Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Scepticism as Health New Zealand claims staffing levels may not be as bleak as they look. 

The agency's released data across almost 615 wards last year, showing for 740-thousand shifts, around a quarter were below the target level at some point. 

Chief Nurse Nadine Gray says the figures could represent five minutes or less of under-resourcing across an eight hour shift. 

But Patient Voice Aotearoa Chair Malcolm Mulholland told Ryan Bridge he tends to believe the Nurses Organisation, which is concerned patients' needs aren't being met. 

He says anyone who's spent time in hospitals lately will know that staff are overrun. 

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The Government wants under-16's banned from social media, but any law change is many months away.  

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the move yesterday, which will require platforms to verify age via face scanning or either digital or physical IDs. 

It's not clear if the bill will have enough support, with ACT and New Zealand First agreeing to disagree, and Labour yet to fully back it.   

Labour's Technology and Media Spokesperson Reuben Davidson told Ryan Bridge they want to make sure the bill isn't just lifted from what other countries are doing. 

He says they want to make sure it's actually designed to work in the very specific New Zealand context. 

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Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 25 August.
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Labour's fallen into a cunning wee trap set by Nicola Willis a few weeks ago.  

She laid the bait —releasing 'fiscal rules' her party would abide by if re-elected— and challenged Labour to do the same.  

On the weekend, they took the bait and released their own 'fiscal strategy'. Which is different form their 'fiscal plan' – more on that in a second.  

The problem for Labour is that its strategy reveals that it wants to do exactly the things National has been saying they want to.  

Tax, borrow, and spend more.  

There's a gap between what they say they're willing to spend and what they have announced they'll tax.  

There are billions of dollars they want to spend that they haven't yet explained how they'll tax.  

Rental interest deductibility, which they'll announce soon, won't cover the shortfall.  

Which plays into National's attacks. And the entire basis of their campaign, which is that you can't trust Labour not to tax the bejeezus out of you and leave you broke.  

In an election campaign, unanswered questions, the void, is filled with noise.  

To be in control of a campaign, you want to be making the noise and not have others make it for you.  

And to make matters worse, Labour says they won't release their fiscal plan, which is more detailed and fills in the blanks, till the PREFU. Which is a month away.  

Until they front with some answers, you can't help but look at this as a successful election bait, set, trap from Nicola Willis. 

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday the 25th of August 2026, National’s pushing ahead with a social media ban for under-16s, Labour Spokesperson for Technology and Media Reuben Davidson, tells Ryan what it will take for Labour to support the bill.

Q2’s retail numbers show the Iran war is starting to hit the hip pocket, ASB senior economist Jane Turner shares her thoughts.

One in four nursing shifts was understaffed in 2025, Patient Voice Aotearoa Chair Malcolm Mulholland shares his concerns for patient safety. 

Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on multiple arrests as a corruption probe in the Victorian construction industry continues and a man accused of delivering more than a million dollars' worth of drugs to a prison.

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They’re calling it one of the All Blacks’ greatest wins in years.

A huge 33-16 victory over the Springboks at Ellis park -- our biggest ever there, and first win in South Africa in four years.

Former All Blacks Captain Sean Fitzpatrick joins Ryan Bridge from Johannesburg. 

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Well, well, well. Look who's feeling good on a Monday morning? 

We are. Little old New Zealand. 

Did we just beat the Springboks at Ellis Park? Yes, we did. 

Five tries to one. At altitude. Our first win in South Africa in four years. 

That's just for starters. The Black Ferns rolled the Aussies 66-19. 

If you thought the All Blacks six tries were impressive, how about 10 tries from the girls. 

Add to this the fact Liam Lawson is driving a big-boy car again, and the fact it's definitely the Warriors' year, again, and you've got yourself the ingredients of something special.

An overwhelming feeling of good vibes for a country that's been though a rough patch. 

Why stop there? We spoke about this last week but let's just remind ourselves again of S& P's latest growth outlook. 

The global ratings agency has upgraded our growth forecasts by half a percent. 

They reckon in 2026 we'll hit 2.4%. In 2027, 2.5%. 

Tick, tick, tick. 

This is, in part, because we're feeling more confident about our future. Domestic confidence is on the rise. 

And as for the Aussies? Our economy is going to grow faster than theirs.

The smart kiwis who buggered off to Sydney will surely return, no? Their housing downturn looks like the start of what we've just been through.

The fact we're predicted to grow, and not off the back of a house price boom, really is something else. 

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that I shouldn't jinx any of this. 

We're a failed box-kick, or an F1 penalty, or a tariff war, or real war, away from collapse. Misery. Disaster. 

That may well be true, but why not take the wins where we get them and celebrate. 

Winter is over. Spring is springing. The sun is rising. The tide is turning. Etc. Enjoy. 

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A big showdown in Johannesburg this weekend. 

The All Blacks are facing the Springboks for the first time on their tour of South Africa, clashing at Ellis Park at 3am Sunday. 

The Kiwi side is on a winning streak against the domestic sides, but the Springboks have won four of the past five meetings. 

Former Springbok Kevin Putt told Ryan Bridge the South African side is taking physicality to a whole new level. 

He says if they decide to beat the All Blacks up instead of just beating them, it could be a long day at the office. 

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Kiwibank is reporting a 9% drop in annual profit. 

It comes amid talk of a potential merger between Kiwibank and TSB Bank, if the current TSB-Heartland merger falls through. 

The Crown-owned bank says it's dealing with a challenging economic environment. 

Its net interest income —the gap between what it's receiving in interest and paying out in interest— has risen 1.7%. 

Massey University's Professor Claire Matthews told Ryan Bridge that suggests they're having to cut what they're charging on their loans in order to get the lending they're getting. 

She says that method is fine in the short term, but it's not maintainable in the long term. 

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New Zealand First's plan to force more Fonterra milk into the hands of rival manufacturers is being dismissed as a “dumb idea”. 

The party wants to amend the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act, giving qualifying manufacturers access to up to 500-million litres of Fonterra milk a year for six years – up from the current 50-million. 

Dairy industry analyst Peter Fraser told Ryan Bridge if NZ First wanted to build a fast-moving consumer goods industry, it should have started 25 years ago. 

He says even Goodman Fielder —with major brands across the country— would struggle to use half of that volume of milk, so thinking competitors would simply build a new factory is “nuts.” 

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