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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This country's fines make no sense.

you can get$70 for parking a few minutes over in the wrong spot, $150 for driving in a bus lane at the wrong time, which is the same texting while driving, an act that could, in theory, distract you enough to kill somebody on the road.

So what gives?

You get $30 for going a few Kms over 100 on a main road.

Anyone who's been to Australia knows things are different. Way harsher. People, generally, follow the rules as a result.

Burt that doesn't mean nobody's crashing and dying on their roads, does it.

The problem is revenue gathering. If you actually set the fines based on the potentially damage an action may cause, we'd have a totally different system and set of punishments.

But you'd also have councils and cops who take the piss and revenue grab - speeding cameras in areas nobody's seen a crash in decades.

That's basically why we are where we are.

There is one change they can make that I support - free parking for over 80s.

Gore already does it. Oamaru is looking at doing it.

They've got new parking meters installed in December and it's apparently, according to Age Concern, making the elderly anxious.

They're digital. You get two hours free but then have to enter your details for a third hour.

The fear of getting a $70 ticket is too much for them so they just don't drive into town. That's a massive setback for an older person.

That's less chatting to people in the mall, shop-owners and cafe owners, less socialising.

If you've made it to 80, you deserve to head into town. In your own car. Without being scared of half yah pension flying out the window in fines.

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The 2026 Formula 1 season is kicking off in Melbourne today.

Homegrown racer Liam Lawson will be facing the Albert Park street circuit once again – the race that saw him fail to finish last year.

NZ Herald Sports Reporter Alex Powell told Ryan Bridge it’s been a tricky start to the year for everyone, with new cars and new regulations, so everyone’s waiting with bated breath to see how they’ll go.

He says today will be the first time we’ll see these cars and race situation on a track.

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There are claims a Parliamentary inquiry into online safety is rushing toward regulation without fully considering the consequences.

A Select Committee is backing a social media ban for under 16s and calling for an online regulator and tougher controls on harmful apps and algorithms.

ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar initiated the inquiry last year but says the recommendations don't have adequate analysis.

She told Ryan Bridge concerns about youth online are real, and we need to find real solutions for them.

Parmar says it's a complex issue and wasn't dealt with the seriousness that parents and young people deserve.

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