Phase two of the Covid-19 inquiry begins today, creating space for the public to submit feedback around key decisions the New Zealand government made during the pandemic.

Whether it is vaccine mandates, lockdowns, extended lockdowns, rat tests, and tracing, anyone can have their say. 

How will this phase differ from the first initiative? 

Matthew Hague is a lawyer who defended a client who didn't want the COVID jab, and talks to Ryan Bridge about what this new phase means. 

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What happened over the weekend in sport?

Newstalk ZB's Andrew Alderson joins the show to discuss the India v England T20 match, Auckland FC's 'impressive' win, Lydia Ko's struggle and the NFL heading to Australia. 

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Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Monday 3 February.
Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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There's confidence from the wool sector that Kainga Ora will learn the value of wool carpets. 

The social housing agency's back-tracking on a previous ban after using synthetic carpets for more than a decade. 

It will now allow wool carpet providers to tender for carpet and underlay contracts. 

Campaign for Wool general manager Kara Biggs told Andrew Dickens there's an opportunity to show Kainga Ora how wool can compete on price and value now. 

She says that wool is natural, flame resistant, warmer, and more absorbent, which means it's a better and healthier alternative for those in community housing.

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New Zealand remains in the dark about Donald Trump's tariff plan, as new data shows the US has overtaken Australia as our second largest destination for exported goods. 

Business NZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard told Andrew Dickens blanket tariffs wouldn't have the same impact as targeted tariffs. 

She says it would mean the cost will be passed on to the US consumer rather than having to be absorbed by exporters, and we would still be competitive against other markets. 

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Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Friday 31 January.
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Children's Minister Karen Chhour has reversed an Oranga Tamariki decision to pull funding from the Barnardos helpline.

It comes after Oranga Tamariki providers were given little notice their funding would end last year, a process the Auditor General is looking into.

The Minister has told Oranga Tamariki to pause it's review of funding and extend existing contracts with providers until the end of the year.

Barnardos Chief Executive Matt Reid has welcomed the reversal.

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So the word of the week was privatisation.

It became a debate because David Seymour said we should do it now in his state of the nation speech on Monday.

So obviously the media asked the Prime Minister want  he thinks of the junior coalition partner’s thoughts.

And Christopher Luxon vacillated, he gave the cautious political answer trying not to upset anyone.

It's something we might look at, but not without a mandate, so we might campaign on it in 2 years time. So it won’t happen for two years, or maybe more,  so don’t worry about. We’re cool.

It was an answer so convoluted that obviously the media asked more questions.

And then of course the people said bloody media, trying to stir up trouble with their leftist bias. 

But it was the Prime Minister's fault for faffing about trying not to upset anyone or more specifically the centre left and nationalists who hate it. Well that didn't work.

Why couldn’t he just say good idea, we agree, next time. 

Because we all know he agrees with the idea, and we all know his supporters agree. 

But he didn’t, because he’s like every other politician who’s values blow in whichever wind they think the electorate is blowing.

Politicians who don't just say yes but nor do they say no. They say maybe which is even worse.

They all do it, ask Chris Hipkins about capital gains tax. 

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Auckland Council's sounding the alarm over a spike in rubbish-truck fires this month. 

It says more and more risky batteries and battery-powered devices are being illegally dumped in bins. 

In December alone, nearly 600 laptops and more than 300 12-volt batteries ended up in Auckland’s regional recycling facility. 

Parul Sood, Auckland Council’s Deputy Director of Resilience and Infrastructure, told Andrew Dickens that the council website has a list of places you can take e-waste, and many retailers actually offer to take it back for free. 

She says it’s a community responsibility to do the right thing, so people just need to spend a little more time thinking before automatically tossing something in the rubbish bin. 

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Competition is being touted as a possible answer to banks' climate informed decisions.  

NZ First Minister Shane Jones has spoken out against several banks' attempts to reduce lending and services to fossil fuel businesses - decisions he says are driven by "unelected climate apostles".  

Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre told Andrew Dickens that if new legislation came forward, he would like businesses to have other options.  

He says that if banks decide they're the moral police of the country, there needs to be enough competition so that those they decline can get lending elsewhere.  

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