Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Karl Dean: Federated Farmers Dairy Chair on Miles Hurrell resigning as Fonterra CEO

Hopes that whoever takes the reins at Fonterra can continue the current CEO's good work. Miles Hurrell will leave the company in six months to ensure a smooth transition. Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Karl Dean says the next CEO should continue Hurrell's approach to honest communication. He told Ryan Bridge farmers have been told that a spade’s a spade, and that’s what needs to continue. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam MacKinnon: Hospitality NZ Head of Advocacy on the proposed changes to alcohol laws

A view the Government's proposed changes to alcohol laws is a needed re-balance for licence-holders. The Bill would only let people object to a premise's licence application, if they live or work in the same council area or live within one kilometre. It also gives applicants a right of reply to objections. Hospitality New Zealand Head of Advocacy told Ryan Bridge the current licensing process has led to some vexatious objections from those outside of the area. He says applications aren’t often declined because of objections, but it does add unnecessary time and cost to the process. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Tuffley: ASB Chief Economist on worst case scenario for NZ economy from Iran War

Treasury has released numbers on the potential fallout for the New Zealand economy from the Iran war. It estimates that under a worst‑case scenario — a conflict lasting until the end of the year with elevated oil prices — inflation would rise from 3.1 percent to 3.7 percent. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says that number is too high - but is lower than Australia's current inflation - which is sitting at 3.8 percent. ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley told Ryan Bridge forecasting in this climate is difficult. He says other spikes in oil prices have led to higher inflation - but this will all depend on how long the conflict lasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Full Show Podcast: 17 March 2026

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 17 March. Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Bridge: Nicola Willis is right not to splash the cash

A 1pm presser and Covid‑style alert levels. This fuel price spike is bringing back bad memories from those dark days of lockdown. But a few facts help put things in perspective. There are a lot of scenarios and best guesses floating around, but the reality is we’re not yet short on fuel. That’s at least weeks away, we’re told. The economy is in recovery, and even the worst‑case scenarios still have us growing at a little under 3% — about half a percent off pre‑war predictions. The other big difference is the response. Interest rates, even if inflation hits the high 3s, aren’t expected to shoot up dramatically or immediately, because demand falls as people put less petrol in the Honda. If you live rurally, or don’t have a Grey Lynn tractor — a.k.a. a Tesla — the price of fuel will sting. But it won’t cause the sort of catastrophic, long‑term damage that lockdowns and Covid supply disruptions did.Nicola Willis, who fronted yesterday’s 1pm media event, made it pretty clear that excise cuts and other expensive relief (think cost‑of‑living payments) aren’t off the table — but they’re not top of the list either. This government is a different beast from the one that came before it. They’ve learned the lesson — one we’re currently paying for — about splashing the cash to stay popular. They’ve resisted demands for stimulus despite two bitter years of recession. Spending big when inflation is about to spike would completely undermine their political credibility. Which means that when something bad happens — which it is, or is about to — we’ll feel the effects in real time. And that’s no bad thing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.