The Government's reducing Auckland's housing capacity number from just over two million homes, to 1.6 million.

Before becoming legislation, Auckland Council will need to tell Cabinet how it plans to zone for the changes.

Franklin Ward Councillor Andy Baker shares his thoughts with Ryan.

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's been arrested and is in custody over alleged misconduct in public office, Royal Commentator Richard Fitzwilliams tells Ryan about the impact this will have on the Royal family's reputation.

The Government's down a u-turn on housing intensification in Auckland, Franklin Ward Councillor Andy Baker shares his thoughts.

Immigration Minister Erica Standford tells Ryan the latest on the success of visa-free travel for chinese and pacific island tourists.

Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest from Buckingham Palace on former Prince Andrew's arrest.

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I was driving through a street just out of Auckland’s CBD yesterday and saw all these apartments for sale.

New buildings. Many looked empty. Loads of for sale signs.

Why don't people want to buy them? Is it the price?

Some older 70s brick and tile types close the city are apparently selling in the 400s. Newer ones seem to run more, depending on location. Wellington has a few steals at the moment.

But again, not many interested buyers.

Is it the economy? Is it the annoying body corperate fees? Is it the leaky building memories? The fact you can’t swing a cat in most of the living rooms? Having to see your neighbours in the lift? Are they poorly designed and made? Perhaps they overheat in summer?

Or is it just that we still want a stand-alone house with a backyard?

We just hate apartments?

The government yesterday just announced a 23% reduction in new homes for Auckland as part of changes - BUT - we are still getting 1.6m new homes. And many of them will be apartments.

My question is, will any of them sell?

There’s an entire block in Auckland, newly built by a developer, that had to be rented because they wouldn’t sell.

A recent housing survey found 80% of people would consider living in a standalone house.

69% a townhouse.

An apartment? One third.

I get it, ideally, we all want space and gardens and lawns to mow. But if we can’t get that and want somewhere to live, why aren’t we buying apartments.

Especially young people, who apparently don’t mind high-rise living as much.

We can’t be that dissimilar to the rest of the world, surely?

I think what it comes down to is that people don’t want to invest in something that’s relatively expensive vs. income, doesn’t appreciate like land and may not sell quickly if you need to get rid of it.

Which makes you wonder who’s going to buy and live in all these one and two-beddy’s going up all over town.

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An economist is pointing out a potential problem with the Reserve Bank’s economic forecast.

The Monetary Policy Committee, chaired by Anna Breman, has decided to keep the OCR unchanged at 2.25% for now.

It says while inflation is above the target band, the economy still needs some time to recover.

Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge that the problem with the Reserve Bank’s forecast is the assumed uptick in productivity growth.

He says they’re assuming the supply side capacity, via productivity growth, will improve, which will keep inflation lower, but if we can’t get supply side capacity up, inflation will prove to be a lot stickier.

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Two new blood cancer medications could soon be available to patients as pills, with one accessible through private clinics.

Pharmac will consider funding treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, which could be available from May 1st.

They can be taken in pill form and take away the need for chemotherapy.

Blood Cancer NZ CEO Tim Edmonds told Ryan Bridge the medications take a targeted approach to first-line treatment, which means they’ll be able to access targeted therapy instead of chemotherapy once diagnosed.

He says instead of visiting the hospital up to 20 times in six months, they can take an oral tablet every day from home and actually get better outcomes.

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Questions around why action wasn't taken sooner - following a fatal dog attack in Northland.

62-year-old, Mihiata Te Rore, was killed by three dogs on Tuesday, as she visited a home in Kaihu, north of Dargaville.

Local MP Shane Jones says jail terms should be considered for owners of what he labels 'homicidal dogs'.

Animal behaviour expert Mark Vette told Ryan Bridge animal management were aware of the dogs, so it's a shame they didn't step in earlier.

He says this clearly shows something was wrong - and that they were aware of the high-risk situation.

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So the OCR decision was largely as expected yesterday but what the Reserve Bank made very clear is where they think growth will come from.

As we’ve spoken about on the show lately, house prices aren’t running away here like in Australia, bar Queenstown.

In previous recoveries, the wealth effect kicks in and people go shopping when their house prices go up.

But this time the bank says prices will stay flat then pick up again later this year, but only at the rate of income growth.

In other words, the opposite of what we’re used over the past few decades.

Usually, as anyone who’s tried to buy a house will know, the price of a three-beddy in Auckland grows quicker than your salary.

That’s all changed now because we have more supply, at least according to the bank.

So without the tickle up, where does economic growth come from?

Anna Breman answered that question specifically yesterday and was pretty clear.

Agricultural exports, tourism and more recently some signs that manufacturing is picking up. These are industries that bring us money from offshore. They provide the basis for other sectors, like services, to pick up.

If you’re a farmer or tourism operator in Queenstown or Rotorua, you should feel proud of that.

And we, through our government, should support them.

That means staying off their backs and letting them get on doing what they do best: feeding the world and providing unforgettable experiences for visitors.

On manufacturing, it’s hard to ignore the energy debate.

If we don’t have a steady and reliable supply of electricity, trying to run a factory or a mill, as the central North Island has learnt the hard way just recently, becomes very difficult.

So while LNG and coal for Huntly, or methane target changes, might sound bad, they’re basically what ensure we support the industries that support us.

What the Reserve Bank said unequivocally yesterday if that without them, there is no growth.

And without growth, there are no new jobs. There ain’t more tax. No new hospitals. Etc. etc.

This is not to say it’s a perfect world. There are costs to not doing environmental stuff. But for them to work, you need the world on board.

In the meantime, the question is whether we can afford to bite the economic hand that feeds us.

If you listen to the bank, it wouldn't appear so.

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 19th of Feburary 2025, RBNZ Governor Anna Breman held the OCR at 2.25%, Independent Economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts.

Pharmac is moving closer to backing two new drugs for people living with chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Blood Cancer NZ CEO Tim Edmonds tells Ryan why funding for the drugs is important.

Shane Jones has called for jail sentences for owners of roaming animals, Dog zen owner and pet behaviour expert Mark Vette shares his thoughts.

Plus, US Correspondent has the latest on peace talks in Geneva between Russia and Ukraine and Mark Zuckerberg appearing in court for a landmark trial on youth social media addiction.

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