Morning Edition: 31 March 2025

The Morning Edition of News Fix for 31 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

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Good morning, I never ready Manu, and this is your
morning Newswigs for Monday, thirty first of March. In this update,
praise for the government's ambitious plan to address the country's
supermarket youopoly. Economic Growth Minister Nikola Willis has announced a
formal request for information looking into a third chain and
converted a major restructure as another option to bring back competition.

(00:26):
Monopoly Watch Research director TEXS Edwards says the announcement is
very credible.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Jeez articulated what she's expected to see a competitor to
look like. That's why consumers can feel comfortable.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
There's not going to be some small tear store competitive
The economy is gaining traction, but the unpredictable global trade
landscape could dampen recent gains. Asb's latest quarterly forecast reveals
positive movement towards recovery, driven by lower interest rates and
growing interest in our exports, but chief economist Nick Toughley

(00:59):
says Trump's tariffs on China and any slowdowns in US
growth could affect demand for our products. Even if New
Zealand's not directly impacted, US consumers are likely to be
impacted in general by just more expensive imports from what
we've already seen announced communities and me and Mah have
been left devastated following Friday's deadly seven point seven magnitude quake.

(01:20):
The New Zealand Red Cross is appealing for donations to
fund desperately needed resources. The death toll has moved through
the sixteen hundred mark. Health New Zealand's plant cuts to
contractor and consultant spending account for more than half of
the government's target. It comes as the government's on track
to exceed its target to cut the spend by four
hundred million dollars in the two years to July. Political

(01:43):
reporter Azariah Hall has the story.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
Health New Zealand accounts for two hundred and four million
dollars of the cost trimming. Health Minister Simon Brown says
he expects all functions of the agency to be providing
or enabling frontline services. The departments spending on con factors
in the year to date is seventy four million dollars
less than the same period last year.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
The death of a young boy killed in a dog
attank is having a huge impact on a being of plenty.
Community emergency services were called after two people suffered dog
bites and cutting cutting. On Friday afternoon, the four year
old boy died shortly after arriving at the medical center
in a critical condition. Another person remains in hospital with
moderate injuries. The Maritime Union says it has confidence in

(02:29):
Winston Peter's ferry plans as the rail Minister prepares to
make an announcement on the fleet's future. Today, Peters has
reached the deadline to shortlist shipyards and as you WoT
detailed ship specifications. It comes after more than a year
of uncertainty of the aging Cook Straight fleet. Maritime Union
National Secretary Carl Finlay says workers are ready for some answers.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
I think Whatson's heard our message loud and clear. We
want rather enabled fairies, and we want Captain Keyvy's hands
so they can carry on owning and operating this keeper
of the general construction.

Speaker 1 (03:01):
In Sport, the Warriors have won three straight matches and
Leagues Nrral, this time twenty six twenty four over the Tigers.
In Sydney, they jumped to sixth on the table two
tries from Georgia Miller. As how the Black Ferns claim
their third straight Hong Kong Sevens title beating Australia twenty
six to nineteen in the final. Auckland FC have produced
a two nil A League Football when away at Brisbane,

(03:23):
extending their lead to seven points on the table, and
Paul Cole has lost the final of the latest PSA
squash to event at Wimbledon. I'm never ready, Manu. That's
your latest news fix. We'll be banked with the next
update at midday from the news doalk ZB newsroom.