Midday Edition: 14 February 2025

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 14 February 2025, straight from the Newstalk ZB newsroom - bringing you everything you need to know in news, politics, business, entertainment and sport.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Good afternoon. I'm Malcolm Jordan and this is your midday news.
Thanks for Friday, the fourteenth of February. Director General of Health,
doctor Diana Safati, is resigning. It's one of the most
senior roles at the Ministry of Health. She'll finish in
exactly one week, saying having made the decision, she wants
to leave promptly. Political reporter Azariah Howell has the story.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Safati says it's now time to allow someone new to
take up the mantle of one of the most challenging
and rewarding roles in health. She says the challenge of
restructuring and unifying an entire health system is not to
be underestimated. Health New Zealand Chief Executive Marjie Upper announced
she was leaving one week ago.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
Confirmation that paper production will end permanently at Tokioa's kinleaf
mill from June. About two hundred and thirty factory workers
will lose their jobs and contractors could also be affected.
With more business reports, Michael segle.

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Og Fiber Solution says it will transition the mill to
focusing on pulp and it will move to a paper
import model for its packaging operation. Southwacut or Mia Gary
Petley says it's disappointing to see the paper production line closing,
and he feels for those losing their jobs or contracts.
He says it's good to see pulp production continuing, though,
and he's grateful for the support of Winston Peters and

(01:23):
Louise Upston during the process.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
A High Court judge is signing an order to force
online platform X to remove old news stories relating to
a man accused of killing a Nelson police officer. He's
been charged with murdering Senior Sergeant Lynn Fleming in Nelson
on New Year's Day, as well as attempted murder and
assault using a vehicle. He hasn't yet entered a PLEA.
Open Justice reporter Tracy Neil says the court's been told

(01:49):
X is refusing to take down past related media coverage.

Speaker 2 (01:52):
It's about protecting fair trial rights in the event this
case goes to trial.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
Major traffic disruption in Auckland this morning, with a motorcyclist
dying after a collision with a truck on the Southern Motorway,
which closed the southbound lanes at Green Lane for several hours.
Tension in Germany after an alleged terrorist attack in Munich
ahead of a global security conference and general election. It's

(02:18):
alleged and Afghanistan asylum seeker allegedly drove into a trade
union rally in during twenty eight people. The BBC reports
he's been named locally as twenty four year old Fahad
n with counter terrorism police now involved due to his
potentially extremist background. Munich Police's Christian Huber says they're describing
the car as a weapon. As translated by Sky News,

(02:41):
a vehicle approach from behind caught up with the police vehicle,
started to overtake and then drove into the end of
the demonstration. Valentine's Day stats show flower exporting through Auckland
Airport is tricky but rewarding. Last February, fifteen tons of
flowers were exported flower in Porter Exporter New Zealand. Bloom

(03:02):
says they send thousands of boxes to hundreds of destinations,
which could be deep in China, the Middle East or America.
To sport, jakb Ingebretsen has broken the world indoor fifteen
hundred meter and mile records in the same race at
a meat in France. Crusaders coach Rob Pennies defended the

(03:22):
side's strength and conditioning set up. They start the new
Super Rugby season against the Hurricanes tonight with thirteen injured
players in their contracted squad. And footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has
again topped the list of the highest paid athletes in
the world. He pocketed four hundred and fifty nine million
dollars in twenty twenty four, according to the website Sportico.

(03:45):
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.