Afternoon Edition: 19 April 2026

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 19 April 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. This is newsfix. In
this update, more damage across Tornga following overnight tornadoes. Several
houses self evacuated because of significant destruction in Welcome Bay
and Mongatapu, with a section of WelCom Bay Road being
closed by fallen trees. Fallen hoardings, damage street lamps and
down trees have also been reported along Devonport Road. Thi Park,

(00:26):
Farrypaie Domain and Rotary Park are closed. The Green Party
is calling on the government to make progress with the
Ratepayers Assistant Scheme to give homeowners better access to rooftop solar.
The scheme, backed by local government New Zealand, would enable
ratepairs to defer rates payments to finance property upgrades. In
the party State of the Planet address this afternoon, co

(00:47):
leader Chloe Swarbrick called for the creation of a national
electrification Plan with this scheme at the heart of it.

Speaker 2 (00:53):
This will save the average household one thousand dollars a
year on average and it should be their step in
a national electrification plan.

Speaker 1 (01:03):
A grocery policy expert believes New Zealand First's latest campaign
promise is a vote winner. It's announced if re elected,
it'll split food staffs into two nationwide co operates, one
for New World and four Square and the other for
Pack and Save. Former Food and Grocery Council Chief executive
Ernie Newman says the supermarkets have been able to get
away with making super profits density. You'll lay and on

(01:27):
two things to work, one of people having a bit
of a social conscience and the other who is a
feat of competition. Devoted both those things in the capitalism
fall for part. The government stamping up sixty two percent
of the two point seven million dollar cost of replacing
Haganui's Wakefield Street Bridge. Mayor Andrew Tripp says the bridge
is an important link for Haganui East and surrounding communities.

(01:48):
Construction is expected to start this year, replacing the bridge
that was built in the nineteen fifties. It's been closed
to vehicles since early last year when structural problems were identified.
That's news In Sport, New Zealand, driver Matt Payne has
claimed victory in the final race of the Supercar's Weekend
in christ Church. Paines held off Kai Allen and Brock

(02:09):
Feene for the win. Fellow New Zealander Ryan Wood's hopes
of claiming the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy across the two
local rounds have vanished after he lost power late in
the race. Play has resumed in the A League football
game between Auckland FC and the Central Coast Mariners at
Mount Smart Stadium after a forty eight minute break following
thunderstorms in the area. Central Coast ahead one nil moments ago,

(02:33):
heavy rain arrived midway through the first half with lightning
and thunder in tow.

Speaker 2 (02:41):
And that will be enough for him.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
Players will leave. Go media. That's sport. I'm Joe Gilfillan.
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