Midday Edition: 14 July 2026

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 14 July 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 Missus Shor Midday News
Facts four Tuesday, the fourteenth of July. Kiwi acting star
Sir Sam Neil is being remembered for his lasting legacy
after he died suddenly yesterday, aged seventy eight. Director Steven
Spielberg says he adored making all the Jurassic Park movies
with Neil. Peky Blinder's co star Killian Murphy says, like

(00:25):
everyone who knew Sir Sam, he admired and adored him
and remembers him as one of the finest actors and
kindest people. Keiwi actor and director Sir Ian Mune says
their friendship goes back more than fifty years. He hated performance,
hated being seen to act, and it was part of
his appeal.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Whenever anybody went to see Sam Neil film, they knew
they were getting the truth.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
A Wellington City councilor has disclosed to our Secret service.
Chinese embassy officials questioned him in twenty twenty three after
he had attended an anti Communist party performance in Jus.
The Security Intelligence Service confidentially briefed counselors after finding local
government has been targeted by foreign interference actors to BIS.

(01:09):
Macintosh has more.

Speaker 3 (01:10):
During the briefing, councilor Ra Chung disclosed had been invited
to a China Before Communism show three years ago. It
is an offshoot of a religious movement banned in China
in the nineties. After going along, he was invited to
the Chinese embassy and asked about his presence at the events.

Speaker 1 (01:27):
The principle of christ Church's Saint Thomas of Canterbury College
says it's about more than land and buildings. With its
future up in the air, the religious order that owns
the Sockburn site has sought permission to sell the assets
to compensate Australia sexual abuse victims. Steve Harts written a
tribute to the school, saying its true value comes from

(01:48):
its students, families and staff over the past sixty years.
The deadlines approaching for Cabinet to make a decision on
what happens when our two main warships retire. Business think
tank the New Zealand Initiative is warning what replaces the
frigates will determine our trade routes and defense capabilities for
the next generation. Senior Fellow retired Major General John Howard

(02:11):
sees it's a matter of national security. Given the complex
geopolitical environment.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
We need to show that we're able to not just
understand the changing situation, but we're agile enough to make
strategic decisions to protect our national interests confidence.

Speaker 1 (02:26):
There are checks to ensure that Truckees involved in a
driver licensing scandal are fit to drive. Sixteen testing officers
have been suspended and seven stood down after a Transport
agency investigation. About six hundred and fifty drivers they tested
have to reset the exam, but NZTA has confirmed to
our nz IT can't suspend their licenses before the test.

(02:49):
Transporting New Zealand Chief Executive Don Calassi says transport operators
do in house checks of newly licensed drivers. David Seymour
has announced that all Henry will stand as a list
candidate for ACT at this year's election, and Brian Adams
is coming back to New Zealand. He'll perform in Auckland

(03:09):
and christ Church next March. To Sport, Sir Scott Dixon
has revealed he began contemplating his INDYECAR team switch to
McLaren last September. Melbourne Storm five eighth Cameron Munster will
undergo knee surgery after sustaining a cartilage injury and is
expected to be out for four to six weeks of
the NRL. Doug Howlett admits it was inevitable that his

(03:32):
All Blacks Test tri scoring record was to be broken
this season after Will Jordan surpassed at forty nine career
tries in the win over Italy, and New Zealand's wait
for another under twenty World rugby title will continue after
being pipped by France twenty six twenty two in the
semi finals. I'm Malcolm Jordan. That's your latest news fix.
We'll be back with the next update at five pm

(03:54):
from the news Talk zb newsroom