Afternoon Edition: 01 September 2025

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 01 September 2025, straight from the Newstalk ZB newsroom - bringing you everything you need to know in news, politics, business, entertainment and sport.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Good afternoon, aimed Susan Nordquist, and this is your afternoon
news fixed for Monday, the first of September. The government
is opening the door a little for wealthy foreign investors
to be able to buy or build a single home
here if it's worth more than five million dollars. Those
with an active investor plus residency visa will be eligible,
while the general ban on foreigners buying residential houses will remain.

(00:28):
Prime Minister Chris Luckson says this change balances two things.

Speaker 2 (00:32):
Between those who do not want foreign ownership opened up
by driving specuative property investment, and the desire to attract
high net worth investors by deepening their connection to our
country in order to help grow our economy.

Speaker 1 (00:43):
And the law will be passed by the end of
this year. Foreign Minister and New Zealand First Leader Winston
Peters says the foreign buyers ban remains, but people investing
millions should be able to own a home. He says
the minimum value requirement excludes more than ninety nine percent
of homes and it won't impact the wider housing market.
The Gray District Council has called in the police after

(01:05):
online threats to councilors, including references to assassination and torture.
Local Democracy Reporting sees angry comments on community forums and
notice boards have become heated over the past fortnighte as
locals compare soaring rate bills and potential water charges. Courtney
Winter reports.

Speaker 3 (01:24):
Council Chief Executive Joeann Sorderlund says the personal attacks, hate
speech and violent threats are unacceptable and unlawful. She says
references to assassination, waterboarding elected members and burning down the
council building are beyond disgraceful. The councils filed an official
complaint and asked police to investigate.

Speaker 1 (01:43):
It's may call break for our smaller airlines as the
government pushes to keep them going. It is backing at
risk regional air routes with up to thirty million dollars
in loans from the Regional Infrastructure Fund. Cabinet has also
approved funding for digital upgrades that will integrate regional bookings
with the platforms of major carriers. NZ Airport's Association Chief

(02:06):
executive Billy Moore says people need to use smaller airlines
or risk losing them.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
The more kiwis who can take a look at these
services think of new places to go that are off
the main trunk lines.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
We'd love to see that. The number of new homes
consented and the year to July was down point one
percent compared to the previous year. Consents for standalone homes
rose one point seven percent. Consumer New Zealand believes loopholes
in the Civil Aviation Act eventually led to Jet Stars
hefty fine. The airline has been fined more than two

(02:38):
million dollars for misleading nearly one hundred thousand customers about
their compensation rights. The breaches were in regards to compensation
for flight cancelations and delays. Consumer NZ's Jessica Walker says
at the moment passengers just rely on airlines to do
the right thing, but actually airlines then legally required to
tell us our right two sport and earlier than expected.

(03:01):
All Blacks recall for Leicester fining r Nuku. The seven
Test wing has been called into camp ahead of Saturday
showdown with the spring Box at Eden Park. Goalkeeper Alex
Paulson and defender Liberato Cacace have been withdrawn from the
All White squad for two matches against Australia and the
upcoming international football window the Tactics have signed a former

(03:23):
Pulse shooter, Amarangi Mala Salah to their squad for next
year's A and Z Premiership. I'm Susie Nordquist and that
is your latest news fix. We'll be back with the
next update tomorrow morning from the News Talk Set Venues
Room