A view that increased employment will be the key to our economic bounce back.

Infometrics says there's worrying indicators which show economic momentum is fragile.

But more signs of improvement are expected by midyear, when labour market conditions should be turning.

Infometrics’ Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge that they are expecting the economy to pick up this year, they’re just a bit cautious.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

West Coast officials are working to make the insurance market more competitive so Westporters can continue to insure their homes.

AA Insurance has temporarily stopped offering policies to properties in the 7825 postcode due to flood-risk exposure.

Existing policyholders can renew as usual.

Regional Council Chief Executive Darryl Lew told Ryan Bridge AA Insurance is the main insurer in the town, so have the largest market share.

He says they want to write to all insurance companies and the insurance council to try improve the market, given the investment they're making in flood banking.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Vision is welcoming the new bill around fighting modern slavery.

The new bill, co-sponsored by National and Labour, will require large businesses to make reports on modern slavery in their supply chains public.

Head of Advocacy and Justice Rebekah Armstrong says it will change how companies do business.

She says there are other pleasing aspects to the bill too.

Armstrong says that includes penalties to give the legislation teeth and the promise to create an anti-slavery commission.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 30th of January 2025, AA insurance has announced they will not be accepting any new insurance policies on homes in Westport because the flooding and weather events are too risky, West Coast Regional Council Chief Executive Darryl Lew tells Ryan how this will impact the area.

National and Labour have teamed up to fast-track a modern slavery law, World Vision's head of advocacy and justice Rebekah Armstrong shares her thoughts.

Infometrics latest report says the economic turnaround might not turnout to be what was promised, Principal Economist Brad Olsen tells Ryan why.

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Sir Keir Starmer in China and the US build up to attack Iran today.

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.

This week we've heard about another privacy breach.

We don't strangers on the street everything about ourselves but for some reason, when a business does it online, who we also don't know or trust, you just cannot shut us up.

Name and address? Sure.

Phone number? Why not.

Signature? Fill ya boots.

Don't even get me started credit cards and debit cards.

I was talking to tech expert this week on the show. What he said' ha been playing on my mind for two reasons.

1. We've lost trust an faith in companies to manage our data now, I reckon. Trust is dead. And it's very hard to earn back. And nothing's sacred - we know that after the health hack. In Finland a psychologist's notes were hacked so patients had all their secrets out there for ransom online.

2. The penalties for businesses leaving the backdoor open for scammers is very low. The maximum fine is apparently just $10,000. So if a business gets your data stolen and then doesn't tell you, the maximum fine is $10,000. The Privacy Commissioner can also get involved and award compensation of up to $350k, but that's for a serious breach which causes serious harm. Whatever that means.

But I reckon they should make the fine so massive, so enormous, so crippling, that businesses just stop asking for all your information.

Let it all be anonymous. Assign people a number. You don't need all the information you collect, so just don't.

If the fines don't deter the behaviour and behaviour doesn't stop, trust will further erode and nobody will be handing over their data anyway.

The internet's just one big funnel collecting and spitting your privacy.

Now, I don't mean to just pick on the businesses here, of course the scammers are the real jerks.

But they're too hard to chase down.

Although I note this morning that China executed 11 scammers from Myanmar, which even though I'm against it, may put people off doing it more than a fine?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US and Iran are trading threats, with the President warning a massive naval armada is moving towards the country.

Donald Trump says time's running out for Iran to make a deal to limit its nuclear programme.

The BBC reports satellite images show a steady and significant build-up of US military forces in the region since a brutal crackdown on demonstrations in Iran earlier this month.

US Correspondent Jagruiti Dave told Ryan Bridge Iran's mission to the United Nations has responded to Trump's latest warning.

She says they're ready for dialogue based on mutual respect, but if pushed it'll defend itself and respond like never before.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A struggle to secure GP visits could be playing a role in skyrocketing calls for ambulances.

National ambulance data shows there's been a 30% increase in 111 calls for ambulances over the past five years.

St John fielded more than 700 thousand calls for the first time last year and attended more than half a million incidents.

Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quinn told Ryan Bridge minimal access to healthcare in rural areas is playing a role.

He says St John is sometimes used as a "pseudo-GP" because it's the only access to health operating in the area.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 29th of January 2025, new numbers show Labour's "fees free" wasn't all that it was supposed to be, VUWSA Vice President Aidan Donoghue tells Ryan what it did for students.

ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley shares his thoughts on a housing sentiment survey from Cotality.

Demand for ambulance's was the highest on record last year according to stats from St John, New Zealand Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quin tells Ryan why demand has increased.

Plus, US Correspondent Jagruti Dave has the latest on Donald Trump’s latest threat to Iran and layoffs at Amazon.

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.