification advocate says the rising price and falling supply of gas may not be a bad thing in the long-term. 

PwC research —commissioned by Gas Industry Co— has found New Zealand's gas market will need to shrink sharply as domestic supply declines.  

It warns this could mean business closures, job losses, and higher energy costs. 

Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey told Ryan Bridge it's going to be a tough transition, but we need to move away from gas anyway. 

He says gas is an expensive and inefficient technology, especially in homes, and the more people get off it, the better it will be for them in the long run. 

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New Zealand is still a long way off from car-less days, AA fuel spokesman Terry Collins predicts. 

Government ministers yesterday were receiving advice on emergency fuel measures that could be taken if fuel stocks got too low as a knock-on effect of Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. 

But Collins told Ryan Bridge Early Edition the Petroleum Demand Restraint Act, which allows for carless days and other options like fuel rationing, is very old fashioned. 

“In those days we didn't have things like working from home and all the types of IT that we do today that makes us maintain productivity in another way.” 

New Zealand also has a fuel security plan which was updated last year. “We hope it never has to be implemented, but at least we've got a plan and we've got legislation that if it's needed, we can implement.” 

There have been reports South Korea could ban exports of refined fuel products to ensure they had sufficient supply at home. That would have major impacts here as New Zealand receives 48% of its refined fuel from the east Asian nation. 

In that event, New Zealand would have to look for different markets including Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia, Collins said. 

“We get a tiny bit out of places like India and the US, but basically we'd be in the same scramble as many other countries.” 

Oil prices are “so unpredictable”, he said. “One thing history's taught me is America tends to underestimate how long they stay in conflict. So I'm very concerned when they talk about weeks when it looks like it could be months.” 

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We're learning a few hard truths this week and the old saying rings true - you don't know what you've got 'til its gone.

Parties on the left and the right all crying out for more oil. Turns out, it's actually still quite important.

A decent supply of it at a stable price.

And we're a long way off from that strait opening and running at full capacity again.

Trump's talking victory. Winston told me this week the war will be over before people think. But there are sea mines and rocket launchers and drones hitting that strait. No shipping company, or insurer, is going near there for a while yet.

The uprising we were told would happen hasn't happened. We've go the old boss' son in charge, and they've just killed his mum, dad and most of his family.

He's not giving up anytime soon, is he?

More important than oil is food. We've got the Wattie's plant closures.

The frozen vegetables are grown here. Peas and beans. Like peaches before them, there'll be some cheaper imported alternative filling the shelves.

The farmer's complaints? Regulation. They're drowning in it. Paperwork up the wazoo.

It was the same story with pork.

Again, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.

So once this crisis is over, perhaps we remember how important food and oil are to our daily lives and stop demonising the very people trying to keep our tummies and gas tanks full.

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 13th of March 2025, the Government could consider car-less days to help with fuel security, AA Fuel Spokesperson, Terry Collins shares his thoughts. 

Homegrown Festival is back, but this time in Hamilton, Homegrown Festival Founder Andrew Tuck shares his thoughts. 

According to a new report the Maui gas field could run dry by 2027, Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey tells Ryan Bridge what impacts that could have on the energy sector. 

Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Iran targeting the international financial district in Dubai with a drone and a British man has been charged under cyber-crime laws in Dubai after allegedly filming Iranian missiles over the city.

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Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga is a contender to be named as one of Dave Rennie’s assistant coaches, possibly on defence. 

The Moana Pasifika mentor would replace Tamati Ellison. 

Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby, Elliott Smith told Ryan Bridge it’s not really a surprise.  

He says he’s got a strong connection to Rennie, having played under him for Wellington and the NPC going back 25 years. 

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Labour's new education spokesperson says giving non-unionised educators pay increases will divide teachers further.

Boards can now make individual employment offers to non-NZEI primary teachers after the union rejected three recent deals.

Ginny Andersen told Ryan Bridge it undermines existing bargaining and teachers would get more under the collective if it kept being negotiated.

She says this is a short-cut that gives them less money and not as good conditions. 

Ginny Andersen took over the portfolio in Labour's shadow Cabinet reshuffle yesterday, replacing Willow-Jean Prime.

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The impact of the Heinz Wattie's restructure won't be felt by growers straight away. 

The company plans to shut three manufacturing facilitates in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and packing operations in Hastings. 

It's because of a planned move away from selling frozen vegetables, Gregg's Coffee, and several dips, which means 350 jobs are on the line. 

Process Vegetables New Zealand Chair David Hadfield told Ryan Bridge the current year's contracts have been locked in. 
 
He says harvests are either finished, halfway through, or about to start, so it will only effect growers next season. 

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Labour's new education spokesperson Ginny Anderson shares her thoughts on non-union teachers offered a pay rise from the Public Service Commission. 

Watties is looking to axe production of its frozen vegetables, Chair of Process Vegetables NZ David Hadfield explains how it will impact growers. 

All Blacks legend Tana Umaga has reportedly been picked by Dave Rennie to be an assistant coach, Newstalk ZB Rugby Editor Elliot Smith tells Ryan how significant this appointment could be.

Plus US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the latest on US strikes on Iranian naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the International Energy Agency's decision to release 400 million barrels of stockpiled oil. 

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