Afternoon Edition: 18 August 2025

The Afternoon Edition of News Fix for 18 August 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 Wendy Petrie and this is your afternoon
NEWSFECS for Monday, the eighteenth of August. The government's introducing
reform to building consents, calling it the biggest change in decades.
At will replace the current framework with a scheme making
each party only responsible for their share of work. Political
reporter Ethan Griffiths has more.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk claims councils are hesitant
to sign off on consents and inspections fearing they will
be held liable for defects. He says this change will
also let councils group their consenting authorities together. Are bills
expected to be introduced to Parliament early next year.

Speaker 1 (00:43):
Confirmation our Prime Minister didn't attend a leader's meeting on
the Ukraine conflict because of the time it took place online.
Talks were held last night by coalition of the willing members,
including the heads of Australia, France, the UK and Ukraine.
Political reporter Azariah Howe has a details.

Speaker 3 (01:00):
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Trade says Chris Luxen
was invited but couldn't attend because of time zone differences.
M Fat says New Zealand's support for Ukraine remained steadfast
and were committed to helping it achieve a just and
lasting peace.

Speaker 1 (01:16):
Meanwhile, Ukraine's president has landed in Washington, DC and is
sitting the record straight before tomorrow's White House meeting with
Donald Trump. Voladimir Zelensky and EU leaders are there to
discuss the Ukraine War. Trump spoke with Russia's president on Saturday,
prompting speculation they'd forced Ukraine to compromise on seeding land.
Zelensky's posted on social media saying peace must be long lasting.

(01:40):
He says it can't be like when Ukraine was forced
to give up Crimea, which became a springboard for this
latest Russian invasion. For Merquanta's workers acclaiming victory over its
ninety million dollar fine for illegally sacking more than eighteen
hundred workers. The courts found outsourcing baggage handlers, cleaners and groundstaff,
and twenty twenty was done to kirby union bargaining powers.

(02:03):
Conta says this judgment holds them accountable. Transport Workers' Union
national secretary Michael Caine told Sky News justice has been served.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
This penalty an unprecedented amount reflects the gravity of this.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
This is the largest breach in industrial relations history. A
seventy seven year old man died after significant blood loss
during an operation by an inexperienced neurosurgeon helped by a
surgeon not employed by Health enz Southern Open Justice reports
a man died after suffering loss of brain function. He
had been admitted after a heart attack and had surgery

(02:41):
for a benign optic nerve tumor causing headaches. Dunaka McLain
has more aged care.

Speaker 4 (02:46):
Commissioner Carolyn Cooper criticized Health New Zealand southerns lack of
protocols and inappropriate use of a different surgeon. Extra surgery
was also performed beyond the scope of the patient's consent form.
Health News Zealand says it's made changes.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
To Sport and Silver Ferns defender Karen Berger is leaving
the Tactics Netple franchise. The twenty twenty five A and
ZED Premiership champions have confirmed Burger as the fourth departure
from their roster, joining Jane Watson to Pio Selby, Rickett
and Ali bird Hamish Kurz coaches Revealeder hasn't all been
smooth sailing for the Olympic high jump champion, despite his

(03:24):
gold medal success at the latest Diamond League event in
Poland and back to back women's doubles titles at the
Cincinnati Open for New Zealand tennis Ace Aaron Rautliffe, and
that is your news fix. We'll be back with the
latest update tomorrow morning from the news Talk set B Newsroom.