On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 13th of June 2025, a report from the Ministry of Justice is predicting our prison population to grow by 36% over the next 10 years, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell shares his thoughts.

The Ski season kicks off this weekend, NZ Ski Chief Executive Paul Anderson tells Ryan Bridge what people can look forward to.

The US is "reviewing" it's AUKUS security pac, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark shares what this means for New Zealand's position. 

Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on the Air India plane crash which killed more than 200 people. 

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It’s fair to say Christopher Luxon’s had a rough run at the top.
 
The transition from CEO to PM hasn’t been all that smooth. His approval ratings have been way out of whack with those of any predecessor at the same time in their reigns. We hardly saw a honeymoon.

One of the problems has been communication.

You ask people and they tell you: it’s hard to connect with him. We don’t really get what he’s about. 

His loudmouth coalition partners have largely filled the personality void to his detriment. As a business executive, you’ve got to optimistic. You’ve got to project positivity, and that positive, upbeat style has jarred with the reality of our economy. 

The more he said things are improving and this economy is turning a corner, the more out of touch he has sounded. 

Jacinda Ardern encountered this problem when she refused to call the cost of living crisis a crisis. You lose the room. It's like a bit like trying to entertain a crowd of Metallica fans with a choir - a bit of a bum note. 

And that problems has befallen Luxon.

Until now. 

Despite this morning's card data going sideways, there’s no doubt the economy’s on the up. We’re about to see another jump in GDP next week as we get Q1 data, which follows positive Q4 data.

Treasury reckons this current year will see growth hitting almost 3%. Thanks to our exporters and global conditions, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

You can feel it - shops are filling up. Manufacturing’s on the up. Company’s are hiring. 

And this is massive for Luxon because it means his rhetoric is starting to match the reality. 

It’s the missing piece of the puzzle that could turn his political fortunes around. 

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An Independent Children's Monitor report finds almost half the reports of concern relate to young Māori. 

They make up two-thirds of those in care - and more than three-quarters in youth justice custody. 

Voyce Whakarongo Mai Chief Executive Tracie Shipton told Ryan Bridge that change is possible. 

She says it's a stark reminder if we get in early with wrap around services for whanau and young people, we can make a difference. 

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The US has criticized New Zealand for banning two Israeli Ministers. 

Winston Peters has decided to jump on the bandwagon with allies such as Australia and Canada by banning Israel’s finance minister and national security minister from entering the country.  

But the US has denounced these sanctions and said that New Zealand should focus on Hamas instead. 

International relations professor Robert Patman talks to Ryan Bridges about the situation and what can be expected from both sides going forward. 

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US Correspondent Mitch McCann talks about Trump’s new “deal” with China after China threatens to cut off the US’ supply of rare minerals. 

China issued these threats in response to the treatment of Chinese students studying in the USA. China also wants the USA to continue exporting semiconductors to China. 

President Trump has said that these terms will be met, although current details are unclear.  

Although communication between the two nations is positive, the discussion isn’t over yet as McCann says, “it’s a bit of a framework to continue working on a deal.” 

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 12th of June 2025, Food and Fibre exports are on track to break new records, Meat Industry Association Chief Executive Sirma Karapeeva, shares her thoughts on how red meat exports are going. 

The US has criticised NZ for sanctions on Israel, international relations Professor Robert Patman tell Ryan Bridge how this makes us look. 

We've got another report showing some Maori children are falling through the cracks, Voyce CEO Tracey Shipton shares her thoughts. 

Plus Mitch McCann has the latest on deal between the US and China. 

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Red meat's among food and fibre exports surging in value, with revenue forecast to surpass $60 billion for the first time.

The latest forecasts projects export earnings of $59.9 billion for the year ending later this month. 

It's now on track to reach $65.7 billion by 2029.

Meat Industry Association Chief Executive Sirma Karapeeva told Ryan Bridge we're seeing strong global demand and healthy prices across key markets.

She says there's demand from the US and EU, with a good recovery in exports to China.

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I’ve been reflecting this Fieldays week on how much the dial has shifted in farming and emissions.

We had Chris Hipkins on the Herald Now programme Tuesday admit they essentially don’t currently have a policy in putting agriculture into the ETS. 

It was a signature policy platform under Ardern. We had to do it, they told us. It was immoral not to. 

Farmers had to pay a higher price, and who cares if it’s CO2 or methane, emissions are emissions. 

Labour’s now open to ditching that altogether and softening its tone on farmers.

This is happening for two reasons.

1. People are alive to the fact that without our strong agriculture export prices, our regions would feel a lot more our main centres right now: economically depressed and limping along. Actually, selling a bunch of stuff we already know how to do well is exactly what a small trading nation likes ours should be doing.

2. The Government has successfully changed the narrative on emissions, basically through repetition: our farmers are the most efficient in the world. The world demands meat and dairy.

If we cut back and burn the farmers, bite the hand that feeds our regional economies, somebody else meets that global demand with, you guessed it, higher emitting meat and dairy products. 

So for reasons of basic economics and political reality, the dial has been shifted in farming and emissions. 

Labour’s a little late to the party, but at least acknowledging the landscape has well and truly changed. 

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Fieldays has opened at Hamilton's Mystery Creek, with 100 thousand visitors expected over the next four days. 

1200 vendors will be plying their wares at the Southern Hemisphere's largest agribusiness event, displaying the latest farming innovations. 

GFactor Edge co-founder Rhys Gardner is bringing his company’s VR driving simulators to the event – the technology allowing people to learn how to drive heavy machinery in a controlled environment. 

He told Ryan Bridge they’re recreating real accidents and near misses and allowing people to experience the outcomes of their decisions.  

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Queenstown could soon be leading the world’s renewable energy future. 

Rewiring Aotearoa is launching the Queenstown Electrification Accelerator project to speed up the transition to electric machines that run on renewable electricity. 

It wants to make it easier for homes and businesses to go electric. 

Chief Executive Mike Casey told Ryan Bridge one of the biggest barriers to going solar is the up-front cost. 

But he says with some of New Zealand's highest energy prices, Queenstown is the best place to turn renewable. 

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