Midday Edition: 17 May 2026

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 17 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):
From the news Talk Zebby newsroom. This is Newsfix. In
this update, former UK Health Secretary Where's Streeting has confirmed
he will stand in any Labour leadership contest to replace
Prime ministers a Kiir Starmer. Earlier this week, Streeting resigned
from his role as Health Secretary. It follows growing pressure
on Kir Starmer to stand down as Prime minister following

(00:24):
a disastrous local election result for Labour a week ago.
Streeting says change is needed.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
The voters did more than send Labor a message last week.
They issued a warning that unless we change course, Labour
risk being the handmaidens of Nigel Farage and the breakup
of the United Kingdom.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
The hard right Reform UK Party, led by Nigel Farage,
made huge gains in the local elections, gaining hundreds of
local council seats. No formal leadership challenge has been triggered.
Could we breed sheep to be more climate friendly? New
Zealand researchers answering that question and aiming to get uptake
of lower mission sheep genetics. The coll sheep program allows

(01:06):
farmers to select low methane rams for breeding in the
same way they can pick out other genetic traits rollout
going forward with a joint one point two million dollar
investment from government agencies and industry bodies. AGA Missions Center
executive director in Miami, Parker says they want to give
farmers the confidence to adopt this.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
We have definitely been a later in that SOS. Lots
of other countries are looking at it now as well.

Speaker 1 (01:31):
Push back from residents of Pegasus, north of christ Church,
as the town's golf course is prepared for housing. The
eighteen whole course has been bought by property developer Wolfbrook Property,
who plan to rezone the land to build homes. Locals
have as still played there and paid for a greenkeeper,
despite the course closing in March when its previous owners
went into liquidation. Resident Brent Esler says the course is

(01:55):
a val valuable green space in a rapidly growing area.
He says there are all already many subdivisions and more
should be put up on clearland if needed. That's news.
In sport, little known American Alex Smalley has the lead
after three rounds of Golf's PGA Championship Major in Pennsylvania.

(02:15):
The world number eighty seven, who has never won on
the PGA Tour in one hundred and forty starts, has
carded a two under pass sixty eight to be two
shots clear at six under. Overall, six players are tied
for second at four under, including John Rahm, while Rory
McElroy and Zanderschoffley both have strong days to get to
three under. A winning farewell to One Day International cricket

(02:38):
for White fans. Battis Susie Bates. New Zealand have beaten
England by seventeen runs in a rain affected final match
of their series in Cardiff, Baits one hundred and eighty
fourth and last game in the format. Coach Bev Priestman
believes the Phoenix will come back stronger after the bitterness
of defeat in the Women's A League final. That Sport.

(02:59):
I'm Sandy Hodge. For more news, listen to news Talks
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