Midday Edition: 05 August 2025

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 05 August 2025, 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 (00:04):
Good afternoon. I'm Susie Nordquist. This is your midday news
fix for Tuesday, the fifth of August. Chris Hopkins is
worried replacing NCEEA will cause unnecessary disruptions for students. The
government is proposing to replace the qualification with a foundation
test in year eleven and certificates in years twelve and thirteen.

(00:24):
It wants to reinstate letter grades and make English and
maths compulsory in year eleventh. Hipkins, the Labor leader and
former Education Minister, told Harold Nils Ryan Bridge, it's important
to support students who are still taking NCEEA.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
They're a bit anxious about this because they're sort of
thinking what does this mean for the qualification that I
am going to get and that I'm going out into
the world with, And so I think we just need
to always keep that in mind.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
There are mounting concerns about Donald Trump's a tariff high
Conki we export its goods from New Zealand and several
other countries will be hit with a fifteen percent tariff
from Friday. Australia and the UK are still facing a
ten percent levy. The Prime Minister admits New Zealand probably
won't convince the US President to change his mind. M

(01:09):
Z wine Grower's advocacy managers Sarah Wilson says it could
put New Zealand at a competitive disadvantage. A lot of
those countries are at different teriff rates from US, so
the EUS at fifteen percent, but many other countries are
sitting at that tenets. That differentiation, that's a real concern.
Labour's leaders says power companies must go green more quickly. Genesis, Mercury,

(01:31):
Meridian and Contact have agreed to co invest in a
strategic energy reserve, pending Commerce Commission approval. It will mean
adding an extra six hundred thousand tons of coal to
current stocks. Chris Hipkins says we can't keep relying on
fossil fuels.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
If we really focused on expanding our renewable energy sources,
including in ge thermal, which is a potentially unlimited supply
of renewable energy, we wouldn't need to be talking about coal.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
Police are investigating as Sarah injured two month old being
taken to Middlemore hospital overnight. They say the baby is
still being treated in hospital. Acting Detective Inspector Veronica McPherson
says they are inquiring into the circumstances. A coroner has
found a burnouts and vandalism at Hastings intersection contributed to

(02:19):
a Canadian tourist death. Helen Pouhne died five days after
crashing in December twenty twenty three. Open Justice reports the
thirty four year old drove straight through the intersection, hitting
another vehicle. Coroner Mark Wilton found road markings weren't visible
and signs missing or rotated, giving no clear warning to
give way. He is recommending NZTA consider further anti social

(02:43):
driving to terrence and regularly check the intersection to sport
Now and Liverpool have paid tribute to Diego Jotta and
their first match at anfield since the Portuguese international's death
in a car crash. Both the Reds and Athletic Bilbo
side they play placed wreaths on the pitch prior to
the preseason game. England cricket coach Brendan McCullum believes the

(03:07):
two all home series draw against India is as good
a five match Test series as he's ever seen. Crusaders
half back Kyle Preston says he's still coming down from
a surreal twenty four hours after his elevation to the
All Blacks Rugby Championship squad as injury cover. I'm Susane
Nordquist and that's your latest news fix. We will be

(03:29):
back with the next update at five pm from the
News Talks e B newsroom.