The discourse surrounding the R360 League is growing increasingly heated.

The rugby unions of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy issued a joint statement on Wednesday (NZT) refusing to endorse the proposed Saudi-funded competition.

Sport commentator Sam Ackerman says the unions are overreacting- "that's like saying back in the day, if you had converted to, to rugby league, then you could never go back to rugby union or vice versa."

He told Ryan Bridge that the players shouldn't be blamed for taking a good opportunity.

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The Reserve Bank's cut the OCR 50-basis-points to 2.5%, despite acknowledging inflation is above or almost above where they'd like it.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says they've factored in broader economic conditions.

She says the central bank clearly thinks any fluctuation in inflation will be constrained by spare capacity in the economy.

Labour's Finance Spokesperson Barbara Edmonds told Ryan Bridge it’s a direct response to the economic damage caused by Christopher Luxon.

She says the economy has gone backwards under the Coalition Government, with 36,000 jobs lost, 2,700 businesses liquidated, and more Kiwis moving overseas.

“Christopher Luxon promised to make it better, but he’s made it worse.”

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Locals are raising eyebrows at the camping areas selected within a proposed freedom camping bylaw that goes before council this week.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council bylaw proposes 15 designated freedom camping sites for the district following a surge in freedom campers.

Save Clean New Zealand spokesperson Andrea Beryl says she's not against freedom camping, as the area relies on tourism.

But she told Ryan Bridge the places given the green light for camping are bizarre.

Beryl says it's like they've just pointed at places on a map.

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Former FBI director James Comey is standing by his innocence - after being targeted by US President Donald Trump.

Comey was indicted last month and made his first court appearance in Virginia today.

He's pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation.

US correspondent Nick Harper told Ryan Bridge Trump has described Comey and other political enemies as 'guilty as hell'.

But he says Comey's lawyers are calling it a selective and malicious prosecution.

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 9th of October 2025, Labour Finance Spokesperson Barbara Edmonds thinks the Reserve Bank is taking a risk cutting the OCR by 50 basis points, she tells Ryan why.

Freedom camping across some of the South Island’s most popular holiday hot-spots has surged to the highest levels, Save Clean New Zealand spokesperson, Andrea Beryl shares her thoughts.

Rugby Unions around the globe are banding together against R360, Sports commentator Sam Ackerman has the latest.

Plus US Correspondent Nick Harper updates us on former FBI Director James Comey appearing in court charged with lying to Congress.

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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This story about sick or disabled teenagers getting the benefit doesn’t make any sense.

Government wants to cut the dole for teenagers whose parents earn $65k plus.

OK.

Their justification? If poor old mum and dad have to cover their living costs, said teenagers will go find a job.

OK, fine.

That’s about 4000-odd 18–19-year-olds.

But here’s where it gets complicated.

It turns out around half that number are getting the benefit not because they can’t find work, but because they can’t work.

Like physically. Have a look on the WINZ website. It lays out the criteria.

You have to prove the reason with a doctor’s certificate. Basically, you can’t work full-time because you have a disability, injury or health condition which prevents it.

There’s mention of chronic stuff like haemophiliacs and chronic asthma sufferers.

So here’s the rub.

If Johnny can’t work - and we accept that because a doctor has said so - and the point of cutting Johnny’s benefit is to encourage him to work, then we have an obvious problem.

You can’t encourage somebody to work who can’t work. Can you?

This makes no sense.

Either the government is not believing the health conditions are real, or they are not that serious.

Or they’re saying that parents on $65k plus a year should be financially responsible for their kids until they’re 20, even if those kids can’t work for good reason.

Which is, I think wrong.

Johnny’s parents didn’t choose, I’m sure, to have a disabled child or a kid injured in a car crash at home in the prime of their lives.

Ministers need to better explain this announcement or U-turn on this portion of it before the ink dries.

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Kier Starmer has urged students not to protest on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge that they aren't listening.

In London on Saturday nearly 500 people were arrested in a protest linked to Palestine Action which has been labelled a terrorist organisation by the UK Government.

Starmer warns of rising antisemitism while protesters say conflating the Israeli Government's actions and Jewish people is antisemitic.

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The Government has signed off changes that let NZ Post cut back to just two delivery days a week in towns and three in rural areas.

Postal Workers Union co-president John Maynard said to Ryan Bridge that they are 'very critical' of the decision as it appears NZ Post prioritises returning a dividend to the Government over it's customers.

But NZ Post says nothing is changing yet, and rural communities will still get extra protections under this new deal.

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