Midday Edition: 13 May 2026

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 13 May 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 Wednesday, the thirteenth of May. The government
and Auckland's mayor are clashing again on a second whitter
Matar Harbour Crossing. NZTA reports have pointed out defects with
the sixty seven year old harbor bridge and warns it's
at risk of failure. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says the

(00:23):
government will release a plan over the next couple of months.
Wayne Brown says the central government has to consult. It's
not going to be deciding that the militia. We have
a city deal which requires that we work together and
make those decisions. The Mental Health Minister says no new
funding is needed for an initiative to improve workplace mental health.

(00:44):
The government's helping bolster small businesses who can't afford their
own programs. It comes at no additional cost to taxpayers
and uses an existing app, text and call service and
in person treatment. Matt Doucey says these services all have capacity.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
We fund a lot of initiatives that could be delivered
in a workplace setting. So it said to me, actually
we can draw that together and we can open access
these initiatives and drive a lot more use.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
The chair of christ Church City Council's Finance Committee says
another proposed council funding boost for restoring christ Church Cathedral
will be the last. The Council's proposing contributing another fifteen
million towards the cathedral if central government commits to providing
a similar amount. Councilor Sam McDonald says the funding agreement
will state this will be the last handout you really blunt.

Speaker 2 (01:33):
If they can't do it, the cathedral, in my view,
will not be open and will sit as an ice
for the next dec It's incumbent upon us as a
city to say, okay, guys, here's your best shot if
you can go and get the rest of the money.

Speaker 1 (01:43):
Great players in Amoru and the wide a White Tucky
district are in for a steep rates rise this year.
The district Council's consulting on whether to raise rates by
forty five percent to address the council's fourteen million dollar deficit.
Y Tucky Mayor mel Taverndale told Mike Costing the council
will also seek feedback on lower rates rises that will

(02:04):
keep the council in the red what we've.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
Done with a nineteen twenty seven forty five is steps
to community through what the options actually are and the
reason where the risk forty five is the saumonted Basically,
it's dancing our books.

Speaker 1 (02:16):
Education is being touted as a key factor behind the
rise and responsible drinking. New Zealand Health Survey regional data
shows responsible drinking is increasingly common nationwide. Tasman has the
highest rate and Gisbon the lowest alcohol Beverages Council Executive
director vir Ginny and Nichols says targeted education in schools
is making a difference. Students learn an awful lot about

(02:38):
that and then they go home and they talk to
mum and dad about it, and I think that's important too.
That says, really, that's about change in family. So Peter
Jackson has accepted an honorary award in Can, saying he
doesn't see himself as worthy of the palm door, but
his low budget nineteen eighty seven comedy horror Bad Taste

(02:59):
does deserve one. Six Georgian rugby players have been banned
for participating in a urine swapping scheme to mask the
use of recreational rather than performance hunts. Enhancing drugs in
doping tests. Basketballer Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player,
has died aged forty seven, from brain cancer. And men's

(03:21):
tennis world number one Yarnick Sinner has drawn level with
Novak Djokovic for the longest winning streak in EIGHTP Masters
one thousand tournaments. He's claimed his thirty first victory in
a row to advance to the Italian Open quarterfinals. I'm
Malcolm Jordan. That's your latest news fix. We'll be back
with the next update at five pm from the news
Talk ZB newsroom.