Afternoon Edition: 13 January 2025

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 13 January 2025, 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'm Rayleene Ramsey. This is your afternoon news
fixed for Monday, the thirteenth of January. Conditions are expected
to worsen and Cora mandel As Cruz Battle of Vegetation
fire north of Fitianga. Fire and Emergency says it's making
steady progress strengthening containment lines around the fire on Blackjack Road.

(00:24):
Jordan Dunn has more.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Four crews are on the eastern and southern flanks, while
three helicopters are attacking the blaze on the steep and
inaccessible western flank. Incident Controller Shane Bromley says conditions were
relatively favorable today, but he expects the response to become
more challenging this afternoon and tomorrow in higher temperatures, lower humidity,

(00:46):
and stronger wins.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
An opportunity to grow export markets with a new trade
agreement being signed with the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister
Chris Luxon is traveling there today for the final touches
of a deal that'll see duties slashed on ninety eight
point five percent of Kiwi exports. Two way trade between
the countries is valued at one point three billion dollars

(01:08):
a year Inframetric's economist Brad Olsen says there's a lot
of money in the Middle East.

Speaker 2 (01:14):
This is encouraging yous to start the year at a
time when trade is not particularly upbeat. At the moment,
there's still a lot of questions and concerns around tariffs
and everything else.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
Restrictions remain in place after the discovery of a fruit
fly in Auckland. There's been no sign of the fly
since the finding on January three in a suburban backyard
in the Papatoy Toy Mangoti area. A notice controlling movements
of fruit and vegetables was put in place for two
weeks by Security and Z Commissioner Mike Inglish says teams

(01:44):
have been out and about various markets over the weekend.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
The community response has been magnificent and will continue to
engage our community partners and our industry partners to make
sure that we continue to manage it.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
As the government sex advice on the Arms Act, gun
control advocates are pleading for certain restrictions to remain. Consultation
is open through February. Gun Control landsts Philippa Yasbeck says
they want to keep recent safety improvements in place, So
we want to see the band maintained on semi automatic firearms.

(02:18):
We want to see the improved vetting remain in place.
Central North Island communities are bracing for an influx of traffic,
with the Desert Road now shut for two months for
repair work. Traffic has been detour advised State Highway forty
one through Tongiredo or Hakune and why you do do
pay her mayor Western Curtain hopes it'll spell good news

(02:39):
for towns along the border. Along the detour, I should
say well also meaning busy rural roads. Respect the fact
that a lot of traffic on the road, a lot
of areas there without passing lanes. Business leaders are returning
to work anxious about the economy, but less worried about
recruiting and retaining staff. It's according to a new survey

(03:00):
senior business leaders by IT company Data COOM. With New
Zealand now back in recession, more than three quarters of
leaders rank economic uncertainty as their biggest concern. To sport
and an early upset of the Australian Tennis Open, American
Alex Mickelson has ousted Men's eleven seed Stefano sits a

(03:21):
pass in the first round in four sets. Earlier, women's
third seed Cocoa Goff beat former Australian Open winner Sophia
Kennan in straight sets. David Ball has farewell the Wellington
Phoenix after the English forward and the A League club
agreed to a mutual contract termination, and Auckland FC captain

(03:42):
Hiroki Sakai will miss Saturday's A LEA clash with Melbourne
City at Mount Smart due to concussion. I'm Railian Ramsay.
That is your latest news fix. We'll be back with
the next update tomorrow morning from the news Talk set
B news room.