New research highlights a need to send more public health procedures to the private system.

Westpac's latest healthcare report shows New Zealand currently spends about 10% of GDP on healthcare, split between 7% on public care and just 3% on private.

It argues the private sector is nimbler, with extra capacity that can help cut wait times and improve outcomes.

Private Surgical Hospitals Association Chief Executive Chris Roberts told Ryan Bridge its hospitals are investing in new facilities and operating theatres.

He says they don't tend to have the staffing issues some public hospitals do, so are looking to provide a bigger service.

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“Enormous” swings in the price of oil are making it very difficult to gauge the severity of the shock to markets from the Iran war, ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner says.

Oil hit $120 per barrel yesterday but dropped back below $100 after the G7 nations signalled they could release strategic oil reserves.

Zollner told Ryan Bridge she agreed with Finance Minister Nicola Willis' assertion that the duration of the shock was just as important as its size.

Market volatility would continue, with “headlines all over the place”, and that uncertainty could lead to people spending less money.

But central banks would be keen not to do anything rash by rushing to raise interest rates, Zollner said.

For New Zealand’s Reserve Bank, “as long as inflation expectations remain well anchored then they can tolerate a bit of noise in the near term, rather than feel they need to deliberately head the recovery off in order to make sure inflation's back at 2% quickly”.

But if the shock was long and sustained “it will be more difficult to look through those inflationary impacts - and then it could get a bit ugly”.

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Iran's new Supreme Leader will likely be a prime target for the US and Israel.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son - 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei will succeed his father - slain over a week ago.

Israel has launched a "wide-scale wave" of strikes against Iran - while it's retaliated with more Gulf nations under attack.

Turkey say NATO air defences have shot down another Iranian missile, entering its airspace.

Financial Times Middle East Editor Andrew England told Ryan Bridge Khamenei's appointment is a sign the regime is doubling down.

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025, ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner shares her thoughts on how the New Zealand economy will react to the war in Iran.

A new Westpac report says we need to send more public health procedures to the private system, NZ Private Surgical Hospitals Association CEO Chris Roberts shares his thoughts.

Iran has appointed a new supreme leader, Financial Times Middle East editor Andrew England tells Ryan what we should know about about him.

Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on fuel rations beginning in Western Australia in response to Iran war and hundreds of people evacuated to Darwin in Northern Territory floods, with loads of crocodile sightings.

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The war in Iran is not a shocking event in the sense that we knew it was coming.

Trump has been not so much hinting but sounding a fog horn for months. As we’ve been covering on this show, he’s been amassing military assets in the region since the end of January.

So not surprising. What has surprised is Iran hitting their neighbours, the Gulf states, so hard, including oil fields and refineries.

This has surprised markets. Hence what we’re seeing in Asia and at home.

Same goes for the price of oil. Yesterday when we talked about that Goldman Sacks estimate of $100 a barrel by the end of the week. We got there by the end of Monday.

Remember they also warned of $150 a barrel by the end of the month? Let’s hope we’re not there by Friday.

Oil and fertilizer run our agriculture sector. I listened to a grain farmer in Christchurch yesterday say daily harvesting costs would increase by $2000-$3000. Already.

We are not immune to the price spikes, but we’re also not very well insulated from them either.

We’re reliant on energy imports to keep us afloat now more than ever. Marsden Point used to refine 70% of our petrol and 90% of our diesel. Extracting oil and gas became a cardinal sin under Labour.

You don’t know what you’ve got ‘till it’s gone.

The international shocks, which as we all know, aren’t now so shocking, are also driving a surge in support for economic nationalism and self-reliance. Think New Zealand First.

To this government’s credit it has extended our emergency oil back-up supplies and done deals with the Singapore's of the world, so we don’t run out. As a back stop, we’re about to do LNG. But again, that’s imported and subject to shocks.

The more global events we have, the more we yearn for self-reliance and greater energy independence.

Our world-beating exports keep us afloat, but what use are they without a reliable supply of reasonably priced inputs that help produce them?

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Israel is launching a new wave of strikes in Tehran, which has been choked by smoke following attacks on its energy resources.

Iran state-media says a new supreme leader has been chosen but they're yet to be named.

Israel is also claiming its first military deaths of the war with two soldiers dead in southern Lebanon.

Iran continues to lash out at US allies with Saudi Arabia authorities saying two have been killed and 12 injured in a recent attack.

The Guardian Washington Bureau Chief David Smith told Ryan Bridge that Iran is risking further spreading the war.

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A shake-up to GP trainee employment could make the pathway into general practice more appealing.

Health New Zealand will now directly employ all first-year trainees not already in private practice - with applications opening today for next year.

Currently, doctors must switch to being employed by the College of GPs.

Health Minister Simeon Brown told Ryan Bridge it’s been one of the barriers discouraging doctors from specialising as GPs.

He says they effectively become employees of the college and lose leave balances and other conditions - which is a challenge for recruitment.

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Monday the 9th of March 2025, Washington Bureau Chief for the Guardian David Smith shares the latest on the conflict in the Middle East.

Health New Zealand will now become the direct employer for all first-year GP trainees, Health Minister Simeon Brown tells Ryan how this will benefit new trainees.

Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport.

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on Trump telling Starmer he doesn't need his assistance of an aircraft carrier to fight Iran as the war has already been won and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has been the latest to call for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be removed from the royal line of succession.

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