Afternoon Edition: 07 July 2026

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 07 July 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 Scarlet Swatanovic and this is your afternoon
newsfex for Tuesday, July the seventh. Hundreds of Kaikoda residents
have been told to evacuate as floodwaters threaten homes and roads,
as state of emergencies being declared after the Quafai River
breached its banks. A red heavy rain warning covers Kaikoda,
North Canterbury and Marlborough until early Wednesday. State Highway One

(00:25):
is closed between Wiebuter and Wart. The US is condemning
China testing a ballistic missile in the South Pacific yesterday
as its trajectory is revealed. Political reporter Ethan Griffiths has.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
More news talk said b understands the missile passed over
the exclusive economic zones of Micronesia Naruru and Keribas, landing
between Keribas and Tuvalu. Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the
Beehive was warned of the test but is concerned. US
State Department spokesman Tommy Peggott says the US is working
harder than ever against nuclear proliferation as China builds up

(01:00):
at stock.

Speaker 1 (01:01):
Tommy Peggott urged China to commit to a notification regime
and our Prime Minister says the test it's concerning and unacceptable.
Chris Luxon says the government's expressed its concerns very clearly
to China and is talking with Pacific partners. He says
China hasn't broken any laws, but we don't want increasing militarization.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
I just think it's the wrong course. You know, it
militarizes our region. It's inconsistent with Pacific values and I
think there's going to be quite a big pushback from
the Pacific.

Speaker 1 (01:28):
Oceans in the southwest Pacific are getting hotter. A World
Meteorological Organization report shows average sea surface temperatures hit the
second highest on record last year, behind twenty twenty four.
They sat zero point thirty seven degrees celsius above the
average recorded from nineteen ninety one to twenty twenty. Impacts
on New Zealand include below average snowfall on South Island

(01:51):
mountains and above average rainfall in the north. The report
also notes last year's warmest spring on record contributed to
wildfires tongedto the police. Minister says victims must be the focus,
as dozens of child protection complaints and adult sexual assault
cases are reopened. It's come out of concerns raised in

(02:12):
May over a senior officer's management of one historic case.
Emily Ansel reports more than one thousand cases under his
oversight were reviewed and fifty three revived for investigation and
is now subject to an employment process. Mark Mitchell says
his expectation as victims with files being reopened are getting
information and support. He says officers who do outstanding work

(02:35):
in the difficult area of child sex offending will be
feeling let down. A payWave donation station installed at the
West Coast's Pancake Rocks Track at Punakaike is helping boost
department to conservation visitor funds. Local Democracy reports the tracks
raked in seven thousand dollars since March. payWave donations and
paid parking were introduced last year at Punakaike. Franz Joseph

(02:58):
Glacier and Monkco Docks made one point five million dollars
from the parking fees to sport in rugby leagues. NRL
will remain on SkyTV in New Zealand as part of
a multi billion dollar broadcast deal through until the end
of the twenty thirty four season. Belgium's joined Spain, England, Norway,
France and Morocco in the Football World Cup quarterfinals after

(03:20):
a crushing four to one win over the United States
in Seattle, and the All Blacks Test match against Italy
will be the only rugby on in Wellington this weekend,
with club competitions canceled due to a recent increase in
referee abuse. I'm Scarlet's Soutanovich. That's your latest news fix.
We'll be back with the next update tomorrow morning. From
the news took Seedby Newsroom