Midday Edition: 30 April 2025

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 30 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 thirtieth of April. The Crowns
announced it will not pursue a retrial for high profile
double murder defendant Stephen Ralph Stone. Six months ago, the
Court of Appeal quashed his twenty five year old at
jury trial murder convictions over the nineteen ninety nine death

(00:24):
of Dean full of Sands. Jordan Dunn has More.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Three co accused were also acquitted, but a retrial had
been ordered for Stone. The Crown confirmed the decision not
to go ahead with the retrial during a brief hearing
this morning at the High Court in Auckland. The solicitor says,
with three of the four major witnesses no longer available,
sufficient evidence and important context aren't obtainable for a trial.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
A prisoner's advocate says a total ban on inmate voting
is a step backwards and not aligned with other Western countries.
The government's proposing to reverse changes allowing prisoners serving sentences
of less than three years to vote. It won't affect
people detained on remand or serving sentences of home detention.
Canterbury Howard League for Penal Reform CO president Cosmo Jeffrey

(01:12):
questions the government's motives.

Speaker 3 (01:13):
If it's a cynical thing to punish people while they're
in jail or worry that they're not going to vote
for national that's no reason to act in such a
horrendous way in my view.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
Patient advocates are calling for a complete cultural shift in
FARMAC Following a troublesome review. Consultant Debbie Francis has assessed
the agency's performance in meeting growing needs. She says it's
in need of a reset as the current model and
decision making processes aren't fit for purpose. Patient Voice are
Terro chairman Malcolm Mullholland says we can have the best

(01:48):
drug buying agency in the world, but it will still
be the bottom of the developed world if it doesn't
have enough funding. A tough day for one hundred and
twenty workers with a Hamilton milk powder packaging facility closing
Fonterra's planning to shut the canpack site near to Rapper
Racecourse after July. It's blaming low product volumes and production complexity.

(02:12):
Derry Workers' Union National Secretary Chris Flatt says staff have
today off the government's being urged to help businesses navigate
cybersecurity risks. A Technology Users Association survey has found many
worry about a lack of leadership on technology. Improving cybersecurity
tops six recommendations, which also include developing digital infrastructure and

(02:37):
bringing in responsible AI standards. Chief Executive Craig Young says
digital leaders want help to evaluate escalating risks from parts
of the government that deal with security issues. The Opposition
is calling on the government to reverse staffing cuts at
ordering a tomarikin. Data obtained by Newstalk SEDB shows on average,

(03:00):
a state social worker is dealing with seventeen children and
parts of the country are in the firing line for
more severe weather. State Highway One through Northland's among Amuku
Gorge has been closed by a slip for the second
time in three days, and several cook Straight ferry sailings
for tonight and tomorrow have been canceled. To sport Pare

(03:21):
Saint Germain will head home with a one mill lead
at the halfway mark of their Champions League semi final
against Arsenal. Les Kiss will not coach his first Wallabies
match until next year's Rugby Championship Joe Schmidt will extend
his farewell tour beyond the Rugby Championship to incorporate the
end of year tour and also the Australian League of

(03:41):
the New Nations Championship in twenty twenty six, and former
Black Caps paceman Tim Salvey is reportedly being chased to
work as a fast bowling consultant with the England cricket side.
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 Newsroup.