Morning Edition: 02 March 2026

The Morning Edition of News Fix for 02 March 2026, 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 (00:10):
Good morning. I'm Nevaretti Manu and this is your morning
news fix for Monday, second of March. In this update,
New Zealand exporters will be keeping a cautious eye on
the unfolding violence in the Middle East. The US and
Israel have launched multiple strikes against Iran in an attempt
to topple its regime, killing the supreme leader Ayatola Ali Hamani.

(00:32):
Iran's responded with the texts on multiple Middle Eastern countries
with UIs ties, including Israel, Dubai and Bahrain. New Zealand
Special Trade Envoy Nathan Guy says the disruption this time
round could be more widespread. He says this could have
an impact on oil price, shipping routes and global uncertainty,
but Guy says our exporters know how to deal with this.

(00:55):
Support for the government's changes to QB saver rules for
rural workers. Farm workers, rural teachers and country cops and
defense personnel have been unable to use kiwisaber towards their
first home because their jobs require them to live an
employer provided housing, but that's now being changed alongside allowing
the balance to be put towards a farm Lincoln University

(01:17):
adjunct Professor of Agriscience Jacqueline Roweth says it's a great
idea that we'll get farmers into ownership much quicker. She says,
we need the next generation to be taking over some
of the farms before their sixty five Battery related fires
are burning a hole in rate payers pockets. Auckland and
christ Church Councils recorded at least seventy battery related fires

(01:39):
across its rubbish trucks and recycling facilities in the last
twelve months. It's estimated each rubbish truck fire costs around
five thousand dollars. Waste Management in Zen also recorded seventy
five battery related fires in the last twelve months. Managing
director Evan Mayle says improper battery disposal is a major contributor.

(02:00):
The Prime Minister gave Donald Trump a gift at Apeck,
but New Zealand left empty handed. Grist delve Lux had
met with the American President prior to the two attending
Elder's dinner put on by the Korean president last October.
The Prime Minister's office gave President Trump's administration a framed
photo of US marines working with Kiwi soldiers and the
Tutardoo Rangers during the Second World War at a cost

(02:24):
of four hundred and seven dollars and eighty two cents.
Communications obtained by newsdorg' NB show the US administration had
not been planning on a gift exchange. The overseas experience
isn't as appealing as it once was. Southern Cross Travel
Insurance data shows interest in work abroad experiences dropped by
twenty percent between twenty twenty four and twenty twenty five.

(02:47):
Chief Customer Officer Jess Strange says a lot of that
is down to a shaky political environment and the cost
of living. She says the cost to live in the
likes of the UK and the US is quite high
and people feel its reach. In sport, golfer Daniel Hilliers
won the New Zealand opened by two strokes at Millbrook,
eight days after getting married. New Zealand will play South

(03:10):
Africa in Thursday's opening T twenty World Cup Cricket semi final.
Cold cutter a Stephen Crichton field goal has led the
Bulldogs to a double overtime NRAL League season opening win
over the Dragons in Las Vegas. All Blacks half back
courtiers Retima has re signed with New Zealand Rugby and
the Chiefs through to the end of twenty twenty eight.

(03:32):
I'm never Reddy Manu and then your latest newsforks. We'll
be back with the next update at midday from the
newstalk ZB news Roop