Morning Edition: 04 March 2026

The Morning Edition of News Fix for 04 March 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 (00:08):
Good morning. I'm Nevaretti Manu and this is your morning
news fix for Wednesday, fourth of March. In this update,
our exporters won't be able to escape the impacts of
an escalating crisis in the Middle East. The US and
Israel are continuing to bomb Iran, which is retaliated with
strikes across surrounding countries. Iran's also close the Strait offmus

(00:30):
and is threatening to attack any ship that passes through.
Export Enzen executive director Josh Tan says that's a critical
supply route into the Gulf States, which make up our
sixth largest export destination. He says exporters should be prepared
to act. Power companies will be forced to tell customers
once a year what the cheapest plan for them is

(00:51):
under new rules being introduced in late October. The Herald
revealed last year most electricity companies don't check if their
customers are on the cheapest plan. The Electricity Authority says
the new rules will protect consumers by improving electricity bills
and preventing large back bills. Power companies would have to
help people change to another plan at no cost under

(01:14):
required annual checks. Tourism continues to be a major force
in the economy. Stats and Z says it shows tourism
spending in New Zealand has set forty six point six
billion dollars, up three point three percent on last year.
International visitors spent eighteen point one billion dollars, a seven
percent jump. Tourism Industry Altered or CEO Rebecca Ingram says

(01:36):
eleven percent of all jobs are created by the sector,
and she says it's great to see the industry's passion
for what they do is translating into more jobs, valuable
export earnings and continued growth. The Independent Children's Monitor says
ordung A Tamadeki has made no real improvement in complying
with national care standards six years after they were introduced.

(01:58):
A report has found the percentage of young people suffering
abuse or neglect and care has risen from eight percent
to ten percent in the year to July last year.
A certain care are not being visited by their social
worker as often as they should, and young people have
an average of eleven different social workers during their time
and care. The report says social workers need more help

(02:19):
and those in care are still not sufficiently prioritized for
government services. A barrister says it's an unbelievable travesty that
disgraced former Glory of Ale leader Howard Temple won't spend
a minute behind bars. The eighty five year old admitted
in decent offending against six girls and young women over
two decades, but he successfully appealed his two year prison sentence,

(02:43):
instead serving home detention. Barrister Brian Henry says Temple has
never shown remorse. The Police minister thinks he'll tick off
his promise of five hundred new police this year, twelve
months behind schedule. Mark Mitchell says he won't compromise on quality,
but with a new training facility in Auckland and strong
interest from potential applicants, he's hopeful. In sport, golfer John

(03:06):
Rahm has accused the European Tour of extorting players in
explaining his refusal to join eight fellow live competitors who
signed a settlement allowing them to contest tournaments on both circuits.
New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Greg Peters is exiting
after almost eight years at the Helm and with seven
months until the World Cup. Nineteen year old wild card

(03:30):
Oliver Dunbar has caused an upset win on the opening
day of the New Zealand Squash open in christ Church
for this second year running. I'm never ready, manho and
that your latest news fix. We'll be back with the
next update at midday from the newstalk ZBEE newsroom