Midday Edition: 18 April 2026

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 18 April 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 SABBY newsroom. This is Newsfax.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
In this update, reports a fresh round of meetings between
Iranian and American negotiators will take place next week, following
Iran declaring the state of hor Moos open. Global oil
prices have been dropping since it announced the critical shipping
lane open in the wake of the ten day ceasefire
between Israel and Lebanon. US President Donald Trump says the

(00:28):
US naval blockade of Iranian ports will continue until a
peace deal is agreed. CNN International Affairs correspondent Nick Robertson
says the longer the CITs fire lasts, the less chance
of conflict breaking out again. He says everyone he's spoken
to is working hard to make a deal work, and
the ceasefire holding says a lot. The National Party's being

(00:50):
advised to look at its past after yet more rumors
the Prime Minister could be pushed aside. Chris Luson's denying
claims whip Stuart Smith tried to talk to him about
waning support and his leadership before Easter, to no response.
News Talk sed b's senior political correspondent Barry Soper says
Luckson's confident he has the support and the party is

(01:12):
familiar with the price of leadership upheavals.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
Because a party that's seen is disunified as a party
that doesn't do well in an election. So I think
national really will have to reflect on that.

Speaker 2 (01:25):
More than half of employees are considering changing jobs this year.
Data from recruitment firm Robert Walters suggests eighty one percent
of workers don't think they're pay is keeping up with
the cost of living, and only seventeen percent of bosses
recognize the gap. CEO Sha Peters expects a lot of
New Zealanders to move overseas in the next two years.

Speaker 1 (01:45):
I think now that's going to put a significant amount
of pressure on wage and cellar inflation again.

Speaker 2 (01:50):
Police are urging New Zealanders to warn the older people
in their life about swindling and unsolicited gardeners. A man
in his seventies recently paid three thousand, five hundred dollars
for what should have been a six hundred dollar service.
Police say three people cut some branches and trimmed a hedge,
and after two hours drove him to a bank so
he could withdraw the money. That's news in Sport, a

(02:14):
different kind of doom scrolling for Black fans. Hooker Georgia
ponsonbe the Black Ferns face Canada in the Pacific Four
Series this morning for the first time since last September's
World Cup semi final defeat. PONTSMB says she has given
that loss a rewatch while in Kansas City.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
I guess you've kind of got to go back and
see where you went wrong if we want to have
a chance at winning this weekend.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
Inclement where that has delayed kickoff, with the game now
scheduled to start at twelve thirty pm with live commentary
on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. Coventry City have clipped their
ticket to English Football Premier League after a twenty five
year hiatus. They've earned automatic promotion from the Championship after
a late goal gave them a one all draw at

(02:55):
Blackburn Rovers. That Sport. I'm Sandy Hodge.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
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