Midday Edition: 15 May 2025

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 15 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
NEWSFACS for Thursday, the fifteenth of May. The Finance Minister
is announcing on one hundred and ninety million dollar Social
Investment Fund. It aims to deliver social services based on
data to prevent further harm. The first initiatives selected are
Autism New Zealand's early screening program, Emerge Altera roa's scheme

(00:26):
tackling youth offending and EWE Maori organizations providing wrap around support.
Nikola Willis says outcomes haven't improved for many vulnerable New
Zealanders despite government spending. Each government agency sees only the
part that relates to its silo, missing the broader value
of the work. Doubts peace talks on the war in

(00:48):
Ukraine will be productive with our President Vladimir Putin his
names missing from a list of attendees for talks starting
in Turkey in the coming hours, although a seasoned Russian
negotiator will be there. It's ended speculation Putin would have
a rare face to face meeting with Ukraine's President Zelenski.
CNN senior military analyst James Stavridis says Putin's hard to sway,

(01:12):
and without him the talks won't be substantial. Putin wants
Ukraine for the good old fashioned reason he wants to conquer.
It is full of forty million people, lot of resources.
Donald Trump continues his big Middle East trip today, announcing
a US Boeing jet purchase deal in Cutter worth hundreds
of billions of dollars. There are concerns of legal and

(01:35):
security issues after Trump's confirmed plans to accept a plane
from cutter for use as Air Force One. He's also
met former gie hartist Syrian leader Akhmad al Sharah, later
describing him in glowing terms. I think we're good. Young,
attractive guy, tough guy. You know, a strong pass or

(01:57):
strong pass. Fighter to Health Headline, OI owns a patient
denied bow screening because of a staff absence at Palmerston
North Hospital, says the health system needs to better cater
for demand, and UNICEF says New Zealand has the highest
recorded child suicide rate of thirty six countries, ranks last

(02:17):
for mental well being and has high child obesity and bullying.
The controversial Regulatory Standards Bill will be introduced to Parliament
next week. The Act Party Bill aims to create a
set of standards to guide future regulation. The White Tanngi
Tribunal has held an emergency meeting on the piece of legislation,
which doesn't include the treaty as a standard. Otiger University

(02:41):
law professor Andrew Gettis says it hasn't received positive feedback.
The overwhelming public response was, know, this is a bad idea,
we don't want, and yet it's still being pursued and
it's still going to be made into law according to
the government. The property market slowing despite increased sales. Latest
Real Estate eight Institute figures show the median price declined

(03:03):
one point one percent in April, annually dropping two seven
hundred and eighty one thousand dollars. House sales rose nine
point five percent, and acting Chief Executive Rowan Dixon says
it's all about supply and demand. To sport, Ryan Fox
is continuing his happy go Lucky approach to the BGA
Championship Major. Ahead of tonight's te off at Quail Hollow

(03:25):
in North Carolina, He's played an early practice round in
Blissful Solitude. Porsche Woodman Whitcliffe will make her Black Fern's
return in Saturday's Pacific four Championship rugby test against Canada
in christ Church. 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 Newsroup.