Midday Edition: 13 December 2024

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 13 December 2024, 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 Malcolm Jordan and this is your midday
news FIKS for Friday, the thirteenth of December. Health New
Zealand is meeting its targets, but a doctors union says
that doesn't mean that people are getting better care. New
figures show cancer treatment is getting faster and child immunization
rates are improving. People are also spending less time on

(00:25):
average in emergency departments. Deborah Powell from the Resident Doctors
Association says, despite what these figures show, the healthcare systems
under real stress.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
We simply don't have enough beds or the staff to
look after the patients inside our hospitals. We have problems
in radiology and the volumes for patients that we're being
asked to look after is just so huge.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
An announcement this morning that Auckland's Since Stephen's School will
reopen next year as a charter school. The boarding school
opened in eighteen forty eight but was closed in two
thousand by then Education Minister Trevor amid bullying allegations. Associate
Education Minister David Seymour says Saint Stephens, also known as Tippany,

(01:07):
will serve year nine to thirteen Maori and Pacific boys.
He says it will use well established cultural frameworks and
teaching methods specifically designed to inspire Maori boys. The school
will begin operating along with other new charter schools in
term one of next year. The public sector won't follow

(01:28):
many other workplaces in introducing mandatory across the board in
office workdays. Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roach has issued
fresh advice confirming civil servants don't have the right to
work from home without prior manager approval. He told Heather
Duplic Allen rules could change, but they aren't yet mandating

(01:49):
a proportion of compulsory in office days. We don't need
that at this point. All options still remain on the table.
That's not a threat distant one, but we will continue
to monitor and we will monitor is required. And the
governments starting over again on work to overhaul the Holidays Act.
It's asked officials to begin work on an hour's based
a cruel model as the core system for annual leave.

(02:14):
Canterbury fire crews have finished operations at two large vegetation fires,
while work continues on extinguishing hotspots at another. The latest
blaze burned through thirty hectares of Selwyn riverbed and farmland
alongside State Highway one. Heavy machinery is digging out deep
seated hotspots today so firefighters can call them thoroughly. Fire

(02:36):
and Emergency say two crews are patrolling the large fire
area near Lake Pearson, and two other blazers at Kerwee
and West Milton are fully extinguished. The government's latest changes
to mental health law are being labeled a missed opportunity.
Consultations underway on a new mental health bill. New research

(02:57):
in Today's New Zealand Medical Journal has highlighted several issues
with the bill, including restrictions preventing people in distress from
making decisions. Lead offor Paul Glue says the bill lacks
real transformative change and the government wants people to be
able to invest their KII Saver funds more in local businesses.

(03:18):
Commerce Minister Andrew Bailey has announced plans to loosen the
rules to sport, a morale boosting win for Manchester United.
They've come from behind for a two to one victory
away to check Side Victoria Pilson in the second tier
Europa League, and as a par poor New Guinea side
get set to enter the NRL in twenty twenty eight.

(03:39):
Warrior's CEO Cameron George feels that more groundwork is needed
before a second New Zealand team is announced. I'm Malcolm Jordan.
That's your latest news fix. We'll be back with the
next update at five pm from the newstalk zb newsroom