Afternoon Edition: 19 June 2025

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 19 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 Rayleen Ramsay. This is your afternoon news
fix for Thursday, the nineteenth of June. New Zealand's next
match of GDP data will show the fallout from the
global tariff battle. STATNZ says our gross domestic product rose
zero point eight percent in this year's first quarter, a
stronger rate than predicted by government agencies. But Finance Minister

(00:27):
Nikola Willis says New Zealand isn't immune to challenges felt globally.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
But my message today is the world will throw things
at New Zealand, but we should be confident that our
fundamentals are in a very good position.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Central Otago's the latest to benefit from government spending on
school property Education. Minister Ericus Stanford's announced thirteen million dollars
is going into eighteen new classrooms in the region. Land's
also been bought for a primary school in Queenstown's Ladies Mile.
Stanford says it's less spending than in some hearts because
Otargo's growth doesn't match other places like Selwyn that requires

(01:04):
a huge investment. Because of the absolute massive growth that
is happening there at the moment, this region isn't seeing
a huge amount of growth, it is in certain pockets,
which is why it's targeted. And Erika Stanford's also announced
just under five hundred thousand dollars is going to the
Isolated Placements Fund. It'll give a four thousand dollar payment
to final year student teachers for placements in rural or

(01:26):
isolated schools. Due to Collins and says boosting defense spending
is important in volatile times. The Defense Minister has been
grilled by MPs to on her multi billion dollar defense
capability plan Today it aims to lift military expenditure to
two percent of GDP. Collins is calling the plan a floor,

(01:48):
not a ceiling.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
In nineteen forty three, New Zealand's defense budget was thirty
five percent of GDP.

Speaker 1 (01:54):
That's what happens in the war. In a moment, we've
been banking the peace dividend, which police are reviewing drone
footage in the continued search for a seventy nine year
old woman with dementia. Jamie Cunningham reports.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Elizabeth Nichols was last seen at Rickitton's Chateau on the
Park more than two weeks ago. Detective Sergeant Lucy Aldridge
sees police have gone daughter to door reviewed CCTV footage
and searched the Avon River. She's renewing appeals for Rickitton
residents to check their backyards, sheds and sleep arts and
check CCTV files.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
The Acting Prime Minister says New Zealand's position on Russia's
Ukraine invasion has always been clear. We've launched new sanctions
against eighteen individuals and entities supporting Russia's war efforts, including
from North Korea, Iran and Belarus. The sanctions have also
been placed on another twenty seven vessels. David Seymour says

(02:51):
there's no ambiguity in our country stance.

Speaker 2 (02:53):
New Zealand stands four square on the side of what
is right, against what is wrong and for what is good.

Speaker 1 (02:59):
Again is evil to sport and the cow Belle has
found an unlikely ally in Crusaders veteran Cody Taylor. Ahead
of Saturday Super Rugby final in christ Urt, the Noisemaker,
synonymous with Chiefs and wycut Or Rugby, has been banned
from the stadium to ensure the safety of spectators. Former

(03:19):
Silver Fern's captain Katrina Roure's warned Netball New Zealand not
to mess with the scheduling of the A and Z Premiership,
and the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly being sold in
a record breaking deal that makes the basketball franchise the
highest valued sports team in American history. That is your
latest news fix. Will be updating you again tomorrow morning

(03:42):
from the news Talk ZEDB newsroom