Afternoon Edition: 05 May 2025

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 05 May 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. I'm railing Ramsey. This is your afternoon news
fix for Monday, the fifth of May. The Public Service
Associations ask the Auditor General to check proposals to cut
twenty three Health New Zealand fraud and audit roles. It
says the Auditor should be concerned it'll reduce investigations. The

(00:24):
Health Agency says it's cutting duplication created when Health New
Zealand replaced EHBS. It says this structure allows expansion of
the protective use of data analytics in promoting fraud awareness.
Progress on New Zealand's trade deal with India. The first
n person round of negotiations around free trade begins in

(00:46):
India this week. Formal negotiations were launched after a ministerial
delegation visit to New Delhi in April. Trade Minister Todd
McLay is also applauding a trade agreement with the European Union,
with Kiwi exports to the EU increasing twenty eight percent
in its first year from three point eight to four

(01:06):
point eight billion. Dollars. Donations to National last year exceeded
the combined total given to Labor, the Greens and to
ACT political parties Muster report donations annually, including identifying every
donor giving more than five thousand dollars. Senior political reporter
Sophie Trigger has the numbers.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
Just under five million dollars was donated to National in
twenty twenty four, compared to slightly over one point six
million for the Labour Party. The Greens received just under
one point six million and the Act Party nearly one
point five Meanwhile, New Zealand First raised nearly seven hundred
and sixty thousand in donations and to Pattimadi fifty four
thousand dollars.

Speaker 1 (01:47):
Thick black smoke can be seen billowing across parts of
Auckland from a fire at a McDonald's inn, Parkaranga. There
have been precautionary evacuations nearby, but no reports of injury.
A recent case of a body being mishandled as prompting
calls for more transparency. Former tipin Ay Funeral's employee Fiona

(02:08):
Bakolitch has been recently jailed for interfering with human remains
and obtaining by deception. The Funeral Director's Association says there's
no legal requirement to have transparent pricing or detailed record keeping.
CEO Jillian Boys says the organization has lobbied for tighter
controls since nineteen thirty seven. We get told by officials

(02:29):
that ministers are not particularly interested in this care. Healthcare
obviously always makes the news. Fire and Emergency says its
scrutinizing an Employment Relations Authority decision about a sacked fire fighter.
Open Justice reports Joshua Strauss has been cleared of wrongdoing
over polling colleagues meal allowances for shift groceries. Emily Ansell

(02:53):
has more well.

Speaker 3 (02:54):
His employer accused him of misusing the money, but has
been found to have unlawfully act Cyst Strauss's bank account
before using the information in disciplinary action. Fire and Emergency
says it can't comment further at this point. It says
employment matters are confidential and the matter is still under
judicial consideration.

Speaker 1 (03:16):
To sport A Netball New Zealand affirming plans for next
year's A and Z premiership despite a broadcast deal still
not in place. The governing body claim to be planning
for the retention of A sixteen competition. The Black Fern
Sevens of Thunpt rivals Australia thirty one seven to win
the season ending world Championship Tournament in Los Angeles. The

(03:39):
Warriors have beaten the Rockets in game seven of their
first round series to earn a place in the Western
Conference semifinals of basketball's NBA. That is your latest news fix.
We'll be back with the next update tomorrow morning from
the newstalk ZB newsroom