Afternoon Edition: 06 August 2026

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 06 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 Thursday, the sixth of August. A harsher response
to retail offending, assaults on first responders and coward punchers
is now enshrined in law. Parliament's just passed sweeping reforms
to the Crimes Act, supported by the three coalition parties.

(00:24):
Nationals James Meagher says the changes restore consequences and better
protect the public.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
This bill also responds to calls for a tougher approach
to crime by creating new offenses, strengthening existing penalties, and
providing law enforcement with more tools.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
Labour's Camilla Balach says the bill tries to do too
much at once.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
It doesn't mean that just passing any law that addresses
crime is going to be effective in preventing victims of
crime and preventing the causes of crime.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
Confusion in the National Party whether the Prime Minister made
an MMP policy announcement this morning or just express to views.
Luxon said he thinks he'd hold a referendum on MMP
if re elected. It's been twice approved and referender National
MPs asked about it today seemed unclear.

Speaker 3 (01:11):
Well, it hasn't been a formal announcement, was on radio
giving of view.

Speaker 2 (01:14):
How I'm not involved in regards to the timing of that,
but I've seen the announcement.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
He was asked a question, he answered it, and that's
something that something that we can consider and we'll get
on too that the.

Speaker 3 (01:23):
Position has been outlined clearly by the Prime Minister, who's
say it's punt In regards to the.

Speaker 1 (01:27):
Policies, China is firmly on the agenda for Pacific nations.
As our Foreign minister jets off to Fiji, Political reporter
Ethan Griffiths is with Winston Peters.

Speaker 3 (01:37):
Winston Peters, will Land and Sue tonight ahead of the
Pacific Islands Foreign Foreign Ministers meeting, exactly a month after
China test fired a dummy missile in the region. Peters
says it's a chance to discuss global events impacting the
region ahead of the leaders of all eighteen members gathering
in Palao next month. Peters returns to Wellington tomorrow night.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
It thumbs up for the government's long term mental health plan.
The ten year strategy aims to intervene earlier and connect
up the system better, hoping to improve mental health, addiction,
and well being outcomes. Drug Foundation Executive director Sarah Helm says,
it's good drug harm and addiction feature so prominently.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Oftentimes these government documents don't really speak to it very much,
and they really have done that. They've also focused on
palm reduction, early intervention, and the kinds of things I
imagine the public would want to see.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Inland revenues, zeroing in on orchards, its suspects may be
evading taxes. It's upping the focus on growers and exporters
for practices like paying workers in cash. It says false
invoices are being created to obscure transactions, and it's scrutinizing
new related GST applications. The department says it'll act to

(02:52):
collect outstanding debt. Christ Churcher's Littleton Pored Company has had
another record breaking year. It'ss did a thirty five million
dollar net profit after tax for the twenty twenty five
a twenty six financial year, a forty percent jump on
the year before. In sporting headlines, Joseph Parker is thrilled

(03:13):
to have his suspension for a leeched drug use lifted,
not just for himself but for his family and friends
who supported him during a difficult time. NRL hooker Brandon
Smith has had an inside a betting charge dropped, but
is still facing a charge of unlawfully supplying cocaine to
fellow first grader Victor Radley, and an unnamed AFL club

(03:36):
could be in big trouble following revelations they only contracted
a player with a history of concussions, after forcing them
to exonerate the club from any future court action regarding
head trauma. That is your latest news fix. We'll be
back with the next update tomorrow morning from the news
Talk said B Newsroom.