Donald Trump's latest tariff deadline is rapidly approaching.

The US President has reached 11 deals and agreed to pause tariff increases for Mexico, ahead of his deadline of 4pm today.

He's indicated he'll raise the baseline tariff faced by most countries, including New Zealand.

Federal Tax Economist Alex Durante told Ryan Bridge that overall, consumers and businesses should be bracing for higher tariffs and higher prices going forward.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a concern consumer choice is at risk with new rules changing the labelling requirements around gene editing.

The change will see New Zealand mirror the genetic technology legislation in Australia.

It'll mean food produced using new breeding techniques, including gene editing, will not need to be labelled as genetically modified unless it contains new DNA.

GE Free New Zealand spokesperson Jon Carapiet told Ryan Bridge consumers care about how their food is made.

He says people care about free-range for example, even when it actually doesn't mean a huge difference in the end product.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A banking expert believes new capital for Kiwibank will shift the dial but won't completely close the gap with its Australian competitors.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced the bank's parent company is being allowed to raise half a billion dollars from private investors to help it close in on the four major banks.

Massey University banking expert Claire Matthews told Ryan Bridge Kiwibank is already making a difference, but can't see the announcement making a big enough splash.

She says enabling it to grow will help, but the competition issue in the market is being overstated.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of our largest power companies sees the great potential in the Government's push for geothermal energy.

The Resources Minister Shane Jones' draft strategy lays out a goal of doubling its production by 2040.

Mercury Energy Chief Executive Stewart Hamilton says 20% of New Zealand's power already comes from geothermal.

He told Ryan Bridge it has great opportunities to decarbonise and grow the economy.

Hamilton says they're currently doing a $300 million extension on one of their geothermal sites, which will produce enough power for the entire city of Wellington.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 31st of July 2025, The Government's given Kiwibank the green light for a capital injection from the private sector, Associate Professor at Massey University Claire Matthews tells Ryan Bridge whether it will impact banking competition.

The cost of flying to and from every airport in New Zealand is about to increase, Air Chathams CEO Duane Emeny shares his thoughts.

Energy Minister Shane Jones has announced a plan to double New Zealand's production of geothermal energy by 2040, Mercury Energy CEO Stewart Hamilton, shares his thoughts.

Plus US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on The August 1st deadline looming and New Zealand calling for a two-state solution at the UN.

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.

Airlines have had another challenge thrown at them as our sole air traffic control provider hikes prices.

Airways are upping fees for commercial airlines by an average of 17.7% over the next three years.

However, it's acknowledged airlines are doing it tough and still recovering from Covid-19.

Air Chathams Chief Executive Duane Emeny told Ryan Bridge as a state-owned enterprise, the Government have some control over Airways' cost.

He says they could go to Airways and say they need to do better, as they shouldn't really be making a profit while airlines are suffering.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They haven't said it explicitly yet, but one day soon, our KiwiSaver contributions will rise to 12% and Kiwibank will be partially sold to foreign buyers.

On the bank, Nicola Willis is flying a kite and talking about a potentially partial float of the stock exchange for the wee Kiwi battler. It needs capital to grow and take on the big banks.

They're getting access to an extra half a billion through changes already announced. But they could yet get more, should National campaign on a partial float.

It's sounding more and more like they will.

And the question is whether most voters will care? I think not. Asset sales are not the great electoral disaster they were once portrayed as - just ask John Key who whipped Phil Goff's butt in 2011 on a platform of partially privatising assets.

On KiwiSaver... the Government's already upped the amount we pay, and our bosses pay on our behalf, towards retirement.

Our default contribution is going up to 4% over three years. Add your employer's and that's 8%.

Scott Simpson was at a conference yesterday and there's an interest.co.nz report quoting him as saying basically it'll happen before long. At a gradual pace.

But here's the thing... like the partial float of Kiwibank, this is all stuff that needs to happen.

The Aussies' pensions funds boast $4 trillion in balances. That money is put to work. It funds infrastructure. It builds wealth. It grows a domestic economy.

Our KiwiSaver balances, collectively, sit just above $100 billion.

It's David and Goliath.

So we need to save more. And if we're serious about a Kiwi bank taking on the Aussies and sticking it to them good and proper, we'll need some outside capital to give it that boost.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.