New Zealand restaurants are getting their sparkle back, thanks to some joining elite ranks.

More than 100 venues have been recognised by the Michelin Guide, with 14 awarded a single star, including Auckland's Ahi and Wanaka's Kika.

Essence in Queenstown was the only venue to receive a coveted two stars.

Restaurant Association CEO Nicola Waldren told Ryan Bridge the country wasn't guaranteed any stars, so securing 16 stars on the first try is huge.

She says this is a stunning achievement for a little country like ours, with such a special hospitality industry.

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A former Treasury economist believes the agency has lost its mojo.

A new report's calling for Treasury to up its game, detailing a litany of blunders, including incorrect ACC deficit numbers, and costings for the Interislander ferry replacements.

The Public Service Commission also finds some ministers are losing confidence in its advice.

Economist Cameron Bagrie told Ryan Bridge Treasury hasn't been strong enough with previous ministers.

He says if you don't get the right leaders at the top, problems tend to filter through the whole organisation.

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 1st of July 2026, a scathing external review of the Treasury has found it's losing the confidence of ministers. Former Treasury economist Cameron Bagrie shares his thoughts.

The first-ever New Zealand Michelin awards have been handed out, Restaurant Association CEO Nicola Waldren discusses the success of the night.

The Auditor-General says up to 20 thousand school lunches a day are being returned uneaten, Kaitao Intermediate School Principal Phil Palfrey tells Ryan what he's been seeing on the ground.

Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on the UK Government's long-delayed defence investment plan and people granted asylum having to pay back around £10,000 towards the cost of their accommodation and support once they start earning, under government plans.

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Nearly half of students are refusing to eat school lunches due to the meals unappealing look and taste.

The Auditor General's found only half of last years lunches complied with the Ministry of Education's nutrition standards.

The new scheme introduced last year saw the Government save 130-million dollars.

Kaitao Intermediate Principal Phil Palfrey told Ryan Bridge sometimes there's meals that are ok.

He says some of the ones he's eaten are absolutely horrible, and the old system worked.

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Good morning, and I really do mean, good morning.

Four months ago, war kicked off in the Middle East. A year earlier the tariff war kicked off all over the world.

And yet today the following things are happening, regardless.

Wall Street is steaming ahead... on track some best quarterly performances since Covid. The S&P: up 14% through Monday.

Nasdaq up 20%. The price of oil's falling. Manufacturing activity in the States is at a four-year-high.

Here at home, people always tell you the bad but rarely report the good or stable.

Yesterday, business confidence was UP in June. A net 37% of businesses are more confident this month compared to last.

Despite the war and oil and shoppers being a bit cautious, there's optimism and hope.

Jobs. Remember they said jobs would fall off a cliff? People would stop hiring?

Remember the employment survey that came out a few weeks ago? It was the most negative/depressing reading since it began decades ago.

Then we got the jobs number Monday... we gained opportunities. We gained workers.

On a net basis, we added to the pool.

That's why on this programme we always strive to bring facts without so much emotion and hyperbole.

Bad things happen and people react, but not always in the way you think, or even they think, they will.

And if there's one thing you can sure of, no matter how disastrous the headline the vent, the war, the pandemic...

Commerce will always find a way. Eventually.

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A thinktank suggests we need to move away from a 'bigger is better' mindset when reforming local government.

A New Zealand Initiative report says the Government's plan for creating fewer larger councils through mergers is the wrong fix.

It cites Infrastructure Commission findings that Auckland's 2010 super-city merger delivered more costs than savings.

Initiative Senior Fellow Nick Clark told Ryan Bridge that our councils are already large by overseas standards.

He says that if bigger is better, than we would see a lot better results, and we aren’t.

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Surprise over jobs in the public service rising, despite cuts planned by the Government.

Seasonally-adjusted Stats NZ data shows filled jobs rose 0.3 percent last month - and 0.7 percent for the past year.

The most jobs were in the public sector, with more than six-thousand jobs created in the year to May.

Infometrics Economist Rob Heyes says there's still plenty of work to do in the public sector, especially in health and education.

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On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 30th of June 2026, the employment market's showing slight signs of life, Infometrics Consultant Rob Heyes shares his thoughts.

A NZ Initiative report says merging councils might not be the golden solution to our local government issues, senior fellow Nick Clark tells Ryan why.

Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on a brain injury crisis striking Aussie sporting heroes and a massive, multi-million-dollar copper theft has police puzzled.

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