Afternoon Edition: 16 February 2025

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 16 February 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):
From the news talks edby Newsroom This is NEWSFACS. In
this update, firefighters have extinguished a fire on the third
floor of a multi story building in Wellington's Willis Street.
Assistant Commander Matt Franklin says no one was home in
the apartment where the blaze broke out just after two
thirty this afternoon. He says crews have been ventilating smoke
from all levels. Fire investigators are working to establish the

(00:27):
origin and cause of the fire. Community housing provider Tetoi
Mahana says their teams are providing support to affected tenants.
A temporary relief station is open at the Central Park
Community Room. The government's calling on Australians to come across
the Tasman to visit US and enjoy an off season holiday.
It's launched a half million dollar tourism campaign called Everyone

(00:48):
Must Go. The number of visitors from Australia are still
just eighty eight percent of pre COVID levels. Prime Minister
Chris Luxon says there's room for more Australians to come
here during the so called shoulders season. Mister Luckson says
airlines and accommodation providers have plenty of capacity to handle
extra travelers. Labour's leader has labeled anti LGBTQ protests pathetic.

(01:12):
People linked to Destiny Church stormed a children's drag event
at a West Auckland library yesterday, leading to some thirty
people being barricaded inside. Later police intervened when a group
disrupted last night's Pride Parade festivities on Ponsonbury Road with
a hakka. Chris Hipkin says we have free speech in
New Zealand, but it's not that that.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
Sort of behavior isn't an exercise of free speech. Actually
it's shouting other people down and stopping them, you know,
doing what they're free to do in a democratic country
like New Zealand.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
Today, the Big Gay Art's been underway in Auckland's Coyle Park.
It usually draws politicians from both sides of the aisle
and often includes the sitting PM. When Chris Luckson attended
last year, he left after being confronted by Gaza protesters
and he's not gone there today, but says he enjoyed
his last visit and supports the Burnett Foundation's cause. That's news.

(02:05):
In Sport, New Zealand, Rugby CEO Mark Robinson believes Joe
Schmidt won't be lost to Australian rugby when he steps
down as head coach at the end of the Rugby Championship.
Schmidt was initially contracted until the end of the British
and Irish Lions series, but extended for a further three months.
While no official announcement has been made about his future,
Robinson believed Schmidt's focus won't return to opportunities on this

(02:27):
side of the Tasman.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
I think it's been a signal it's been which stay
on sign Australia.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
From Taranuke's enjoyed its first successful defense of Crickets Hawks
Cup since nineteen ninety five. The challenge by Hamilton ended
in a draw in New Plymouth, with Taranucky winning on
the first innings. Adelaide has fought off interest from rival
Australian cities to remain host of a live golf tournament
until at least twenty twenty eight. That's Sport. I'm Joe Gilfillan.

(02:57):
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