Afternoon Edition: 08 May 2026

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 08 May 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 Malcolm Jordan and this is your midday
news FAX four Friday, the eighth of May. The US
has confirmed it has struck Iranian targets. US Central Command
says its forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks, which included missiles, drones,
and small boats. It says it responded worth defense strikes
against the inbound threats and targeted missile and drone launch

(00:26):
sites along with command and control locations. Iran is accusing
the US of violating the ceasefire and targeting an Iranian
oil tanker moving through the Strait of Hormuz. The chance
of the Deadly Hunter virus spreading remains low, despite at
least to two New Zealanders being caught up in the
Deadly Cruise ship outbreak. It's believed one Kiwi passenger left

(00:49):
the vessel on the twenty fourth of April, while another
remains on board. Three people have died from the rodent
spread virus. Two other cases are confirmed and three more suspected.
University of Otago public health expert Professor Michael Baker believes
the risk to New Zealand is minimal. You have to
look at the chance that those New Zealanders who on

(01:10):
this cruise ship actually had contact with the case and
were infected. I think it's very unlikely at the Prime
Minister's signaling he'd prefer a one party government rather than
a coalition. Parties appear to be moving closer to campaign mode,
announcing policies ahead of election day on November the seventh.
Speaking to Kerrie Woodham this morning, Chris Luxon suggested New

(01:32):
Zealand First leader Winston Peters could work with Labour, something
he calls a risk push comes to shove. I can
work with ACT in New Zealand First, as I've demonstrated
over the last few years, but I'm not working with
Labour to party Mario the Greens. More social media protection
for teens metters rolling out changes to teen accounts on Instagram,
Facebook and Messenger. Under eighteens will automatically be placed into

(01:55):
stricter settings, and parents can choose even more restrictive options.
Regional Policy director Mia Garlic says it'll work in a
few ways. It's focused on preventing teams from following accounts
that we found regularly share age and appropriate content. We're
blocking search terms on certain sensitive topics. Job cuts are
on the line at in New Zealand in a reset

(02:17):
announced this year. Our newsroom understands the proposal's impact. Roughly
a dozen senior roles. Irish pop group Westlife are set
to return to New Zealand shores for the first time
in twenty years as part of a twenty fifth anniversary tour.
The two thousand's boy band will play Auckland Spark Arena
and christ Church's Wolfbrook Arena in July next year. Sir

(02:42):
David Attenborough says he's been completely overwhelmed by one hundredth
birthday greetings. As the voice behind some of the world's
most celebrated nature documentaries, Sir David's been advocating for wildlife
and conservation for more than seventy years. Ahead of a
live celebration show at London's Royal Albert Hall, he shared
this message with the public. Would like to thank you

(03:03):
all most sincerely for your kind messages. I wish those
of you who have planned your own local events have
a very happy day to sport. Charlie Ledjah Walker is
officially a WNBA basketballer with the Connecticut Sun. She's claimed
her spot on the roster by surviving cutting day unscathed.

(03:25):
Dame Lydia Coe is within a stroke of the lead
after carting a five under pass sixty seven at the
latest LPGA golf tournament in New Jersey. I'm Malcolm Jordan.
That's your latest news fix. We'll be back with the
next update at five pm from the News Talk zb newsroom.