Morning Edition: 15 May 2026

The Morning Edition of News Fix for 15 May 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 (00:03):
Good morning, I'm never ready, Manu, and this is your
morning news fix for Friday, fifteenth of May. In this update,
the leaders of the US and China are promising to
play nice, with Donald Trump claiming Ggenping is offering to
help with Iran. The Chinese president has rolled out the
red carpet for the US president on the first full

(00:24):
day of a landmark visit. Secretary of State Marco Rubio
says that the US isn't asking for China's help and
doesn't need it, but Trump's told Fox News Chinese president
Jjenping is open to assisting in the Middle East in
some way. In New Zealander's warning of staff redundancies and
further flight reductions as it continues to be impacted by

(00:47):
the war in Iran, it's now forecasting a full year
pre tax loss of between three hundred and forty and
three hundred and ninety million dollars. The airline says it's
already spent an extra two one hundred and forty million
dollars on jet fuel despite cutting about five percent of flights.
Chief executive Nikhil Ravishanka says that some tickets were priced

(01:09):
and sold up to a year ago. Based on jet
fuel being much cheaper. He says that's affecting them even more.
The mayor of Todungur says the government's latest regional deal
with his city is mutually beneficial. The governments reached a
deal with Totunger City Council and Western Bay of Plenty
District Council to jointly fund projects. The deal focuses on

(01:32):
transport and social infrastructure, land and housing development, exports and
overall economic growth. Mahe Drysdale says that they're a region
with a desperate need for affordable housing. The Primary Teachers'
Union believes pressure from teachers has forced to delay to
major curriculum changes. The new Science and Social Sciences curriculum

(01:53):
will now become mandatory in twenty twenty nine instead of
next year. That's the same time the new curriculum for
Health and Physical Education, the Arts, Technology and Languages will
also start being rolled out. NZDI National Secretary Stephanie Mills
says that the decision follows sustained pressure and repeated open
letters to Education Minister Erica Stanford. She says the changes

(02:16):
have added enormous stress to schools and teachers and it
shouldn't have taken this long for the Minister to be realistic.
Latest NZQA data shows NCEEA cheating is on the rise,
with the most common form of cheating being the use
of AI. About eighty five percent of reported rule breaches
are being substantiated. The Department of Conservation is warning its

(02:40):
current network of tracks, huts, car parks and other facilities
is unaffordable. Data released under the Official Information Act shows
docs had to close tracks, huts and other facilities twenty
three hundred times over the past five years. The majority
were due to environmental events like luting and slips, and

(03:01):
Canterbury had the most closures. In sport, swimmer Erica Fairweather
has broken her own New Zealand two hundred meters freestyle
record at the National Championships in Auckland. The mark also
qualifies her for the Commonwealth Games. Half Back specialist Luke
Metcalfe has signed with the Dragons for next season on
a three year NRL League deal, at least in theory,

(03:24):
having previously committed to the Warriors until twenty twenty eight. Madonna,
Shakira and K pop group BTS will perform at halftime
in the Men's Football World Cup Final on July twenty
in New Jersey. I'm never ready man who And that
your latest news fix. We'll be back with the next
update at midday from the news Talk zb newsroom