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March 26, 2025 3 mins
The Midday Edition of News Fix for 27 March 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

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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Good afternoon, IM Malcolm Jordan and this is your midday
news FIGGS for Thursday, the twenty seventh of March. The
Government's i aiming to cut twice as much contractor and
consultant spending as its target. It's been aiming to cut
four hundred million dollars across the public sector. Political reporter
Azariah Howe runs through the numbers.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
An update from the Public Service Commission shows expectations savings
will equate to more than eight hundred million dollars by
the end of June. It comes after more than a
year of restructuring and downsizing at government agencies. Commission data
released today shows the workforce decrease four percent in the
year to December. Public Service Minister Judith Collins says the

(00:45):
reduction largely impacted back office rolls.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
Westpac is being accused of negligence after an Auckland businessman
laundered nearly two million dollars. Carl Johannes Fileuen has been
found guilty of money laundering in an an elaborate offshore
investment scam. The court heard he agreed to act as
a middleman. Courtney Winter reports.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
The Australian owned bank is under fire for its role
after staff agreed to increase Filioin's transfer limit so we
could send the stolen money overseas despite concerns about potential
red flags. Financial commentator Jeannine Starks says Westpac's actions were
negligent to the eyeballs.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
The Greens have been standing by MP Tomotha Paul over
her comments on beat policing. The Wellington Central MP's been
criticized for saying all beat police do is walk around
all day and burn homeless people's items. Chris Luxon says
she's totally wrong and in La la land, but Green's
co leader Chloe Swarbrick says Paul's reflecting sentiments she's hearing

(01:48):
in the community.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
I've definitely received complaints, says a local MP about some
of those beat patrolser otherwise, and there's a diversity of
views that all of us hear from our different constituents.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
The Council of Licensed Firearm Owners as dismissing concerns over
wording changes in recently passed gun reform legislation. It's been
revealed the Prime Minister and Ministry of Justice requested the
cabinet paper leading to the bill shift focus to prioritizing
public safety rather than easing club burdens. There were no

(02:18):
substantive changes. Council spokesperson Hugh Devereaux Mack says it's unnecessary
with public safety always at the four.

Speaker 3 (02:26):
Contant rangers have always existed with public safety in mine,
which is why we exist.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
That's where we want to be encouraging people to learn
firearm safety. The government's lowering the threshold at which mental
health NGOs can apply for funding to one hundred thousand dollars.
The previous level was at least two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, and the government's not confirming reports. It appears

(02:51):
to be inching closer on plans for a proposed Hamilton
Medical medical school, with an internal government document seemingly indicating
a cabinet decisions due on April seven. Meanwhile, a public
health doctor is asking how the Health Minister will staff
a new hospital after Simeon Brown yesterday announced he's looking
into building a second South Aukland hospital to sport. Nineteen

(03:15):
year old Alexandra Iala has beaten three tennis major winners,
Madison Keys, Yolena Ostapenko and Igishfiontek to reach the Miami
Open semifinals. The World Cricketers Association has taken a bold
stride down the administrative pitch to propose a global calendar

(03:35):
with assigned international, franchise and world tournament windows, for launch
from twenty twenty eight. 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.
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