• Jeremy Stevens: Hospitality NZ Canterbury President on the impact of liquor licensing laws on the first round of Super Rugby in Christchurch
    Feb 24 2026

    Liquor licensing mayhem for Christchurch bar owners as the opening of the new stadium nears.

    Super Rugby's Super Round games will be played at One NZ Stadium on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Anzac weekend.

    But alcohol laws mean bars must close at midnight on Friday and can't serve alcohol without a meal before 1pm on Saturday.

    Hospitality NZ's Canterbury President Jeremy Stevens told Ryan Bridge they've been hoping to get an exemption.

    But he says despite the council and Mayor Phil Mauger being on board, current legislation won't allow it

    LISTEN ABOVE

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • Rob Campbell: Former Health NZ Chair on the MediMap data breach
    Feb 24 2026

    A former chair of Health New Zealand says a fix to issues within health data systems has likely been put off, after a possible hack of MediMap.

    The platform's widely used across the country, especially in aged care, disability, hospice, and community health.

    Rob Campbell told Ryan Bridge there's a lot of issues within data systems that need fixing.

    He says it's expensive, can be complex and isn't headline grabbing, so it's the sort of thing people put off.

    LISTEN ABOVE

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • Full Show Podcast: 25 February 2026
    Feb 24 2026

    On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday the 25th of Feburary 2025, nurses at aged care facilities are going back to paper-based prescriptions after Medimaps data breach, Former Health NZ Chair shares his concerns.

    Christchurch bar owners say Anzac Day liquor laws will ‘shut the city down’ on the new stadium’s opening night, Jeremy Stevens Hospitality NZ Canterbury Branch President tells Ryan how much it'll impact bars.

    Pharmac's looking at funding two new Melanoma drugs, medical oncologist and Melanoma specialist Dr Gareth Rivalland tells Ryan how big of a difference the drugs would make.

    UK/ Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on trade minister Chris Bryant calling Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a "rude, arrogant and entitled man" and a baby boy has become the first child in the UK to be born using a womb transplanted from a dead donor.

    Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

    LISTEN ABOVE

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Dr Gareth Rivalland: Medical Oncologist and Melanoma Specialist on new Pharmac drug proposal
    Feb 24 2026

    Melanoma advocates hope a new Pharmac proposal will take the pressure off patients.

    Consultation's open on whether to expand access to two immunotherapy medicines for people with stage 3b and 4 melanoma from May.

    Used pre-surgery, nivolumab and ipilimumab can lower the chance of cancers returning.

    Medical Oncologist and Melanoma Specialist Dr Gareth Rivalland tells Ryan about the difference it will make.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
  • Ryan Bridge: Businesses should be scared to take our data
    Feb 24 2026

    This government has made fast-track a buzzword.

    After yet another massive hack of private information on Sunday, it needs to put that buzzword into action sharpen up our privacy laws. Like, yesterday.

    Especially if we're talking about your health information getting stolen and potentially posted online by hackers for a ransom.

    The hackers it seems, are pretty much a mystery and never get caught.

    That ship seems to have sailed, and we can, at least for now, put that in the too hard basket.

    But the folks we can fine, which we currently don't, are the businesses asking for our information and not doing enough to protect it in the first place.

    If there was ever a need for better regulation and harsher penalties, it's with cases like this. What should be your private data.

    In New Zealand, Consumer says there is no express penalty or fine for a breach.

    The Privacy Commissioner has the power to issue a fine of $10k. Yes, just $10k. And that's only if a company doesn't report a breach of tries to hide it.

    The Aussies will whack you with a fine of up to AU$50 million. That makes ours look like a slap with a wet bus ticket.

    Companies should be scared to ask for your private information because the risk of it being nicked is evidently very high.

    In two months, we're had the largest ever hack in our history, through Manage My Health, and now this Medimap breach.

    Last week I went shopping for some new clothes, a few t-shirts and some shorts. I was asked for my name and email and address. Why? A mailing list no doubt.

    I didn't have to provide this data, but if I did, I'd pay 10% more for the clothes. I paid full price but couldn't leave with a receipt unless I handed over my email.

    Businesses want our information because they can sell us more stuff. But it should be illegal to ask unless the law requires it.

    And if the data they do have is stolen, that should be their problem under the law.

    The fines ought to reflect how serious the breach is. With health, it ought to be millions.

    They should be scared, like with health and safety laws, to even ask for your personal information.

    It's not like this problem has suddenly sailed into port.

    That's why the legislation should be fast-tracked, bipartisan, and tough as nails.

    Otherwise, we can all look forward to another data breach coming to a town near you soon.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • Donna Demaio: Australia Correspondent on the push to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession
    Feb 23 2026

    Former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

    Mandelson was fired and has been under investigation over his alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

    It comes as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to his UK counterpart Keir Starmer, calling for the former Prince Andrew to be removed from the royal line of succession.

    Australia correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge the line of succession is a very complex legal framework.

    She says the charges require all Commonwealth countries to pass new laws, but Albanese says they're grave allegations and Australia takes them very seriously.

    LISTEN ABOVE

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • John Harbord: Major Electricity Users' Group Chair on Genesis Energy announcing a $400m capital raise
    Feb 23 2026

    Long term benefits could justify the Crown pouring more money into Genesis Energy.

    The company's revealed a $400 million capital raise to up its investment in renewables.

    Now the Crown's purchasing $200 million worth of new shares to maintain its 51% shareholding.

    Major Electricity Users' Group Chair John Harbord told Ryan Bridge Genesis is focused on storing electricity for dry years.

    He says that backup supply is the most important electricity for the system.

    But Harbord says the investment doesn't do much in the short term for affordability issues.

    LISTEN ABOVE

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    3 mins
  • Simon Wallace: Aviation Industry Association CEO on the concerns air traffic controllers are getting poached
    Feb 23 2026

    Airways New Zealand is pushing for the Civil Aviation Authority to lower the age New Zealanders can get an air traffic control licence amid worries our talent's being poached overseas.

    The air traffic control provider's sounded the alarm during an address before a Parliamentary Select Committee.

    CEO James Young says there's a global shortage of controllers, and in other areas like controller training.

    Aviation Industry Association CEO Simon Wallace told Ryan Bridge a licence can currently only be obtained at 21 or older.

    He says this is something Airways has brought up, and the regulator should be looking at this.

    LISTEN ABOVE

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Show More Show Less
    4 mins