Midday Edition: 03 December 2024

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 03 December 2024, 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 (00:04):
Good afternoon, I Malcolm Jordan and this is your midday
NEWSFACS for Tuesday, the third of December. Boris Johnson is
unapologetic about taking his country out of the EU. He's
in New Zealand for a speaking event and to promote
his book Unleashed. The former British Prime Minister says there
was panic about Brexit at the time, but it's been
good for the UK long term. He told Kerry Woodham

(00:27):
that split was helpful during the COVID pandemic.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
That made a material difference. We had the fastest vaccine
roll out and we got drugs into elderly, vulnerable, frightened
people faster than any other European country into their arms.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Meanwhile, Johnson says the massive Conservative Party loss in this
year's UK general election can't be blamed on him. The
defeat to Keir Starmer's labor was one of its worst
ever losses. Johnson says had he and Rishi Sunak teamed up,
it would have been a different result.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
Gone on and done some of the things that we
decided we were going to do together, some of the reforms,
some of the tax cutting. As we got to the
end of the parliament some of the free market stuff
we were going to do with Brexit. I think we
would wiped the floor with Starman.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
A push to urgently contain a strain of bird flu
after it was found at an Otago egg farm. The
Mainland Poultry managed property will have eighty thousand birds culled
following confirmation of a strain within two of its sheds.
It is not the Avian influenza strain circulating in wildlife globally,
but Otago University virologist at Jemma Gigan says it can

(01:31):
still quickly become widespread.

Speaker 3 (01:33):
We're looking at a huge loss in chickens, which is
devstating for the animals but also economical leaves and so
it's really important it's contained and it's also contained within
chickens it doesn't spread onwards.

Speaker 1 (01:44):
Health New Zealand has confirmed a deficit of seven hundred
and twenty two million dollars for the past financial year.
It's a far cry from its target of a fifty
four million dollar surplus. The Lower Waihau rural water supply
and can why Matte District is unsafe to drink and
poses a risk to people's health. Do not drink notice

(02:06):
has been issued after nitrate levels breached acceptable levels, affecting
about seven hundred people in the area. Boiling the water
will not make it safe to drink, but why ma
A District Council is providing alternative supplies. Water Services Authority
Head of Operations Steve Taylor says nitrate levels have been
rising in the source water since October but has now

(02:29):
gone too far.

Speaker 3 (02:30):
We're aware the regional Council's beings are monitoring within that
area to understand the impact that different activities are having
on nitrate and that's an ongoing.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
Piece of work.

Speaker 1 (02:38):
Rainy conditions are set to continue on Auraki Mount Cook,
potentially plaguing search efforts for three climbers reported missing early yesterday. Afternoon,
police and dock suspended the search at eight pm in
bad weather. They're monitoring conditions hoping to resume efforts. Met
Service meteorologist Claire O'Connor says rain will continue all day when.

Speaker 3 (02:59):
Well also be stronger this morning, especially higher up the mountains,
that they will eatabys as we get.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
Later in the day. The nurses organization is confident today's
strike won't negatively impact patients. Members have walked off the
job at eleven this morning until seven pm tonight to Sport.
Penrith lead coach Ivan Cleary believes Andrew Webster is the
right man to help the Warriors deliver on their potential
in the NRL. Cleary's backing his former assistant to inspire

(03:28):
a turnaround in twenty twenty five after missing the finals.
This year, holders Manchester United will face Arsenal away in
the third round of English Football's FA Cup, and fresh
off hosting the All Blacks Test for the first time
last month, Turin will become the second city to host
stages in all three Grand Cycling Tours. The Italian city

(03:50):
will lead off next year's welter Urspania. I'm Malcolm Jordan.
That's your latest news fix. We'll be back with the
next update at five pm from the newstalk ZB newsroom