Richard Dawkins: Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chairperson on Sheep and Beef numbers
The country's red meat sector may struggle to reach a goal set by the Government, to double exports by 2034. Data from NZ Beef and Lamb's found breeding ewe numbers have dropped by nearly two-percent, while beef cattle numbers were up 4.4-percent. It reveals 2.6 million units of sheep and beef stock have been lost due to afforestation over the past eight years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ryan Bridge: the real reason why Kiwi's are crossing the Tasman
What's the point in us having more affordable property prices for first home buyers if young workers are jetting off to Australia in search of a better tomorrow? There's a perverse logic to this, but across the Tasman right now, where our flying kiwis are headed, they're experiencing something of a property boom. It's the opposite of the stagnant or falling prices we're seeing here, where homes in most regions are now considered, technically at least, affordable. In Sydney the median prices of a new pad is predicted to increase 7% this year to $2.1m NZD by June 2026. If you want pot be a Melbourne hipster, prices will be 6% higher in a year to $1.2m. They've not got a problem which we know all too well. Prices are squeezing out first home buyers. You can't get on the ladder for love now money. Look at the new loans from banks. Landlords: 200k new loans over the year. That's the most since 2022. First home mortgages... they're down to 116k. Because they're cutting interest rates, houses are more affordable for those with equity - i.e. existing homeowners and landlords. Typically, this is seen as a problem. You want people to have a stake in their country and the best way to do that is owning a piece of it. But, property is inextricably linked to the success of our economy, falling and flat house prices here are not actually a great news story. The wealth effect of the biggest asset most of us own informs our spending habits. When we feel richer, we go swipe the credit card. When we don't, we don't. So the question is... are you better to have affordable homes in a country in which young people can't find a job, or are you better off in a country where homes are less affordable but wages are higher and the economy's stronger? The answer lies in the number of kiwis who're voting with their feet and buggering off across the Tasman. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Full Show Podcast: 15 August 2025
On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 15th of August 2025, All eyes are on Alaska ahead of a crucial meeting between Trump and Putin, US Correspondent Toni Waterman is in Alaska and has the latest. The All Blacks are taking on Argentina in Córdoba, former All Black Josh Kronfeld shares his thoughts ahead of the game. Sheep and beef cattle numbers are improving, Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chairperson Richard Dawkins shares his thoughts. Plus UK/ Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on President Zelensky visits Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Matt Ball: NZ Property Investors Federation PR & Advocacy Manager on the property resale profits hitting a decade low
Times are tough for property owners as they see the lowest resale profits in over a decade. Cotality’s latest Pain & Gain Report shows 89.4% of homes sold above their purchase price last quarter – the lowest since 2014. Christchurch was the most resilient of the main centres, with 4.9% of Q2 resales made at a loss, well below the national average of 10.6%, while Auckland recorded the highest proportion of loss-making sales at 15.9%. NZ Property Investors Federation’s Matt Ball told Ryan Bridge this is only a problem for those who are being forced to sell. For property investors, he says, unless you bought at the peak and have to sell for some reason, this is just another cycle to ride out. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Andy England: Darfield High School Principal on NCEA Level 1 achievement falling, secondary teachers strike
NCEA Level 1 achievement's dropped to its lowest level in a decade, while all qualifications saw improvement. In 2024, achievement in Levels 2, 3, and University Entrance went up for the first time since 2020. Student's completing Level 1 continued to drop, and Māori also fell further behind. Darfield High School Principal Andy England told Ryan Bridge there've been problems with the qualification since its introduction. He says there's been a lot of tinkering for teachers to get their heads round and some of the introduction texts were awful. And secondary teachers will soon swapping their pens for pickets. Post Primary Teachers' Association members will put down the tools next Wednesday, rejecting a 3% pay increase over three years. Public Service Minister Judith Collins says the union didn't even have a counter offer. PPTA member and Rangitoto College teacher Paul Stevens says the offer is essentially a pay cut during a teacher shortage. He says it means wages don't even match inflation. England told Bridge with an incoming NCEA overhaul he gets where teachers are coming from. He asks what would you say if your boss offered to pay you less and work harder. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.
South Africa