New Zealand’s new bill is finding support from a women’s sport advocacy group.

The new bill wants to codify sex-based language, defining a woman as an “adult human biological female” and a man as an “adult human biological male”.

It comes as Britain’s Highest Court ruled that only biological women —not trans women— meet a definition of a woman under equity laws.

Save Women’s Sport Australasia NZ Spokeswoman Ro Edge told Francesca Rudkin the bill is a protection for the sex-based rights of women.

She says all it does is reinforce the urgent need for the likes of Sport New Zealand to prioritise and protect safety and fairness for biological women.

Edge says they play sports with their bodies, not their identities.

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Some of the world's most influential people will be making their way to Rome to farewell the late Pope Francis.

The Head of the Catholic Church died aged 88 on Easter Monday - following a stroke and heart failure.

Pope Francis' funeral will take place outside St Peter's Basilica on Saturday evening - and he'll be laid to rest in Rome's Basilica of St Mary Major.

Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey told Francesca Rudkin world leaders have begun confirming their attendance.

He says Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, Sir Keir Starmer, the Argentinean President and Prince William on behalf of the King are among those going.

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On the Early Edition Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 23 April 2025, geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller discusses the overnight meeting between Prime Minister Luxon and his British counterpart Sir Keir Starmer.

NZ spokesperson for Save Women's Sport Australasia, Ro Edge explains a new members bill that aims to legally define men and women.

And, Tourism Holdings Limited has seen a dramatic slowdown in bookings to the US. Chief Executive Grant Webster considers the effect of the US tariff regime on the locally listed company.

Francesca Rudkin asks us to take responsibility for our own relationships with technology.

Plus, Pope Francis' funeral will take place at the Vatican on Saturday morning - UK correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest.

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

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There has been a clever marketing campaign from 2 Degrees this week.

The telco has released the results of a study it commissioned into the impact mobile phones are having on our mental health.

It’s not good.

While most telco’s like to concentrate on keeping us connected, 2 Degrees has taken a slightly different approach with this one, acknowledging the elephant in the room by talking honestly and openly about the damage phones can do.

It’s almost like they care.

Which is quite refreshing.

I probably sound a bit skeptical, but I’m less fussed about a smart approach to promote a brand than the more important point that it’s absolutely crazy we’re letting our phones negatively impact our lives.

It simply doesn’t need to be this way.

One of the things the survey looked at was the role notifications play in adult’s daily lives.

What they discovered was 50% of Kiwis receive too many notifications.

37% feel overwhelmed, panicked, or anxious.

30% struggle to concentrate due to the notifications.

46% of Gen Z respondents and 40% find it difficult to concentrate.

The biggest culprits are social media (65%) and email (60%).

I told you it wasn’t great news.

But as concerning as these figures are the crazy thing about it is that this is on us.

We can control our notifications.

We can turn them off or silence them.

We can take control of apps by doing things like deleting and restoring them throughout the week so they’re not constantly available.

And if you don’t know how to do it; you do what I do and find a younger person to do it for you.

We can come to terms with never having an empty inbox, and not feel the pressure to try.

We can make rules about scrolling through emails after work. We can just put the phone down.

It’s interesting to understand how the brain works in response to notifications.

According to Kathryn Berkett, a neuroscience and digital wellbeing expert working alongside 2 Degrees on this project, notifications from phones trigger dopamine, making them highly addictive.

She says our obsession with our phones are physically altering our brains, damaging our relationships, draining our energy and reducing our overall wellbeing.

I get it, it’s hard to make a change, but I'm absolutely certain that in 10 to 20 years we will look back and wonder what the hell we were thinking with the endless content, apps, notifications, likes and swipes.

We can’t keep blaming the tech companies, we know what they’re in it for.

We can’t keep blaming the tech, a lot of the tech is really cool and helpful.

At some point we have to step up and take responsibility for how we use it.

Thanks 2 Degrees for the reminder.

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The Easter weekend hosted a fair bit of sport, and Elliott Smith joined Francesca Rudkin to delve into the wins, losses, and major players.

They discussed the Warriors' win over the Broncos, the Super Rugby results, and the latest out of Formula 1.

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Costco is assessing its options for a potential expansion.

The US big box retail chain has seen a sharp rise in membership and revenue since opening in Auckland's Westgate in September 2022.

It launched home delivery to members and non-members across Auckland last week, and is working on expanding to new regions.

Grocery Policy Expert Ernie Newman told Francesca Rudkin that he’s not all that convinced this expansion will pan out.

He says Costco is successful in the North American market as people are able to access it within a relatively short drive, but New Zealand is much more fragmented.

Newman says that New Zealand supermarkets go to where the consumers are, but Costco expects the consumers to travel long distances to get to them.

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On the Early Edition Full Show Podcast Tuesday 22nd of April 2025, Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna has the latest on the death of Pope Francis.

Costco is looking to expand to outside of Auckland, Grocery Policy expert Ernie Newman tells Francesca Rudkin what this could mean for the grocery sector.

Elliot Smith has the latest on weekend sport.

Plus, Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's response to the Pope's death.

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

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Heavily choreographed proceedings are now in motion, following the death of the Pope.

The leader of the Catholic Church has died overnight at the age of 88 following a battle with double pneumonia.

Later this week, the Pope will lie in state in St Peters Basilica for several days for the public to pay their respects.

Italy Correspondent Jo McKenna is at St Peters' Square, and told Francesca Rudkin another ritual will be held in the coming hours, inside his apartment.

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