Afternoon Edition: 18 July 2026

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 18 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):
From the news Talk Zebby newsroom.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
This is newsfex.

Speaker 1 (00:06):
In this update, US Democrats claimed the FBI's new base
in Wellington was opened only as an excuse for a
sightseeing trip. Jordan Dunn has more.

Speaker 3 (00:15):
The bureau's director, Cashptel, visited New Zealand in July last
year to open a dedicated FBI office in the capitol.
The Trump nominated director as facing a congressional investigation into
allegations he misused taxpayer funds on luxury travel and other
personal expenses. A letter from the Democrats to Patel claims
the Wellington office was in part opened to justify his

(00:37):
trip there.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
The FBI defends the opening, saying New Zealand was the
only Five Eyes partner without an official FBI office. Around
eighty five thousand fans are expected to watch the Warriors,
the All Blacks and the world famous Harlem Globetrotters tonight
in Auckland, Tartucky. Auckland Chief Executive Nick Hills says it
is a huge boost for hospitality. Mister Hill says Hotel

(00:59):
of Kipinci is at eighty four percent, which is eighteen
percent up year on year because fans, he says, love
to watch live sport. Tensions between the White House and
Canada are starting to rise as smog from Canadian wildfires
reaches several U S cities. More than one hundred million
people in the US are under air quality alert because
of smoke from wildfires in Canada. U S. President Donald

(01:23):
Trump has accused Canada of neglectful care of their forest
and says he may raise tariffs on them as punishment.
Southland is ringing in a tradition for the region's child
cancer sufferers. Patients can now swing a special bell donated
by the Child Cancer Foundation while surrounded by family and
staff to mark the end of their treatment. Six year

(01:44):
old Riley Tomato is first to ring the bell at
Southland Hospital, marking the end of his three year battle
with leukemia. His mother, Alisha Patterson says having the bell
there meant they could celebrate closer to home. That meant
that he was done.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
He no longer had to have all these hospital trips.

Speaker 1 (02:01):
Ringing the bell for him was really good. He was
excited about it. That's news.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
In sport. Some cross code intel sharing between the Ireland
and Rugby side and the Warriors ahead of their respective
matches tonight Ireland to meet the All Blacks from seven
ten pm at Eden Park, while twenty minutes later the
Warriors faced the Dragons in NRL at Mount Smart. Ireland
coach and former English League international Andy Farrell welcomed Warriors

(02:28):
coach Andrew Webster into camp this week before the favor
was returned.

Speaker 4 (02:32):
Well what an organization. It's as good a settle I've seen.
And Andrew is running a fantastic ship there and you
can see why there where.

Speaker 2 (02:45):
There ut Meanwhile, Warriors co captain Mitch Barnett's pointed to
the dragons improvement under new coach Dean Young the last
place at George llawaras sider coming off the buy and
beat the Tigers last game that sport. I'm Sandy Hodge.

Speaker 1 (03:01):
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