Afternoon Edition: 04 October 2024

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 04 October 2024, 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. I'm Rayleen Ramsey. This is your afternoon news
fixed for Friday, the fourth of October. A state of
emergency has now been declared in Cluther, while one remains
in place for Dunedin. A red rain warning is in
force across North Otago, Dunedin and coastal Cluther until eleven tonight.
Met Service meteorologist John Law says strong winds will continue

(00:27):
from the east this afternoon, bringing more rain. There is
another pulse of rain expected as we head in towards
the latter part of the day. We're not looking at
the same total as we've seen in the past. Surface
flooding has closed more than twenty roads, including State Highway
one in and out of Dunedin, and are predicted to
stay closed overnight. Cluther Mayor Brian Kerdogan says the state

(00:49):
of emergency declaration means they can access help if they
need it. Where is the possibility because the rivers just
keep on going up tonight. People are wanting accommodation. A
community lead center has been set up at Mount Zion Church.
There's a financial boost for farmers and growers is relentless.

(01:09):
Where the batter is the lowest South the government's providing
fifty thousand dollars to rural support trusts across Southland and
parts of Otago. It's on top of the two hundred
and fifty thousand announced in June. Their Education Minister is
assuring all waiting schools will get their new buildings despite

(01:30):
changes to how works are managed. Reviews found a three
billion dollar gap between expectations and available funds, with only
one hundred and fifty three of four hundred and eighty
eight projects fully funded. Ericas Stanford says schools had been
given high hopes delivering very expensive bespoke designs. It's at
the expense of all of those other four hundred and

(01:51):
eighty eight schools in the pipeline. That's why this work
is so important, driving good value for money. The Prime
Minister says he maintains confidence in his associate Health Minister.
She defends accusations of corruption. Casey Costello's facing mounting pressure
after a move to half tax on heated tobacco products.
She's finally released the advice which supported her decision, which

(02:14):
Labours called just a bunch of PDFs and unrelated online articles.
Chris Luxan says he hasn't seen the advice, but backs
Costello in her determination to bring smoking rates down. We
want to make sure that we'll look at alternatives. We'll
give it a go, We'll try anything in order to
make sure that we actually move those smoking rates down.

(02:34):
A new program financing large housing developments could bring some
light back to the building sector. The Residential Development Underwright
enables eligible developers to access funds needed to deliver houses
on time. Only developments with at least thirty houses qualify,
and the developer has to provide evidence it needs support.

(02:55):
U Zealand Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming says it's
in encouraging not only for builders like bose I represent
but also the front end of the project, designers and
architects who are looking for work and be able to
get on to it. A person's died after a single
vehicle crash in Wyale Meal in the Far North at
about one this afternoon. A second man has been arrested

(03:19):
in relation to the death of Ardiki Rigby. The eighteen
year old was found in a burnt out car in
rural Hawks Bay in twenty twenty two. A twenty nine
year old have Locked north Man's been charged with being
a party to Arson to Sport and Silver Fern's coach,
Dame Nolin Todo is copying some criticism over her substitution strategy.

(03:40):
As New Zealand stare down the barrel of a netball
series whitewash against England and in the Cargol the Crusaders
say they've signed former Wallaby star James O'Connor is their
third choice number ten and not as a replacement for
departed Or Black's first five. Richie Muanger basketball a big
man Taco Fall admits his angling for an NBA contract

(04:04):
as he prepares to suit up for the New Zealand
Breakers in preseason games against three NBA sides. I'm Rayleian
Ramsey and that is your latest news fix. We'll be
back with the next update tomorrow morning from the News
Talk zb newsroom