Midday Edition: 18 June 2025

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 18 June 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 figs for Wednesday, the eighteenth of June. The twenty
thirty census is being scrapped, with the government and stats
end Z choosing a cheaper and smaller alternative run yearly.
The five yearly census has been forecast to significantly increase
in cost and the government deems it no longer financially viable.

(00:25):
Stats ends ad Minister Shane Retti says he hopes this
means that data will improve over time. This is what
the targeted something particularly will look to address those communities,
those smaller communities that first of all may not be
well represented in our current census collection meant it anyway.
The Finance Minister's detailed elements of her behind the scenes
battle with the Reserve Bank before Governor Adrian or resigned.

(00:48):
Appearing before a Select committee this morning, Nikola Willis has
revealed she and Treasury sought legal advice over the Reserve
Bank's five year funding envelope or quit because the bank
was being a sign find less money than he had requested.
Willis says she could have given the bank even less.
The Treasury advised me that we could agree to a
lesser amount of funding and be satisfied that those functions

(01:12):
could be carried out. The government says it's made progress
in health targets to get patients seen faster. More than
seventy four percent of those and emergency departments were treated,
discharged or transferred within six hours, up four percent since
last year. Cancer treatments within thirty one days rose slightly
in the same period. Health Minister Simeon Brown says the

(01:35):
numbers show good progress, but still aren't where they want
them to be. There is still a long way to go.
We want ninety five percent of patients being seen an
emergency department within six hours, so there is a long
way to go. It's being suggested the pricey cost of
our food baskets is great for the economy but bad
for our wallets. Food inflation has risen four point four
percent annually, the highest in eighteen months. Meat, poultry and

(01:58):
fish had the biggest increase, while butter, milk and cheese
drove grocery prices. Food Stuff's North Island CEO Chris Quinn
told my costing increases in foods like Kiwi, fruit and
butter is fantastic for New Zealand's economy but tough for
households and it doesn't matter how minor the symptom. Have
it checked, is the message at eden Park Today. Radio

(02:21):
Hodaki's Day in Liu event is underway raising awareness for
bow cancer Awareness Month. Comedian Die Henwood, who has battled
the cancer for five years, says he didn't originally fit
a typical diagnosis. You are your own advocate. You have
to push for it and it doesn't mean getting a
full colonoscopy. There are other boo screening options at the moment,

(02:42):
so really listen to your body. The South Island has
claimed the top four spots on asb's Regional Economic scoreboard,
which rates regional year on year growth. Canterbury reigns supreme
in consumer spending confidence, housing market and population growth. ASB
chief economist Toughly says there's been a rural urban split

(03:02):
for some time. He says agriculture and tourism drive GDP
to sport. Two New Zealand cricketers Two New cricketers have
Whitefern's Central contracts list for the coming year. Auckland bowler
Brie Illing and Otago battle Bella James have joined the
seventeen strong group in place of Sophie Divine and Hailey Jensen.

(03:24):
New Zealand born basketballer Mohave King is a step closer
to a possible NBA debut. His draft rights have been
offloaded to New Orleans from Indiana and Marquee player Ardi
Savia is heading for a Japanese sabbatical with Moana Pacifica's blessing.
He will miss Super Rugby next year and return in
twenty twenty seven. H'm Malcolm Jordan. That's your latest news fix.

(03:47):
We'll be back with the next update at five pm
from the news Talk ZB newsroom