Afternoon Edition: 21 April 2026

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 21 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):
Good afternoon. I'm railing Ramsey. This is your afternoon news
fix for Tuesday, the twenty first of April. The Greens
say those hardest hit by yesterday's wild Wellington weather should
get immediate civil defense payments. Multiple highways across the North
Island have sections closed by weather damage. Met Service Orange

(00:22):
rain warnings still cover southern Hawks Bay, Tatada Wide and
upper and parts of Wellington where it's still raining. Wellington
Central MP Tarmoth for pool says her office is spoken
to people in great need.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Businesses have been absolutely destroyed, school yards are destroyed and
people have lost everything in these in this disaster. So
we are looking for the government to activate the civil
defense payments now.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
Searchers have been unable to find a person spotted in
the fast moving Manawittu River in Palmerston North this morning.
A witness saw a man waving his arms near fits
Herbert Bridge at about nine point thirty. Government spending cuts
are being blamed for another proposed shakeup at the Transport Agency.
With a net loss of thirty six full time roles.

(01:09):
The proposal could effect more than two hundred and fifty
NZTA workers. Many able to reapply for jobs in regulatory
and finance teams. Its spokesperson says the changes aim to
improve efficiency. Public Service Association national secretary Dwyane Leo disagrees
they cut the.

Speaker 2 (01:27):
Funding, they forcing restructures, their tripping out capability, and then
they wonder why services are the pier ready.

Speaker 1 (01:34):
Chris Luxon has survived a confidence vote he initiated among
his caucus today after speculation there's been dissatisfaction. National MPs
aren't revealing details of the vote or how many supported Luxon.
MP Chris Bishop says today's meeting included a clear message
members should stop leaking information to the media.

Speaker 2 (01:55):
I support the Prome Minister, and we had a good, honest,
robust discussion as a caucus and now we move forward together.
You're noted as a team.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
Nikola Willis says today's caucus meeting included useful talks.

Speaker 2 (02:07):
One for all, all for one, and when the caucus
by majority have confidence in the leader, than we all
stand together.

Speaker 1 (02:14):
Power bills have resen annually, but it also depends on location.
Consumer and Z's found costs increased as much as four
hundred and twenty dollars in the Far North against three
hundred and five in Wellington Powers, which is porfuge says
people pay more the further they are from the source
and where fewer users share costs.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
Unfortunately, those areas tend to be the lower income areas
as well, so these price rises of lower income households
particularly hard this year.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
A push for longer term thinking from the government on
retirement is current systems fall short. The Retirement Commissions concerned
superannuation and key we saver funds aren't keeping up with
the rising costs faced by over sixty fives. Commissioner Jane
writes and says policy changes and needed to ensure super
inuitants can afford to live. If we want people to

(03:04):
say for their retirement, we have to have a system
that has the right balance of incentives and the right
amount of trust that the system will be stable over time.
In sport, the mental skills coach that was a part
of two Rugby World Cup wins for the All Blacks
is returning to the side after two years away. Gilbert
Uka will be the side's leadership and mental performance coach

(03:26):
under Dave Rennie. Attack coach Michael Lenis has become the
second member of the Dragons NRL club to leave in
his many days. Rayleian Castle has been reappointed as Chief
Executive of Sport New Zealand until May twenty thirty. She
had been linked to the vacant New Zealand Cricket CEO role.
That is your latest news fix. We'll be back with

(03:49):
the next update tomorrow morning from the news Talk said
B news room.