On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday 8th of December 2025, Andrew Coster has made explosive claims in an interview with Q&A, lawyer and former cop Matthew Hague shares his thoughts.

Elliot Smith has the latest on the weekend's sport.

A new report from ASB shows clear signs of life for the economy in 2026, Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen shares his thoughts.

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on a man arrested on suspicion of assault after a number of people were sprayed with what is believed to be pepper spray at London’s Heathrow Airport and four people have been arrested after custard and apple crumble were flung at a display case containing part of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.

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One person's been arrested after a string of pepper spray attacks at London's Heathrow Airport.

Twenty-one people suffered injuries, with five needing hospital treatment, after an argument escalated in a terminal carpark.

Social media footage shows a large armed police response, as the area was temporarily locked down.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens police were quick to say it wasn't related to terrorism or a protest.

He says the people seemed to know each other, and got into an argument, which led to someone spraying a substance at people they didn't like.

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What to make of the Andrew Coster interview on Q and A yesterday

Firstly why did he do it.

Obviously he felt he had been thrown under the bus by Judith Collins, Mark Mitchell and Richard Chambers at their recent press conference

So he was prepared to throw them under the bus as well. And he does have a point when the IPCA report did not mention corruption but the politicians and the new police commissioner inferred it.

The protection of his name is the reason he negotiated with the Public Service Commissioner regarding the delay in resigning from his latest job and frankly I don’t blame him

But the problem is he has no proof of his claims. And so now we have a he said, he said situation with nobody able to provide concrete proof of their claims.

He may have briefed Mitchell and Hipkins of the situation but which situation was he talking about.

An affair gone wrong or a police force covering up for one of their own. and how much detail of anything did he giver in these informal briefings. Who knows?

The fascinating fact he mentioned is that the police is a 3 billion dollar business which makes the job of Police Commissioner one of the biggest in our economy.

Ask any CEO whether they take notes of any conversation about their business and they’ll tell you it’s imperative. One would have thought it’s imperative for any Minister of the Crown as well.

My whole impression of the interview is that everyone was a bit loose. It’s a tawdry tale of bad judgement at the top of our public service. And the buck always stops at the top

It also reminded me that the political battles at the top levels of our public service are vicious affairs with everyone playing a hard game.

And with Richard Chambers in a competition with a very competent police officer, who had a hidden sex life and predilection for animals, you wonder how he never knew anything

One can only hope that Coster and Ms Z find a new normal and peace and everyone learns to take their jobs more seriously

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80% of trained secondary teachers will have a base salary of more than $100 thousand from late next month.

PPTA members have voted to accept a collective agreement offer from the Government.

The settlement includes a 4.6% pay increase over two years, increased allowance for teachers with greater responsibilities, and a million dollar a year fund for professional development.

Secondary school Deputy Principal Pip Tinning told Ryan Bridge she felt this was as good as it was going to get.

She says they’ve got a lot of stuff coming up, and it feels like time to just move on.

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The Climate Change Minister says we're still at the table for the Paris Agreement, despite the targets being challenging.

The Coalition rejected all three recommendations made to it by the Climate Change Commission yesterday.

It means it won't be including international aviation and shipping emissions in its 2050 reduction target.

Simon Watts told Ryan Bridge they remain committed to the Paris Climate Agreement and are still part of the global conversation.

He says they're challenging targets in reality, but they have the intent of hitting them.

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The Retirement Villages Association is calling out the Government for issuing a double whammy against the sector.

Newly announced Retirement Villages Act 2003 amendments include ensuring money on a unit is paid back within a year after a resident leaves.

Interest will also be payable after six months if a unit remains empty.

Association Executive Director Michelle Palmer told Ryan Bridge the moves could seriously jeopardise the sector.

She says they were the ones who suggested the interest element, which the Government has taken and then topped with the full repayment at 12 months.

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The family of a British woman who was killed by a nerve agent smuggled into the UK have spoken out - following an inquiry into her death.

44-year-old Dawn Sturgess died in 2018, after spraying herself Novichok from a fake perfume bottle discarded in Salisbury by Russian agents.

The inquiry states Russian President Vladimir Putin must have ordered the use of it, to assassinate former spy Sergei Skripal.

Sturgess' mother Caroline says a narrative's been created online, that's been distressing for family.

She says she wasn't a known drug user as had been reported, she was a very loved, mother, daughter and granddaughter.

UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest.

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