Midday Edition: 16 April 2025

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 16 April 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 fix for Wednesday, the sixteenth of April. Health Minister
Simeon Brown says today's Health Infrastructure Plan will future proof
the system. The plan has set out a national long
term pipeline for renewing and expanding the country's public health facilities,
identifying more than twenty billion dollars worth of investment needed.

(00:27):
Brown says the average age of our public health estate
is around forty seven years. He says it's more than
just a patch up job. This is a staged development
for hospitals across the country. It's the first time we've
had a long term plan for hospital investment in New Zealand.
Heavy rain and strong winds have caused slips and down
trees in Northland, with more severe weather still to come.

(00:50):
Lines crews have restored power in Funga Rai's Romannga, but
it's still out for some homes in Monga, Karamea and Waipoo.
Orange warner have been issued for Northland, Auckland, the Corimandel,
Bay of Plenty and East Cape. Met Service meteorologist to
Tape Macholbutane says the gusts battering Northland could be tricky.
Combination of rain, very strong wins from an unusual direction.

(01:14):
Could metres and other structures a bit more prone to damage.
Andrew Little's former Labor colleagues have thrown their support behind
him to take on the Wellington City mayoralty. The former
Labour leader has confirmed that he plans to re enter
politics for a tilt at Wellington's top job. Labour's Ginny
Anderson says Little would be a great mayor. People are

(01:36):
looking for someone decisive who can take control, bring people
together and bring some confidence back into the Wellington area
and I think he ticks all of those boxes. The
government's launching a regulatory review of the telco sector. Media
and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith says they'll work closely with
industry leaders, consumer groups, regulators and the public to develop

(01:58):
terms of reference for cat consideration. He says they want
to ensure we have the right regulatory settings in place
to support competition, foster innovation and stimulate economic growth. New
Zealand is aiming to boost trade with Fiji as both
nations face US tariffs. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has

(02:19):
arrived in the Pacific nation after speaking with US officials
in Hawaii, New Zealand and Fiji are looking at building
our two way trade value to two billion dollars by
twenty thirty. Peters admits that's very ambitious, but says it
can be done well. I didn't set the target, but
I'll do my best to ensure that we his Zilk
can make sure we can get there. World first video

(02:42):
footage of the elusive colossal squid has been captured by
US researchers. It lives in the deep Antarctic waters, can
reach up to seven meters in length and way up
to five hundred kilograms. Schmidt Ocean Institute's remote drone filmed
a baby colossal squid alive six hundred meters down in

(03:02):
its environment for the first time. A UT squid expert
Kat Bolstad can how help confirm the footage and says
it's a remarkable discovery to sport. The clause are out
at West Tigers as Lachland Galvin's contract saga threatens to
derail their NRL League season. The nineteen year old playmaker

(03:24):
has knocked back the club's offer of an extension beyond
twenty twenty six, angering teammates boxes Daniel Dubois and Alexander
Usik are reportedly in talks to fight at Wembley on
July twelve for the undisputed heavyweight title, and Paris Saint
Germain and Barcelona have advanced on aggregate to the Champions

(03:45):
League Football semifinals over Aston Villa and Dortmund respectively. 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.