Midday Edition: 08 July 2025

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 08 July 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 Tuesday, the eighth of July. Suggestions and
inquiry examining the country's COVID response was constructed for a
particular outcome. The Royal Commission of Inquiry second phase is
focusing on views on lockdowns and vaccines. Labor leader and
former COVID minister Chris Hipkins says the terms of reference

(00:25):
specifically exclude decisions made when the government included New Zealand first.
He doesn't want it to descend into theatrics.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Governments don't generally establish a Royal Commission to look at
political decisions made by their predecessors, so this is somewhat unusual.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Meanwhile, Hipkins says Jacinder r Dern will be weighing up
safety before deciding whether to return for the inquiry. Key
decision makers will potentially be asked to speak this month.
Hipkins are told Kerry Woodham there are security risks for Adern.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
They're not idle threats. These are serious threats to her
and her family. If she's weighing those up, then I
think that's a legitimate thing for her to think about.

Speaker 1 (01:03):
New Zealand isn't likely to improve our US trade deal,
subjecting almost all goods to a ten percent based tariff.
Donald Trump's announced he's slapping twenty five percent on Japan
and South Korea from next month, and more on several
other countries. Business New Zealand's Catherine Baird says New Zealand
probably can't negotiate any lower.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
If that's the best rate going, it's probably a David
and Goliath armorystal and it's probably not worth it.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
Health New Zealand Commissioner Lester Levy will stay on for
a year as chair of the organization's new board, which
takes over from July twenty three. Among those appointed is
experienced clinical director doctor Andrew Connolly and current Deputy Commissioner
Roger Jarld. Health Minister Simeon Brown has also appointed Hamoora

(01:50):
Balkitt as a Crown Observer. He says Levy provides continuity
and a permanent appointment will take the reins from next July.

Speaker 2 (01:57):
His role now is to make sure that we continue
to stabilized Health New Zealand so can continue to focus
on getting those weightless under control, ensuring patients can get
the treatment they need in a more timely manner and
make sure that the organizations are delivering within budget.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
Donald Trump's set to host Israel's Prime minister at the
White House as the US pushes for Agaza ceasefire. The
BBC reports Israel and TAMAS resumed indirect talks and cutter,
but ended after three hours without a breakthrough. Former US
National Security Advisor John Bolton believes no compromises possible. The
mars's objectives are to get Israel out of guys entirely.

(02:33):
Israel's objectives are to destroy Hamas's and military and political
force deals with Iran are also expected to be canvassed.
A criminal psychologist believes Australian mushroom murderer Aarin Patterson was
very deliberate in her actions. The fifty year old's been
found guilty of murdering three in laws and tried to
kill a fourth in twenty twenty three with a death

(02:54):
cap laced to beef. Wellington psychologist Tim Watson Monroe says
Patterson work to cover her tracks.

Speaker 3 (03:01):
There was a strong consciousness of guilt in my view,
in terms of trying to get rid of it data,
denying where she'd been telling lies about various aspects of
her life at that time.

Speaker 1 (03:12):
To sport double specialist Aaron Rautliffe and playing partner Gabby
Debrowski through to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Cyclist Lawrence Pithy
has been involved in a Stage three crash on the
Tour de France, but should be fit to start the
next league tonight. Former All Blacks midfielder Maha Nanu has
signed a one year contract extinction with French club to

(03:32):
Lent at the age of forty three, and goalkeeper Scott
Morris is leaving English club Stoke City after signing with
Auckland FC for their second season in Football's A League.
I'm Malcolm Jordan. That's your latest news fix. We'll be
back with the next update at five pm from the
news Talk ZB newsroom.