Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Students are underwhelmed by the loan changes National would make, if re-elected. 

Graduates would be able to pay off their debt over a longer period - with compulsory repayments lowered from 12 to 10 percent. 

But those living overseas would be charged an extra one percent in annual interest. 

Victoria University Student Association president Aidan Donoghue told Ryan Bridge students have raised plenty of issues this year - that this policy doesn't touch on. 

He says there's no talk about increasing the income threshold for when you start repayments, or any changes to repayments if you're still studying. 

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday 31st of August 2026, National's promising to cut student loan repayments if re-elected, VUWSA President Aidan Donoghue tells Ryan if this will make much of a difference for students.

Business Correspondent Vicky Pryce has the latest on a Jackson Hole meeting of Central bankers but while US fed and ECB now anticipated to raise rates in September, warnings this weekend if fertiliser shortages threatening food supplies in the UK and economies so far seem to be still able to grow both in the UK and Europe.

The All Blacks winning streak in South Africa has ended with the Springboks winning 33-26 in Cape Town, former All Blacks Captain Sean Fitzpatrick shares his thoughts.

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on a vessel that capsized off northern Cyprus and Andy Burnham saying two infamous police killers will remain behind bars.

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Two questions for you this morning if you're buying or have bought a property recently.

1. Did you get a pre-purchase inspection done?

2. And did that person have a qualification? 

Remember leaky buildings? Well, there are a builders and surveyors out there who reckon we're sitting on another leaky building saga. 

There was a very good piece in the Herald at the weekend about this. 

New builds, builds less than 10 years old, failing. Looks spick and span on the outside, underneath, the timber's damp. There's mould. 

Water is getting inside the walls of houses that are pretty new.

I don't know about you, but when somebody builds a house, or apartment, it should keep the water out. 

I've spoken to some builders and tradies about this. They're worried too. 

They tell me there are two problems. One is builders and developers who cut corners, using materials sourced from overseas that look the similar to products we use here, but aren't. 

The other red flag they talk about is price. There are builders and developers undercutting them on jobs with prices that seem absurd. 

How on earth can you build something for 75% of the cost of the rest of your competitors? 

Now I know what you're thinking. Chill out, bro. I got a pre-purchase inspection. 

And the Council signed it off. 

Bad news. Anyone can call themselves a building surveyor or inspector. 

I could. I could start a business tomorrow. Inspect your house. Write a report. Charge like a wounded bull. Take some photos on an iPhone. Email you a report. And bob's your uncle. 

You don't need a licence. You don't a formal qualification. You don't even need insurance, according to the Herald piece. 

The thing about these types of stories is that it's mostly anecdotal.

How widespread is this problem? Is it 1% of new builds? Is it 20? 

You don't know what you don't know. 

And by the time you find out, your walls are wet and filled with mould. 

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The All Blacks are back in action this weekend for their second clash against the Springboks. 

They're aiming to keep their momentum rolling after a clean sweep of the tour so far and a decisive victory in their first test against the South African side.  

Newstalk ZB's voice of rugby Elliott Smith joined Ryan Bridge to discuss the changes to the team, and how he thinks things will play out this time around. 

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Crypto investors are hoping a new policy will stop punishing them in the long term. 

ACT's campaigning on modernising regulations, including allowing tax-free profits on crypto held for more than a year, and a 12 month brightline test. 

Party Leader David Seymour believes our tax system currently treats crypto coins as an asset. 

Swyftx New Zealand Country Manager Paul Quickenden told Ryan Bridge every time you buy or sell, there's effectively a capital gains tax. 

He says there's a lot of work for a very small amount of tax. 

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Freight drivers are warning against pushing back roading projects. 

Labour's promised no hikes to the fuel excise over the next three years, if elected.  

Instead it'll consider pushing back National Land Transport Fund projects to make up for the reduced income. 

Transporting NZ Chief Executive Dom Kalasih told Ryan Bridge this would be a mistake as a reliable road network is extremely important for productivity. 

He says any holding off on roading investment is false economy – it's short term gain for long term pain. 

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Are we about to witness the return of the pothole? 

Both Labour and National want to freeze increases to the petrol tax.  

Labour would stop 22c a litre over three years. The Nats probably won't, coalition willing, go ahead with the 12c hike pencilled in for January.  

The problem is this money goes into a big fund —along with RUCS from trucks— to pay for building and fixing our roads.  

Remember at the last election, people were angry as hell about potholes. They're nasty things. Wheely annoying. Rim-wreckers. Rim-shredders. 

Panel beaters had a field day, performing more rim jobs than you could shake a stick at. 

We had 62k potholes back then. Highest number in a decade.  

The money to fill them in comes from the petrol tax – it's ring-fenced into a pothole fund. Less money in that mean means crapper roads.  

To make matters worse, Labour wants to raid this fund to pay for cheaper bus fares for city folk. It's one of their election promises.  

So, the fund is being starved on new money at the same it's being robbed – a Peter to pay Paul-type situation.  

The coalition's making its call on Monday about the funding.  

The easy route is to stop the tax. The hard route is to hike it.  

Which means no matter who's in charge, we'll probably have cheaper gas next year but wrecked rims, and that includes, ironically, the buses. 

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 28th of August 2026, National says it won't increase the petrol tax in January by 12 cents a litre, Transporting NZ CEO Dom Kalasih tells Ryan why this is problematic for roading infrastructure.

Newstalk ZB's voice of rugby Elliott Smith is in Cape Town for the All Blacks game against the Springboks, he tells Ryan what we can expect. 

Paul Quickenden Swyftx NZ Country Manager shares his thoughts on ACT launching its plan to make NZ a country of crypto-pioneers.

Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on UEFA is pursuing criminal legal proceedings against Fifa and its president Gianni Infantino and new data showing there has been a significant fall in the sue of hotels to house asylum seekers waiting for a Home Office decision.

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ACT's pledging to abolish the Climate Commission. 

The Party claims it's cost $100 million since it was established and only writes reports, duplicates work, and proposes ridiculous ideas. 

They're proposing folding responsibility for assessing emissions reduction progress into mega-Ministry MCERT, culling the Commission and its Board. 

NZ Climate Change Research Institute's Adrian Macey told Ryan Bridge while there are some issues with the Commission's target recommendations, having an independent voice is important.  

He says they don't just make targets, they also look at how the country can prepare for the impact and adapt to climate change. 

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The dairy sector's booming, but some are calling for more support to ensure it continues. 

A report commissioned by DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association has found dairy exports reached almost $29 billion in 2025, and supports more than 51 thousand jobs. 

It also finds the dairy sector is a backbone of much of regional New Zealand's economy, wages, and job market.  

Association Executive Director Kimberly Crewther told Ryan Bridge farmers want policy that supports innovation. 

She says there needs to be reliable infrastructure domestically, with abundant and affordable energy 

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