Ryan Bridge: My thoughts on rates caps

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Oct 20, 2025 · 2m · transcript

A rates cap is one of those policies that immediately sounds appealing.

Look no further than yesterday’s CPI number. It’s one of your top three inflation feeders.

So, throw a cap on them. Tie their hands behind their backs. Reign 'em in!

Get rid of the hundred-thousand-dollar bike rack here, the million-dollar disco toilets there, the coffee machines for staff over there.

But in practice, how do actually make it work without starving these councils of revenue they actual need to fix the pipes?

I spoke to Ben Bell from Gore yesterday. He said almost 90% of council spending there goes on basics…