Midday Edition: 19 December 2025

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 19 December 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 fix for Friday, the nineteenth of December. A view
that school violence is changing, with fewer mass fights but
far more frequent outbursts. New data shows twelve thousand, three
hundred students were disciplined for physical assault this year, up
forty nine percent on twenty nineteen. Most incidents involved students

(00:26):
attacking other students. Darfield High School Principal Andy England says
increasing neurodiversity in classrooms is likely one factor.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
You can't rule out the cliche thing that devices are
a problem, and there are social media trends around violence
and they would spark some of the more sort of
more organized fights at times and the more organized assault.

Speaker 1 (00:45):
New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Scott ween Inc. Has resigned
and will depart on January thirty after beginning the role
in September twenty twenty three. Andrew Alderson reports.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
In at About Turn, which will surprise few in recent weeks,
ween Ink was doing more than spend time with his
family at the start of the school holidays while on leave,
as was claimed Newstalks, he be understands he was involved
in mediation with the NZCA Board, which remained a work
in progress until yesterday. His forecast, returned to the office
on December nineteen, has coincided with his exit to praise.

(01:15):
His statement, Winning says he held a different view from
several major associations and the Pliers Association on the sport's
future priorities and the best role for T twenty In
the country, the.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
Improving economy is being felt by shops and restaurants. Latest
GDP data shows the economy grew one point one percent
in the September quarter, led by strong growth in business services,
manufacturing and construction. Almost every part of the economy has
been growing, including retail. Mark Noof Thomas, the chief executive
of Auckland's Newmarket Business Association, says they're seeing things turn

(01:48):
a corner.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
We've seen significant increases in foot traffic and hospitality in
retail are setting themselves up very very well for twenty
twenty six.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
The Gold Company, given consent to get the Why He
North mine up and running, believes it has local support
to drill under conservation land oceany A. Gold chief executive
Gerard Bond says public opinion of mining has improved dramatically.
The forced closure of Gloria Vale's School could mark the
beginning of the end for the Christian sect. The Secretary

(02:19):
for Education has canceled the school's license, forcing it closed
from late January. Gloria Vale's board is vowing to fight
what it calls an unjust decision. Gloria vale Lever's lawyer,
Brian Henry says isolation is the community's lifeblood and keeps
members unworldly and under control.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
And it's the impact of other children who are bought
up in normal families that will absolutely send the kids
home saying why are we living in this slave like
champ And that's how it'll break down.

Speaker 1 (02:50):
Hornets are on notice as the government commits twelve million
dollars to stamp them out in Auckland. The yellow legged
hornet was detected on the North Shore earlier this year.
They pose a set barious threat to honeybees and by extension,
to the agricultural sector. Auckland Airport's gearing up for a
busy day as summer holiday travel takes off. It's welcoming

(03:10):
nearly fifteen thousand people traveling across the country today, marking
its busiest day for domestic departures over the summer period
to sport. Whitney Hanson has been announced as the new
Black Ferns head coach on a two year deal, and
Kiwi referees Ben O'Keefe and James Dolman have been awarded
fixtures for rugby's six nations this year next year. Should

(03:31):
I say, I'm Malcolm Jordan and that's your latest news fix.
We'll be back with the next update at five pm
from the newstalk ZB newsroom.