Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

After a convincing win last week at Murrayfield, the All Blacks will be hoping for a repeat.  They're taking on Wales in Cardiff this Sunday, and after three straight wins from the All Blacks, it's not looking promising for their oponents.   Newstalk ZB's Voice of Rugby Elliott Smith told Ryan Bridge there's been a few changes to the team this week, as, with respect to Wales, they haven't beaten the All Blacks in 70-odd years.  He says this is a game the Kiwi side should win and should win well, and look to build a points differential.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A literal perfect storm may have helped Queenstown have one of it's busiest September's on record for tourism.  Stats NZ data shows tourist arrivals hit a record high of 273 thousand that month – 4% higher than the pre-pandemic record set in September 2019.  We've been welcoming record tourists from Australia, China, Taiwan, and Singapore.  Destination Queenstown & Lake Wanaka Tourism Chief Executive Mat Woods told Ryan Bridge the area's had fantastic late snow fall.  He says Australia didn't have great snow all season, so booking started when they saw how good the Kiwi ski season was.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail spending's taken a dive, but Black Friday could provide a much-needed boost.  Electronic card spending fell for a third consecutive month in October, with core retail spending down 0.8% on last year.  It coincides with record fuel prices which Retail NZ says is eating into household budgets.  Chief Executive Carolyn Young shares her thoughts with Ryan Bridge. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday the 13th of November 2026, tourism operators are celebrating the biggest September on record, Destination Queenstown & Lake Wanaka Tourism Mat Woods shares his thoughts.  Elliott Smith, Newstalk ZB's voice of rugby is in Cardiff with the All Blacks ahead of the game against Wales on Sunday.  Kiwis are keeping their wallets shut ahead of Black Friday sales, Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young shares her thoughts.  Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on two Iranian nationals who arrived in the UK illegally have been found guilty of spying for their country and schools across Italy have received bomb threats for the second day in a row, sparking fresh panic and evacuations. 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.

If you want to know how the top dog at the world's most valuable company has not one, but allegedly, two affairs —one allegedly with a Chinese spy— the answer is, you don't.   Nvidia, market cap $7 trillion.  Boss was Jensen Huang. Two hours ago he resigned.   The company is no longer number one in the world.   Stock price has crashed 11%. Microsoft is now worth more.   None of this has come out of the blue.   There's been a bit of reporting from journos on Wall Street, but there's also been this guy Christian Lamarco.   A 31-year-old trader from New York who works out of a Brooklyn apartment with his dog under his desk.   Six months ago, he and and the two analysts he employs published a 40-page report saying Nvidia had a "significant China problem", highlighting an "uncomfortably close" relationship between the Nvidia boss and a woman named Alice Huang.   Alice, we now know, is thought to be a Chinese honey trap spy. At least according to US intelligence.   So this plucky trader shorted the stock six months ago, when the rest of the world was head of heels for it. Gagging for it. Couldn't get enough.   In those six months, the Wall Street Journal reports Nvidia's lost $1 trillion in value and its stock is down 20%.   This will no doubt make Christian Lamarco a bit of a legend online for digging and finding what others couldn't. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac has decided to limit lending to houses that are in a flood plain or landslip risk area. The bank says they don't plan on denying mortgage applications based on natural hazard risk, but they will restrict lending against the riskiest properties.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Ryan Bridge that this decision was a long time coming, and other banks will likely follow suit.  "There's nothing to stop any of the other banks already starting to think about it, especially when everyone's looking at the data so much more" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schools want a more tailored approach to managing roll growth, as fewer receive Government funding to cope. Two thirds of applications for extra-ordinary roll-growth funding were approved over the past two years, down from 80% in 2022. Post Primary Teachers Association Chris Abercrombie told Ryan Bridge that zoning means schools have to take every eligible child within the zone, which leads to unexpected roll growth.  'I've heard of schools of 60, 70, 80 unknown students turning up on day one, and having to deal with that.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's 'buyers friendly' property market is expected to stick around, as more homes sell for less than their previous purchase price.  Cotality NZ data shows resale losses reached almost 16-percent in the September quarter -- the highest level since the same time in 2012.  Property Investors Federation Advocacy Manager Matt Ball shares his thoughts with Ryan Bridge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People keep asking what is taking so damn long with the vote counting.  There are fewer specials to count this time round - the were expecting around 700k but only got 400k.  The problem is they need to send all the votes from people who voted outside their electorate back to that electorate for counting.  Some of those votes will have come from overseas. They also recount all the votes they already counted on election day.  It's the equivalent of a builder's measuring twice and cutting once.  But it does mean for three weeks the country's governing arrangements are completely up in air.  It's like watching a game of cricket and trying to work out who's winning.  Impossible stuff.  Still, it's better we're certain of the final result than question.  You'd rather three weeks and a number you can trust than two weeks and a number you don't. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2026, property resale losses have hit their highest level in 14 years, Property Investors Federation Advocacy Manager Matt Ball shares his thoughts. Westpac has decided to limit lending to houses that are in flood plain or landslip risk areas, Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen provides some analysis. School rolls are out of control with more schools being denied support, PPTA President Chris Abercrombie shares his thoughts.  Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth surviving an impeachment vote and House Republicans threatening to subpoena NVIDIA boss Jensen Huang following revelations he had an affair with a woman accused of being a Chinese spy. 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.