Checkpoint

News from the business sector, including a market report

The All Whites had one of their newest and most influential fans in the stands in Florida for today's World Cup warm-up game against Haiti. Argentine social media star Valen Scarsini, known as El Scarso, was there to meet defender Tim Payne who now has 4 million followers on social media thanks to the South American. However, New Zealand's first game since Payne put the team in the international spotlight in a new way was a 4-nil loss. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A former tech guy turned orchard owner has put the call out to the country's farmers to turn electric and he thinks they're switching on. Mike Casey runs Electric Cherries in Central Otago, purely on solar power. He's on a crusade to electrify the country and believes farmers hold the key to solving our energy crisis. Mike Casey spoke to Lisa Owen.

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little has hit out at the government's August deadline for amalgamation proposals...while saying he wants to talk seriously about a mega-merger.

Chinese hip-hop artists in Auckland are dropping a new voice into the city's music scene. The sixteen-member collective known as AKLA performs in regional Chinese dialects, Cantonese, Mandarin slang and English, mixing rap, beatboxing and street dance to tell stories of culture, identity and migration. The group has performed at numerous large cultural events, including the Auckland Lantern Festival, bringing contemporary Chinese hip-hop to audiences who may never have heard it before. RNZ Asia's Chen Liu has more.

More than $8 million, that's how much the Super Rugby franchise Moana Pasifika is in debt. The first liquidators report shows $4.3 million is owed to secured creditors. That includes a $2.7 million loan from Sport NZ, a crown entity. Approximately $3.9 million is owed to unsecured creditors. Players are among those owed money. Boss of the Rugby Players Association, Rob Nichol spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Department of Conservation's disposal of a small backcountry hut in north Canterbury has led to community backlash with accusations DOC has breached trust and the Conservation Act.

One of the largest teams in sport is coming to our shores for the biggest tour in New Zealand cricket history. India will headline a mammoth home summer announced in Papatoetoe today, with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh women also set to tour. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A 17-year-old Auckland student is about to get a taste of Apple after impressing the tech giant with a development of his own. Alex Liang, a student at Westlake Boys' Highschool, wrote the code for a star gazing app that can be used with the the tech company's vision pro mixed reality headset. It won him top honours in an Apple student challenge and a trip to the company's California head office. He will also get the chance to collaborate with the company's engineers. Alex spoke with Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent in Doha, Lou Browne.

Any money made from charging international tourists to visit Aotearoa's most iconic spots should be spent in the region, the attraction is in. That's the view of a Coromandel resident's group. DOC is consulting on plans to charge international tourists a fee at up to ten popular spots around the motu. They include Milford Sound, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Cathedral Cove. It estimates up to 250,000 people visit the cove near Hahei on the Coromandel Peninsula and 75 percent of them are international guests. Haihei Residents and rate payers Association and chair John Jonassen spoke to Lisa Owen.

In Australia, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party has been on an absolute tear so far this year, enjoying a surge in support that has seen one poll showing it's become the country's most popular political party. Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen.

River levels are dropping in the Tasman district, where some places received 700 millimetres of rain over the King's Birthday long weekend. It has felt all too familiar for some people, with the downpours coming almost a year from last winter's devastating floods. Samantha Gee reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The final standings make for pretty reading for New Zealand fans, the entire top four consisting of kiwi teams. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

On Tuesday, a team of whale disentanglement specialists managed to free a Southern Right Whale from a cray pot line which it had been stuck in for at least four days. It's fight for survival began just off Stewart Island on Saturday, when a cray pot anchored the whale to one spot, it could not swim away. Step up a kind-hearted fisherman, a local ferry and a boat load of whale specialists. Jennifer Ross from the Department of Conservation's Stewart Island team spoke to Lisa Owen.

Major centres around the country are dealing with thousands of tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish. The biggest problems in Auckland where figures obtained by Checkpoint show council workers picked up 1926 tonnes last year. That's the weight of around 154 of the city's electric buses. The clean-up of ratty mattresses, rubbish sacks and old couches - the most common items often left on berms - cost rate payers $3.1 million over 12 months. Teuila Fuatai spent a day seeing how bad things were in Auckland.

There are calls for an independent regulator to police the online world and demand more transparency, accountability and safety. In an open letter to the government, an unlikely group of bedfellows has raised concerns about what it describes as harmful, deceptive, and destabilising activity often enabled or amplified by digital platforms. The National Council of Women, The Banking Association, various media and Arts organisations and academics are among the signatories. Amnesty International signed the letter, campaign director Lisa Woods spoke to Lisa Owen.

Five and a half years after fire swept through Lake Ōhau Village in the Waitaki district, a group of school students have captured one of its remarkable heroes in a new book. Not a local or a firefighter - but a beloved border collie called Hebe, who woke her owners as the first flames leapt around the alpine settlement. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd has more.

"I am not a hysterical woman who can be shut up," that from Dame Lynda Topp after she let rip at the government over arts funding at last week's music awards. On stage just days after the death of her sister Jools, the surviving Topp twin spoke directly to Paul Goldsmith who was in the audience. Dame Lynda said in the budget, there didn't appear to any money for music but in big letters in the top of the news, $2.1 billion for defence. Dame Lynda Topp is standing by her comments and spoke to Lisa Owen.

All three coalition parties have scrambled to squash any question of the country's nuclear-free policy - after the new Defence Minister appeared to reopen the debate over the weekend. While in Singapore for security talks, Chris Penk told media it would be helpful for New Zealand to have a conversation about its approach to nuclear-powered submarines, given Australia is purchasing some. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch has more.

There's been more revelations about a Fonterra briefing document that made its way to the Beehive ahead of a proposed law change that scuttled a court case involving the dairy giant. This is the briefing document that was handed to a former staffer in the Prime Minister's office. It was regarding a climate activist's case against major emitters. On Tuesday afternoon, a spokesman for the Prime Minister revealed the briefing was also sent by Fonterra to the staffer's private email account. Political reporter Lillian Hanly spoke to Lisa Owen.

The introduction of hydration breaks at the upcoming Football World Cup in North America could have with some unexpected consequences and the New Zealand 3x3 basketballers are on the back foot at the World Cup. RNZ sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Plenty of people love to browse a bookstore but what if all the books in the store were about love? The capital's getting a new bookstore, that will focus on romance and romance alone, with reads spanning the ages. Juliet Gengenbach, the owner of Owner of XO Book Co spoke to Lisa Owen.

Florida is suing ChatGPT owner, OpenAI, accusing the company of promoting the AI tool despite being aware of the dangers it posed to minors. The wide-ranging lawsuit also includes allegations that the chatbot played a role in two fatal shootings in the state last year. US correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

A quarter of all households are struggling to pay their monthly power bill according to a new Consumer survey and almost as many have missed a payment. 19 percent said they've had to borrow from friends or family to cover the power bill. More than 1900 people took part in the annual survey. Paul Fuge from Consumer spoke to Lisa Owen.

The sound of bittersweet strings will be ringing out in the lower South Island this long weekend. Queenstown is playing host to a special competition celebrating a quarter century milestone. But it's missing a special guest this year. Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about how a landmark report has revealed the impact rising youth unemployment and disengagement is having on the British economy. She also spoke about how the former First Minister of Scotland has spoken publicly for the first time since her estranged husband pleaded guilting to embezzlement and how a dog walk in the Welsh county of Pembrokeshire has fetched quite the payday.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

It's the final round of the regular Super Rugby season. While some teams are resting front-liners for the playoffs, others are fighting to progress, while one may be set for their final ever game. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Metservice has issued orange heavy rain warnings for the top of the South Island and the West Coast with up to 600 millimetres of rain expected in some areas. There's a chance those orange warnings could be upgraded to red. Metservice meteorologist John Law spoke to Lisa Owen.

Some people are still recovering a year after two winter floods caused widespread damage across the Tasman district, while many work on being better prepared for the next storm. It's one of the key issues concerning a group formed to look after the health of the Motueka River, saying they consistently hear from residents who want more education around flood risks. Samantha Gee reports.

A extra half million dollars in funding could have kept Sail GP on New Zealand waters, according to event founder Sir Russell Coutts. Last month the government declined to fund the grand prix of catamaran racing, which travels around the globe each series. It's raced in Aotearoa four times before. Auckland was hoping to host it again and had committed cash. Sail GP Founder Sir Russell Coutts spoke to Lisa Owen.

Fresh off the back of the World Surf League Championship Tour stop in Raglan this month, the surfing community's focus turns to New Plymouth where the Egmont Honey Pro is bringing top-level longboarding to Taranaki. It's a surfing style often associated with older athletes, but this weekend's world tour qualifying event features dozens of teenagers. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin went to Fitzroy Beach to catch the vibe.

From 4,500 followers on social media to over 1.3 million, all thanks to an Argentinean influencer. All White Tim Payne's profile has skyrocketed after Valen Scarsini told his followers to back the man he called the World Cup's least-known player. It's been labelled a Cinderella story, but it's one Payne could use to his advantage. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

Police will be taking a hardline on bad behaviour on the roads this long weekend. Officers will be quote "unapologetic," in focusing on seatbelts, speed and distracted or impaired drivers. Official figures show 141 people had been killed on our roads so far this year compared to 135 in the same time last year. Director of Road Policing, Superintendent Steve Greally spoke to Lisa Owen.

90 days and no peace deal, that's where things stand with the US-Israel war with Iran. While there isn't a definitive end to the conflict yet, a 60-day ceasefire extension is reportedly in the works. Americas correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen.

Robbie Mortimer's version of Advance Australia Fair at the State of Origin opener on Wednesday has been so brutal, the country singer has had to put his phone away. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

A cat crack down is coming for Tasman District. From Monday, a new bylaw means moggies six months and older need to be microchipped desexed and registered. The council said it could help them distinguish between feral and companion cats. Tasman District Council Marine and terrestrial bio manager Guinny Coleman spoke to Lisa Owen.

Keeping NZ super as it is, is a strike against intergenerational equity according to the Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Winston Peter's has described her comments as a "sad point". There were no changes to the super scheme in the Budget. But the finance minister took the opportunity to raise serious concerns about the cost of the universal benefit. Nicola Willis said super costs are rising sharply with the bill going from $20 billion in 2020 to a forecast $30 billion in 2030. NZ First Leader Winston Peters spoke to Lisa Owen.

Emergency doctors are hoping money for digital upgrades will cut admin time for clinicians. Budget 2026 has dedicated more than 150 million dollars for Health NZ to strengthen cyber security, and another 300 million to upgrade its tech. GPs and emergency doctors alike say it could be a game changer. Health correspondent Kate Green reports.

Phil O'Reilly from government relations and policy advisory firm Iron Duke, Tania Pouwhare from Good Shephard, an NGO that helps women, girls and their families who are experiencing hardship and harm and Council of Trade Unions president Sandra Grey spoke to Lisa Owen about the 2026 Budget.

RNZ's economics correspondent Gyles Beckford spoke to Lisa Owen about the 2026 Budget.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis speaks to Lisa Owen about Budget 2026.

Infometrics chief economist Brad Olsen has been poring over the Budget.

No surprises, no rabbits out of the hat, no lolly scrambles... The finance minister has preached the importance of fiscal discipline and sustainability as her third Budget points to an earlier - if fragile - return to surplus. The Budget's focus is on money for core services like health, infrastructure, and education, with a promise better times are ahead, if the country can smile through the pain first. Giles Dexter reports.

A patient advocate says as far as our health system goes .. there's barely enough money allocated to "keep the lights on" let alone develop any services. Malcolm Mulholland is also critical of the fact no extra funding's been announced for the 100 new medicines Pharmac wanted to supply. He spoke to Lisa Owen

Hundreds of students have marched through New Zealand streets today, protesting against the government's decision to scrap fees-free tertiary study.

Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Nick Leggett spoke to Lisa Owen about Budget 2026.

Salvation Army director of social policy spoke Dr Bonnie Robinson spoke to Lisa Owen about the 2026 budget.