Afternoon Edition: 05 August 2026

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 05 August 2026, 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 (00:02):
Good afternoon, I'm railing Ramsey. This is your afternoon news
fixed for Wednesday, the fifth of August. The Finance Minister
says today's unemployment data confirms the difficulties stemming from global uncertainty.
Stats n Z data shows the rate jump from five
point three percent in the March quarter to five point
six for the June quarter. It's the highest rate in

(00:25):
eleven years and higher than most economists were picking. Nikola
Willis's overseas tensions rarely impact Keyweed job seekers and it's
reflected in their statistics. Global uncertainty in an oil price
shops or many employers put off intensions to hire new
workers or create jobs. A forty nine year old man's

(00:48):
expected to appear in court tomorrow on fourteen charges, including
causing grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving, unlawfully taking a vehicle
and wilfully ill treating an animal. Auckland police have described
an extraordinary chain of events in a violent rampage in
Epsom this morning. A man allegedly assaulted a woman jogger,

(01:10):
stole a bystander's vehicle and drove it onto oncoming cars
and then cyclists from Auckland grammar school. Three boys are
in hospital, one with critical injuries whose undergoing surgery, a
second in a serious condition, and the third has moderate injuries.
The man is then accused of killing a dog being
walked by a woman. Police say it was at that

(01:33):
point that they arrived The Public Service Commissions leading a
rapid review of the Ministry of Justice after a suspended
employee spent five years on full pay waiting for a
criminal trial. Former Lotto presenter Russell Harrison was up on
charges of money laundering for the Commenteros. The Justice Minister

(01:54):
says all chief executives will get firm guidance on employment
involving criminal proceedings. The Prime Minister says his schedule and
job mean he must sometimes use Defence Force flights. In July,
Chris Luxon flew from Huanganui, initially describing it as for
a late night meeting, since revealed as after a National

(02:17):
Party fundraiser. His officers. Former National MP Bill Birch's funeral
required a last minute schedule change. Luxon says he uses
commercial flights as often as he can know. The good
news is that those aircraft need to be flying hours
need to be raised and trained with pilotsu a doesn't
cost takes by the police in Western Bay have plenty

(02:37):
of arrested three people targeting opium smuggling and sale. Investigations
kicked off when a thirty eight year old was arrested
in Podonga in April after police found twenty four kilos
of opium. Between June and July, customs intercepted multiple parcels
from the UK and India containing OPM. Police last week

(02:59):
executed eleven searches across Todong at papamoor Or Markor and Tapuquet,
seizing opium, steroids, cash and electronic devices to sport and
a shock selection for Wellington and Saturday's NPC clash away
to Auckland at Western Springs, with flanker du Plus Carefi

(03:19):
named in the backs at second five. Co Chandrew Webster
has stoked the Warriors of extended prop Jackson Ford's contract
through to the end of twenty twenty nine, saying you're
not meant to have favorites, but Ford is one of
his athletics. New Zealand says it can't budge on its
strict Commonwealth and Olympic Games selection criteria, despite criticism from athletes.

(03:43):
That is your latest news fix. We'll have another one
for you tomorrow morning from the newstalk ZEDB newsroom.