Midday Edition: 05 February 2026

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 05 February 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 fix for Thursday, the fifth of February. Politicians have
this morning been welcomed at Whiteongui with a porphyry. Party
leaders will all be speaking with protests expected and the
government's announced it'll invest in two horticulture developments on under

(00:26):
utilized Maoriland in Northland and Wakattle the Mid North Kiwi
Fruit Project in Northlands receiving a four million dollar loan
and two hundred thousand dollar grant. Meanwhile, nati hoa horticulture
in Wakatle has received a repayable grant of just over
two million dollars. The government says someone needs to be

(00:47):
held responsible for the catastrophic failure at Wellington's wastewater treatment plant.
Heavy rain caused the mower Point plant to shut down,
sending wastewater into the South Coast. Residents are being worn
to stay off the beaches as around seventy million liters
of raw sewage flows into the sea every day. Finance

(01:07):
Minister Nikola Willis says it's a letdown for Wellingtonians and
the City Council needs to find out what happens. Is
this because the plant wasn't constructed properly where there are
not enough checks and balances put in place.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
Has it been an operational era? What's caused this?

Speaker 1 (01:21):
Let's have some accountability on that. Rising unemployment is still
being felt far more by teenagers and young adults. The
overall unemployment rate rows to five point four percent in
the December quarter, but it's reached twenty three point seven
percent among fifteen to nineteen year olds and eleven point
six percent among twenty to twenty four year olds. Auckland

(01:43):
Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges says there's many people
who have skills and experience and want to be working.
We've been doing the right things to stay jobs first,
and with employers talking with the likes of MSD and
make sure they're connecting in with this potential workforce, we
can get them back into jobs. The government says no
options are off the table for Chateau Tongariro. It's responding

(02:05):
to a petition from Ruapehu'smya calling for the building to
be done up. Senior political reporter Azaria Hall has the story.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
The building requires significant investment, including quake strengthening and restoration,
for it to be used as a hotel again. The
government's response as the Conservation Ministers told doc to engage
with commercial parties and EWE around restoration. It adds early
this year Toamaportucker intends to seek requests for proposals from

(02:33):
parties to fund strengthening and restoration, which will be evaluated.

Speaker 1 (02:38):
Totong Ismya says it's unlikely the Mount Monganui landslide area
will remain a camp site. Six people died in the
landslide during the extreme reigns two weeks ago. Mayor Mahe
Drysdale told our enz he's confident there won't be a
campsite where the slip happened, but any decisions on the
land surrounding the landslide will be months away. To Sport,

(03:01):
England cricket coach Brendan McCullum has defended white ball captain
Harry Brooke and the behavior of his squad in his
first interview since the Ashes defeat New Zealand Winter Olympics.
The Chef de Mission Marty Toomey has given his approval
on facilities and security ahead of the game starting in
Italy this weekend, and Arsenal and Manchester will Manchester City,

(03:24):
that is, will contest football's League Cup Final. I'm Malcolm Jordan.
That's your latest news fix. We'll be back with the
next update at five p m from the newstalk zb newsroom.