Afternoon Edition: 19 May 2025

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 19 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 Railing Ramsey. This is your afternoon news
fix for Monday, the nineteenth of May. Declining natural gas
production could soon be felt in shops. Diminishing supplies meant
production fell twenty percent year on year in the first quarter.
Gas using business say they fare future price hikes when

(00:24):
supply contracts are renewed. The Employers and Manufacturers' Associations Alan
MacDonald says the pinch will inevitably be felt by the
rest of the population.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
If it's a high input for energy or electricity, so
gas becomes more expensive, electricity becomes more expensive.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
That is going to flow through to consumers. This week's
budget sets aside seventy five million dollars over four years
to encourage foreign investment. Finance Minister Nikola Willis says it'll
remove tax roadblocks and help startups. He's senior political reporter,
Sophie Tricker.

Speaker 3 (00:58):
Nikola Willis says low so capital intensity and low rates
of foreign direct investment are partly to blame for relatively
low productivity rates, but she says to generate growth, New
Zealand needs more offshore investment and the international know how
it brings sixty five million is being allocated towards a
change to the rules pending consultation, and another ten million
to defer tax liability of some employee share schemes.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
A thirty five year old arsonist has been sentenced to
two years and six months in prison for a fire
at an Auckland backpackers in April last year. Jordan Dunn
was in court.

Speaker 2 (01:33):
Karina Tunny Flawels appeared in Auckland District Court today after
pleading guilty to arson and theft. Her father was in
the largely empty public gallery. Ten people escaped the flames
at Parnell's City Garden Lodge, Many left with only the
positions they could carry. The lodge had to be demolished.
Flavel remained emotionless as Judge David Sharp passed down the sentence,

(01:55):
which included reductions for her guilty plea remorse and a
back around including drug and alcohol addiction.

Speaker 1 (02:02):
A new reports vehement a crisis in learning supporters putting
children at risk altoor educators collectives. New study highlights long
standing issues with access, resourcing and exclusion. It insists policymakers
need to recognize the dire level of classroom need and
asks for drastic Action. Spokesperson Sarah Iornel says conversations with

(02:27):
Principles illustrate the urgency of the problem. They are really
worried that they don't have a told die under the
KIA because they can't monitor these children because of a
lack of funding and a lack of support to be
able to keep these children face during the school day.
Hopes something good can come out of Joe Biden's prostate
cancer diagnosis. The former US president has an aggressive form

(02:49):
of the cancer which has spread to his bones. Prostate
Cancer Foundation Chief executive Peter Dickens says about one in
eight New Zealand men are diagnosed with the disease. He
says it's ital for men to start getting checked when
they reach middle age.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
When there is a diagnosis of someone who is in
the public eye, it does really shed light on the
issue of prospect cancer in this country.

Speaker 1 (03:12):
To Sport and Warriors halfback Luke metcalf As moved to
the top of the Delm medal standings after round A
level of League's NRL and New South Wales prop a
pain Hearse has been cleared to join the squad for
next Wednesday State of Origin series opener in Brisbane. In
coming Wallaby's coach Lea's Kiss will take charge of the

(03:33):
Australia New Zealand Invitation fifteen to play the British and
Irish Lions in Adelaide in July, rookie Roberts Schwartzman singing
his engineer's praises after coming from nowhere to claim pole
position for the Indy five hundred. That is your latest
news fix. We'll be back with the next update tomorrow
morning from the news Talk ZEDB newsroom.