Morning Edition: 01 April 2025

The Morning Edition of News Fix for 01 April 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'm never ready, Manu, and this is your
morning News Fox for Tuesday, the first of April. In
this update, Marlborough's mayor is welcoming certainty on the Cook
Straight Fairies, the government's outline plans for two new rail
enabled fairies and port site infrastructure operational by Christmas twenty
twenty nine. It comes after more than a year of

(00:24):
uncertainty after the previous plans were canned without an alternative.
The marine infrastructure and Picton will be replaced to accommodate
the larger ships. Miya Nadine Taylor says Marlborough's ready for
the new fleet and port changes.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
It's important for our region, but of course it's important
for New Zealand that Cook Straight connection. It is the
Blue Highway. Some Without the new fairies and the upgraded
port infrastructure, we just don't have an efficient freight network.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
The leader of the oppositions calling out Winston Peter's attitude
towards diversity. The New Zealand First leader has made remarks
against Green MP Benjamin do over old social media posts.
Doyle will be absent from Parliament this week as the
party works through security issues. The Greens are standing by
the MP saying communities, including the Rainbow community, often use

(01:12):
language that can be misunderstood by others. Labor leader Chris
Hipkins has contacted Green's co leader Madam and Davidson, offering
his full support as the party works through the issue.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
I have to.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
Confess there's a few terms in there that I had
not heard before, and I'm not going to appoint myself
the arbitra of the Urban Dictionary in terms of deciding
what those things mean.

Speaker 1 (01:31):
Some are struggling to see the point of the government's
facelift to workplace health and safety obligations. Minister in Charge
Brook van Walden confirms small businesses will only need to
manage risks relating to death or serious injury to reduce
compliance costs. Institute of Safety Management chair Mike Cosmon told
Andrew Dickens, multiple things the government's painted as an issue

(01:52):
are imaginary.

Speaker 3 (01:53):
So there's no requirement to report minor injuries at the moment,
there's no requirement perhaps signs up saying hold the hand raiser.
So I think it's created a bit of a myth,
and then it's congratulating itself for.

Speaker 1 (02:04):
Cracking that households are being stung with an electricity price
hike as part of efforts to future proof our grid.
The average household's power bill is increasing by ten dollars
a month from today the start of the new financial year,
and then five dollars a month from next year. The
Commerce Commission says that we need to invest in our
infrastructure so lines companies can keep delivering consumer and zed powers,

(02:26):
which manager Paul Fuje says the increases will be found
differently across households. Meanwhile, other cost of living changes are
also taking effect. From today. The minimum wage is ticking
up one point five percent to twenty three dollars fifty,
a more moderate increase and we've seen of late. Benefits
are also rising by roughly two point two to two percent,
while those receiving a super or veterans pension will see

(02:49):
a three percent lift. In sport, the NRL have put
all seventeen league clubs on notice about a clampdown on
head contact, mainly fallback Tom Traboyevitch will be sited DIGNE
for over a month after confirmation of a knee niggle
suffered in the win over Paramata. Golfer Rory McElroy's revealed
he may need treatment on an elbow injury ahead of

(03:10):
the Master Zed Augustus starting April tenth. Ad Mitchell, Santana
and Trent Bolt have delivered economical spells to help Mumbai
to an eight wicket home victory over Kolkata in India
Premier League cricket. I'm never ready man who annche Lana's
news fix. We'll be back with the next update at
midday from the news Talk ZB newsroom.