Afternoon Edition: 07 August 2026

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 07 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 Friday, the seventh of August. A deadlock among
a meeting of the Pacific's foreign ministers in Fiji who
haven't been able to agree on rebuking China for its
ballistic missile test. Political reporter Ethan Griffiths is in Suva.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is advocating for a joint statement
condemning China, with the Pacific Islands Forum so far silent
on last month's test. A decision requires consensus, and New
Stork ZB understands while there was overwhelming agreement, Nauru and
Carabas blocked the move. It means it remains on the
agenda for next month's Pacific Islands Forum, where the leaders

(00:42):
of all eighteen countries will meet in Palau.

Speaker 1 (00:45):
Earlier today, two Valu's Foreign affairs secretary told Newstalk ZB
the country sought help from partners to locate the dummy
warhead believed to be near the country. Concern for Kaitaian
with more than forty john Obs lost in a Northland
mill closure. The Duke and Mill has closed two weeks
ahead of schedule, but remaining staff will be paid out

(01:07):
until August twenty one, the mill's original closing date. It's
the seventh timber mill to close under the Coalition government.
Workers First union organizer Marcus Coverdale says the loss of
employment is already huge across Northland.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
Some people taking their retirement, others are able to cross
train and go on to other employments. Some will be unemployed. Unfortunately,
there isn't a lot of work in quite thire.

Speaker 1 (01:33):
Concern Scraping the Investment Boost could do more harm than good.
Labour's promising to up the GST threshold for small to
medium businesses, lift the asset right off threshold and make
big businesses pay small suppliers in fifteen days. It would
act national six point six billion dollar scheme to pay

(01:54):
for it. Calling it untargeted, Small Business and Z founder
Paul Wicks says this pot could be very useful. Three
practical measures is just whether the changes to the Investment
Boost actually creates a larger lot elsewhere. A helping hand
for regional airports with tricky regulations set to be scrapped.

(02:14):
The Government's getting rid of one size fits all requirements
for the length of emergency stopping space needed at the
end of a runway. Smaller airports will now face a
simpler approvals process for proposed stopping links. Aviation Industry Association
CEO Simon Wallace says this will save time and money.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
Will allow regional airports to invest more in other areas
of their operation, for example in their terminals or other facilities.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
A push for a rethink on how prescription medicines can
be advertised as weight loss drugs grow in popularity. New
Zealand is one of just two countries where these medicines
can be advertised directly to consumers. It comes after we
go v was ordered to make warnings bigger on bill boards.
A Tiger University professor of public health, Janet Hook says

(03:05):
doctors have long wanted prescription medicine advertising band and I
think that.

Speaker 2 (03:09):
It is timely to reconsider whether a twoty second moving
advertisement or a brief exposure to a billboard can give
people the complete information they need.

Speaker 1 (03:20):
In sporting headlines, it's been revealed several Silver Fern stars
have been pursuing contracts in the UK Netball Super League
following their Glasgow Commonwealth Games due to the uncertainty over
next year's A and z Premiership. South African rugby great
Jean de Villiers says the spring Box All Black Series
and the Republic will be even tougher than the World

(03:43):
Cup for both teams. The All Whites will take part
in the current Cup in October in Japan, the tournament
featuring the hosts and Ecuador and Panama. That is your
latest news fix. We'll be back with the next update
tomorrow morning from the news Talk ZB news run