It’s a big weekend for rugby, with the Warriors final against the Panthers falling at the same time as the All Blacks second clash with South Africa.  

It’s been ten years since the All Blacks claimed victory over the Springboks in Wellington – will they be able to pull off another win? 

And the Warriors are entering the playoffs in 6th place after a season filled with ups and downs – how will they fare against the Panthers? 

Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby Elliott Smith and sports journalist Nick Bewley joined Ryan Bridge to preview the weekend’s clashes. 

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There's concern there's a creep towards privatisation in a refreshed curriculum. 

The Government's overhauling senior secondary school subjects, with new options to be phased in from 2028. 

Vocational subjects including engineering, building, and construction will be industry-led. 

Principal of Auckland's Albany Senior High School Claire Amos told Ryan Bridge it could mean losing the benefits of a school-led approach. 

She says some of the most powerful vocational learning is happening in the context of schools meeting the needs of their distinct communities. 

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 12th of September 2025, Erica Stanford's revealed the new subjects which will be included in the replacement of NCEA, Albany Senior High School Principal Claire Amos shares her thoughts.

Newstalk ZB's Elliot Smith and Nick Bewley provide some analysis ahead of the All Blacks and Warriors games this weekend. 

A manhunt is still underway in the us to search for the killer of conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian David Smith has the latest out of the US. 

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Peter Mandelson's sacking.

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The FBI is releasing images of the latest person of interest following the shooting of Charlie Kirk. 

The highly influential conservative activist was shot at an event at Utah Valley University yesterday morning and later died in hospital. 

The manhunt continues for the person responsible after two people were questioned but later released from custody. 

Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian David Smith has the latest out of the US. 

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This week NASA found the clearest sign yet of ancient life on Mars.

We learned that for the first time in human history, there more obese children on earth than underweight children.

In the Middle East, missiles bomb peace talks.

Over the skies of Europe we’ve got drones and fighter jets.

In the US, supposedly the first among free nations, another political assassination.

It’s times like this you think, what a strange species. 

If those Martian aliens turned up here, what would they think of us? How would we explain ourselves?

Religion is about loving thy neighbour, but we fight in the name of it.

Food is scarce but some have too much and others too little.

Democracy means freedom until you’re shot in the head for speaking your mind.

Of course none of this is unusual.

We’ve done this since the beginning of time. Fight, kill, war, rinse and repeat.

Animals fight for territory, food and survival. We do that to, but we also fight just because we can't agree with each other. 

I think what it all boils down to is the fact we’re social beings. It can work for us but it can work against us - arguably, social media is making this all worse.

So what are we to conclude? How are we to explain ourselves to an alien? 

What if they landed tomorrow in some big spacecraft, who would you take them to meet?

Donald Trump? Xi Jinping? The Pope? The King?

Honestly I don’t know.

Maybe we’d be better off asking a question: have you got any room for me up there? 

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New Zealand appears to be a gateway for migration to other countries. 

Latest Stats NZ data shows there were 14 thousand migrant arrivals and nearly 10 thousand departures in the year to July. 

Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley told Ryan Bridge we're seeing more people migrate to New Zealand, who then move on to Australia. 

He says the Australians have been actively recruiting here for a number of years, offering better salaries and pension conditions. 

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Calls for swift intervention to keep our young people healthy.  

A United Nations report suggests 9.4% of those aged five to 19-years-old are obese, and 9.2% are underweight. 

In the year 2000, 12% were underweight and just 3% were obese.  

Save the Children Advocacy Director Jacqui Southey told Ryan Bridge there needs to be better education around what is and isn't healthy.  

She says some products may appear healthy but are actually packed with sugars, salts, and fats. 

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A big commitment from Jetstar and its parent Qantas as both airlines make big moves to expand routes.

Jetstar's adding new routes from Brisbane to Queenstown and Hamilton to Christchurch and increasing capacity on five domestic and trans-Tasman routes.

Qantas is also expanding routes and will begin flying state-of-the-art A220 aircraft between Wellington and Brisbane from February.

Aviation Commentator Irene King shares her thoughts with Ryan. 

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Remember it was only a month ago Trump was parading around an Alaskan Air Force base, talking up peace for Ukraine.

Within weeks, Putin sends 800 drones across the border - the biggest attack of the war so far.

He’s targeted EU and British government buildings in Kyiv. He’s now entered NATO airspace. The fighter jets were scrambled. The alarm bells rang in Brussels. 

Does any of this sound like progress?

Does any of this sound like diplomacy is doing a god damn thing to stop regular folk being slaughtered in the crossfire?

No, of course not.

Meanwhile Netanyahu’s firing missiles into Doha. 

And who was he aiming for?

The Hamas lead negotiator. The same guy who, as recently as last week, was being given ceasefire details from the Americans via the Egyptians and Qataris.  

If you really want peace, you don’t fire missiles at the guy you’re negotiating with.

Now if you’re Hamas, what are you going to do now the place you thought was safe to have talks no longer feels safe?

Some in Hamas believe the whole thing was a set-up, according to the BBC. 

The American ceasefire proposal was all a trick to get them in one place at time, then bang. Bomb them. Blow them up. 

Can’t blame them for thinking that. 

It doesn’t matter where you look, which continent, which war, diplomacy is not working. 

The Americans look weak. Trump looks weak. Netanyahu’s taking him for a ride. Putin couldn’t care less.

And one guy in the world sitting back watching, smiling, biding his time, and growing a military empire is Xi Jinping of China.

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 11th of September 2025, more New Zealand citizens are leaving the country than ever before, Massey University Sociologist Paul Spoonley tells Ryan about the impact it'll have on the country's growth. 

Jet Star's announced it's biggest ever expansion here with over 600,000 extra seats, Airline Commentator Irene King tells Ryan about the impact it'll have on Air New Zealand.

More children are now obese than they are underweight, Jacqui Southey from Save the Children shares her thoughts.

Plus could there be life on Mars? US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest from a NASA press conference about a rock showing potential of ancient life. 

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