Midday Edition: 07 May 2025

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 07 May 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 Malcolm Jordan and this is your midday
news fix for Wednesday, the seventh of May. New Zealand's
unemployment rate is unchanged from the last quarter. Stats NZ
figures just out show the rate was static on five
point one percent during the March quarter. Economists had been
predicting an increase to five point two which would have

(00:24):
been its highest points since twenty sixteen. In the year
to March twenty twenty five quarter, all salary and wage
rates increased two point nine percent. This compares with three
point three percent in the year to the December twenty
twenty four quarter. The Reserve Bank's warning of an economic
slowdown in large part due to Donald Trump's tariff regime.

(00:46):
Its bi annual Financial Stability Report says risks to New
Zealand's financial system have increased over the past six months.
Political editor Jason Walls has more.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
The Reserve Bank says due to the global volatile he
created by the tariffs, infleetions starting to creep back up.
That could in turn lead to a higher official cash rate,
which would push up mortgage rates. But overall, the bank says,
on the whole, New Zealand's financial system is well placed
to support households and businesses.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
Five people have been rushed to hospital after a bus
crash in South Auckland just before nine am. Two people
are seriously injured and three have moderate injuries after the
collision on Elliott Street in Pahudu Hoodi, a suburb neighboring Papakuda.
Jacob Jones reports.

Speaker 3 (01:33):
Photos from the scene show an Auckland Transport buses front
end wedged against a tree with a smashed windscreen. A
fire chief on scene says the passengers were mostly school kids.

Speaker 1 (01:45):
Meanwhile, a car has plowed into a property in Fangare's Kensington.
Photos from the impact last night show a brick house
on Miller's Lane absolutely wrecked. Neighbors say it's the third
time a car's hit the house and it's pure luck
that the owners weren't home. Police have opened an investigation
into a fight involving female pupils and a man at

(02:08):
an Auckland secondary school. Footage of the attack at Avondale
College shows the adult chasing girls down as they try
to flee, and kicking a girl in the head while
students hold her down. At least one student has been
treated at a medical Center. Police say they're aware of
footage of the assault being shared to social and request
the community to stop sharing it. New Zealand businesses are

(02:32):
putting their support behind overhauling the law on pay equity claims.
The government's rushing through changes under urgency, making it harder
to make claims based on gender discrimination and extinguishing unresolved claims.
Under way only announced yesterday, it's expected to pass today,
skipping the Select Committee process. Business n Z chief executive

(02:53):
Catherine rich says current settings have had a flow on
have flow on effects.

Speaker 4 (02:58):
Some large anomalies between the public and private sector pay
rates we're occurring which made it incredibly difficult for some
businesses to be able to compete and survive.

Speaker 1 (03:08):
Unions and other political parties are slamming the hurried change
as an attack on women workers to sport into Milan
are into the Champions League football decider, producing a late
semi final turnaround to beat Barcelona four to three on
the night and seven to six on aggregate. Sam Darry
has re signed with the Blues on a three year

(03:29):
extension until the end of the twenty twenty eight Super
Rugby season, despite being sidelined since February with a shoulder injury,
and golfer Ryan Fox will miss his second straight major
after failing to qualify for next week's PGA Championship at
Quail Hollow. I'm Malcolm Jordan. It's your latest news fix.
We'll be back with the next update at five pm
from the news Talk zb newsroom.