Midday Edition: 22 May 2025

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 22 May 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 figs for Thursday, the twenty second of May. A
business leader believes today's budget will deliver real economic growth.
Finance Minister Nikola Willis will unveil her No BS budget
at two pm and has promised it'll have no frills
or excess. The government's been slowly teasing future spending in

(00:25):
recent weeks, saying it's balancing the books through cuts and
reprioritizing spending. Business NZ CEO Catherine Rich says this government
understands the role it needs to play in business recovery.
I haven't seen a government in my lifetime that's so
methodically looked through every single statut of business and asks
the question, what can we do to make things easier?

(00:46):
Israel's Prime Minister isn't letting up on his goal of
controlling the entire Gaza strip as his offensive ramps up.
Benjamin Nettina, who has delivered this year's first press conference
claiming only twenty is Israeli hostages remain alive and Hamas
leader Mohammad Sinhwa is likely dead. Despite mounting international pressure,

(01:08):
Netanyahu is still talking tough as translated by the BBC.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Work isn't obriate. We have a very organized plan. Those
who attacked us so cruelly now understand the scope of
the devastation that they're brought upon themselves.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
The UN says trucks have finally been let into Gaza
by Israel, but still can't distribute aid. Good news for
New Zealand. Derry, with strong demand producing a bumper season
and impressive performance in the primary sectors, produced a billion
dollar trade surplus for the first time in five years.
Fonterra Global Ingredients President Richard Allen says the company's producing

(01:47):
all the cheese and butter at can this year. He
says they've been getting good prices in all areas. Saw
China really.

Speaker 2 (01:53):
Come back into the market and that obviously has increased
a lot of our powerful folios.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
Youth lines confront hanting a vast spectrum of mental distress
on an unprecedented level. Demand for its services is at
a fifty year high, and the service is frequently having
to engage emergency services, crisis support or ordering a tomriiki
to intervene. Chief Executive Shay Ronalds says a lot of
young people are experiencing suicidal ideation, self harm, bullying and

(02:22):
family issues. She calls for a sustained investment in services
that are visible, youth friendly and equipped to respond.

Speaker 2 (02:30):
We know we're in a youth mental health crisis. We've
seen rising rates of you men tool distress in New
Zealand and international aids.

Speaker 1 (02:38):
Auckland Council has paved the way for tighter alcohol rules countrywide.
It introduced its local alcohol policy last year, reducing ours
and freezing new off licenses. Alcohol Health Watch director Andrew
Galloway says it's been much easier in the wake of
a legal battle between Auckland Council and the industry.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
That was a bit of an own goal because they
got a really decision vector in the Supreme Court which
enshrined the ability of local councilors to be able to
do these local archrime policies.

Speaker 1 (03:07):
To sport, New Zealand Rugby's incumbent Player of the Year,
Georgia Miller, will debut at openside flanker for the Black
Ferns fifteens against the United States at Albany on Saturday. Meanwhile,
Crusaders captain David Harveli has re signed with the governing
body for a further two years. Tottenham Hotspur have secured
football's second tier Europa League over Manchester United and bill Bao,

(03:31):
guaranteeing entry into next season's Champions League. And Novak Djokovic
has won his first match and three attempts on clay
this season at the Geneva Open. 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.