Morning Edition: 21 January 2026

The Morning Edition of News Fix for 21 January 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 (00:02):
Good morning, I never ready Manu and this is your
morning news books for Wednesday, twenty first of January. In
this update, officials are urging people to be prepared, with
many parts of the country in line for yet more
heavy rain. Many areas are under watchers and warnings, with
Orange rain warnings in effect for Northland the Coramandel Bay

(00:23):
of Plenty including Rotada and Northern Gisbon District. Northland and
the Coramandal could be upgraded to a most serious Red warning.
NIMA Deputy Chief Executive John Price says his real risk
of surface flooding and landslides and people should have a
grab bag with medical supplies and make sure their phone
is charged. The rules based order is fading. This grim

(00:45):
warning today from Canada's Prime Minister. In Davos, leaders are
descending on Switzerland for the World Economic Forum meeting. Writers
Donald Trump PUSH's full steam ahead with his wish to
buy Greenland. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carnes his countries had
hoped to comply, as would buy safety. He says, we're
in the midst of a rupture, not a transition, as
great powers begin using economic integration as weapons and tariffs

(01:08):
as leverage. Fletcher Building sale of its construction division is
expected to be good for small and medium businesses. The
sale to French firm Vanci Construction is worth just over
three hundred and fifteen million dollars and will allow Fletcher
Building to focus on core manufacturing and distribution operations. The
Combined Building Supplies Cooperative says large projects are increasingly needing

(01:32):
large amounts of capital. Chief executive Carl Taylor says having
such a major player leaving construction will have an effect.
A political experts predicting the election will come later rather
than sooner to give voters time to see economic recovery.
The Prime Minister is expected to announce this year's election
date today, despite the last two elections being in October.

(01:53):
Massi University politics professor Richard Shaw's predicting Luxen will pick
November seven, and Labor leader Chris Hipkins is today making
his first speech of twenty twenty six. Hipkins is in
Auckland alongside MPs for his party's caucus retreat, in which
he'll set out Labour's vision for the year ahead. Housing
advocates are reigniting their criticism of move On legislation, with

(02:15):
concerns as it draws near. Last year, the government revealed
its considering enforcing a band to push rough sleepers out
of a city CBD community housing. Auti at Are believes
it's on the National Party Caucus agenda today and will
be put to the House next week. A push to
elevate the status of dietary fiber Otago University researchers want

(02:36):
fiber officially recognized internationally as an essential nutrient found in
foods like whole grains and legumes. It's proven to reduce
the risk of diabetes, heart disease and coorectal cancer. Associate
Professor Andrew Reynolds says essential nutrients are taken far more
seriously than those that aren't. And In sport, two time

(02:57):
Australian Tennis Open winners Yarnick Sinner Naomio Osaka are into
the second round of this year's edition, the latter floating
on to center, caught in a jellyfish ensemble inspired by
one of her daughter's storybooks. Suggestions are emerging from Germany
and France that European football countries should consider a boycott
of the American co hosted twenty twenty six World Cup

(03:19):
over President Donald Trump's attempts to seize Greenland cyclist Lawrence
Pithey has finished third and the time trial to open
the tur down Under race and Adelaide I'm never ready,
Manu that your latest news fix will be back with
the next update of midday from the newstalk ZBE newsroom