Checkpoint

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about One Nation leader Pauline Hanson facing increasing media scrutiny, with polls showing many Australians are considering giving her their vote.

Auckland councillors are discussing potential changes to the controversial Plan Change 120. The plan will dictate the scale of housing intensification across the city. Today, councillors must decide whether to make changes, or withdraw parts of the original version of the plan before it goes out again to the public. Erin Johnson has been at the meeting and spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

All Whites midfielder Eli Just had a breakout Football World Cup that caught the attention of English Championship clubs. Just is reportedly set to make the move from the Scottish Premiership to Wales with Championship side Swansea City. The new club contract comes after the 26 year old scored three goals at the World Cup. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Christchurch workshop that effectively gives bikes away is seeing record high demand. Each year, volunteer organisation Aranui Bike Fixup spruces up or refurbishes hundreds of bikes. Right now demand is up, despite winter usually being a quieter time. Founder of the Aranui Bike Fixup, Steven Muir spoke to Lisa Owen.

The promoters behind Rhythm and Vines say this year's music festival will be the last in Gisborne. The popular four day event has been held at Waiohika Estate for 24 years, but organisers delivered news to the region's Mayor today. Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz spoke to Lisa Owen.

The amount of money spent on temporary doctors to plug gaps in the health system has hit a new high, topping $200 million for the third year in a row. Health NZ says it is working hard to recruit specialists and has even cut the budget for locums. But others in the health sector say more drastic action is needed to bring the spend under control and incentivise doctors to stay on our shores. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

Low staff morale, no onsite drug testing for years, contraband readily available, and filthy uninhabitable parts of the jail. That's just some of the serious concerns identified at the Spring Hill Correctional Facility. A report by the Inspectorate Office, the prison watchdog, also highlights issues with staff absences, long lockdowns for inmates, inadequate meals and a prison population way over what the jail was originally designed for. Commissioner of Custodial Services for Corrections, Sean Mason spoke to Lisa Owen.

The chair of a Northland iwi says plans to scrap iwi involvement in councils under the RMA will take away a seat at the decision making table for Māori. Recommended changes to the proposed RMA reforms include scrapping agreements dictating the role of iwi in council decision making - called Mana Whakahono a Rohe agreements. Political reporter Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira has more.

Inflation has hit a two year high, reaching 4.1 percent. The rate has been driven by higher fuel, electricity and housing costs. Emertius Professor of Economics at Auckland University, Tim Hazledine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Coroner's court has heard about the extreme prisoners unit where Ahamed Samsudeen was held before he attacked shoppers at an Auckland mall. Samsudeen was shot dead by police, ending his stabbing spree at LynnMall five years ago. A Coroner's inquest is underway into his death. Finn Blackwell was in court.

Tennis fans wanting to get cheap tickets to the only Grand Slam in this part of the world will have to get in early. Changes to the ticketing for the Australian Open were announced today and tournament organisers are capping how many people get access to the most popular tickets. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

An ultra marathon runner is going the distance, fundraising for children living with disabilities so they can hopefully move more freely. Hawkes Bay runner, Andrew McCrory, is raising money for a Rotorua centre that specialises in intensive therapy for children with neurological disabilities and disorders, including cerebral palsy. His next big run is the 320km Great Naseby Water Race in August. Andrew McCrory spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the latest on attacks in the US-Iran war, as well as the US president putting a 50 percent tariff on certain Canadian goods.

New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox is still processing his "life-changing" win at the British Open after sinking a birdie putt on the 18th hole and securing victory. Fox joins just three other New Zealanders who have won a golf major. After a whirlwind 24 hours Ryan Fox spoke to Lisa Owen about the win.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Andy Burnham preparing to step in as Prime Minister, as well as controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan who have been arrested in the US on British charges.

A police National Security Group senior staff member has faced a grilling today over what efforts were made to divert LynnMall attacker Ahamed Samsudeen from the path of violent extremism. Samsudeen was shot dead by police in a West Auckland Woolworths supermarket after stabbing shoppers in September 2021. The coronial inquest into his death is examining his path to extremism and the time leading up to the attack. Finn Blackwell reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Spain etched their name into the history books as winners of the first ever 48 team, 104 match FIFA World Cup. A one-nil victory over a 10 man Argentina in New Jersey secured La Roja's second World Cup title. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Rotorua teenager is rolling in the success of an ice cream business that started as a school project. Izzy Talbot launched Izzys ice cream in March, The ice cream truck serves real fruit ice cream made from local ingredients. The 18 year old made the decision to to turn her project into reality rather than head to university straight out of school. Izzy Talbot spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's a paradox that police and politicians say needs solving. Methamphetamine is a strictly banned and highly destructive drug. It's also illegal, according to Customs, to import or sell utensils for smoking meth. Despite that, you can buy meth pipes everywhere, even in corner dairies in the smallest towns in the country. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf has more.

Taxpayers are kicking in tens of millions of dollars to save a cement company owned by Fletcher Building, with the government saying it's an exceptional case. Golden Bay Cement is getting a one off grant of up to $60 million. In return, the company will invest $150 million into modernising its plant, and will keep producing cement until at least 2040.

Auckland's biggest and most expensive sewer pipe is officially online, with the council promising fewer overflows and healthier waterways. Watercare says it'll be the backbone of Auckland's sewer system, but some of the ribs won't be built until well beyond 2030. Felix Walton has more.

The government is supercharging its promised revamp of planning laws - making further changes - which the opposition parties decry as unworkable and embarassing. The changes include ripping up existing council-iwi agreements - and giving ministers further powers to override environmental protections. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

Parents of a couple hundred school children in the Manawatu town of Ashhurst are having to dip into their pockets for buses to Palmerston North from today, as the new term begins. Ratepayers are also stumping up for the services, which were previously funded by the Ministry of Education. The change comes after the ministry reviewed routes into the town and found many children weren't complying with its rules. Jimmy Ellingham reports

The rise of weight loss jabs could completely change the way people shop, and not just for food, according to a leading business consultancy. A new report by EY looks at the way GLP1 weight loss medicines are influencing consumer choices in Australia and what that could mean for business. Report co-author, Lisa Nijssen-Smith spoke to Lisa Owen.

A clutch birdie on the final hole has crowned Ryan Fox The Open champion and delivered New Zealand another major golfing triumph. Sports editor Dana Johannsen unpacked the the unforgettable finish and the significance of Fox's biggest career win with Lisa Owen.

It was never going to be your typical Monday morning. The traditionally quiet start to the working week gave way to chanting and emotional celebrations around the country, as Spain clinched its second World Cup title today. Argentina fans though were left a little blue by the result. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about dozens - including three American soldiers - who have been killed in the latest flare up in the US-Iran war. Back and forth attacks between boths countries haven't slowed down over the past eight days. The US military says its latest strikes were designed to "punish" Iran for allegedly killing two American troops in Jordan over the weekend.

A Wairarapa vet has had an onslaught of calls from cat owners worried about their felines catching bird flu. On Friday it was confirmed a Kahu infected with the deadly H-5 strain of the virus was found in the district. It's the second confirmed case in Aotearoa. Several countries that have had cases of the virus have also had domestic cat deaths due to the H-5 strain. Wairarapa vet Dr Louisa Broughton spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Keir Starmer making his final visit to Ukraine as Prime Minister, as well as the government announcing children under 16 in England will be banned from buying high-caffeine energy drinks starting next year.

A beloved community centre which has served as a second home to tens of thousands of Queenstowners over 35 years in on the hunt for a new home of its own. Happiness House offers everything from free food to financial advice and spaces for social connection - but it's learned it has to vacate its iconic premises in the centre of town by late 2028. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd has the story.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Irish are set to attempt to fell the fortress which has stood for three decades. The All Blacks have been unbeaten at Eden Park for 32 years and 52 tests, with the streak going on the line tomorrow. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

South Island wildlife tourism businesses say they're not panicking, but they are prepared for bird flu to spread. A second case of the deadly H5N1 strain has been confirmed in the North Island. One Dunedin operator is worried bird flu could wipe out one of the country's taonga species that is already on the brink. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton has more.

There's not enough emphasis on quitting vapes and they should only be supplied through pharmacies or cessation programmes, according to a leading researcher in tobacco and nicotine control. Checkpoint has been looking at the issue this week after Wellington's main stop smoking service quit after refusing to supply vapes as part of the programme. Otago University Professor Janet Hoek spoke to Lisa Owen.

A second bird flue case has been confirmed in New Zealand, and this time it has infected a native bird, the Kahu, a swap harrier hawk. The bird was sent to Massey University's Wildbase Research centre after being found extremely ill. Professor Brett Gartell spoke to Lisa Owen.

Emergency management is investigating why the Civil Defence website crashed after last night's earthquake when people needed information and advice. The quake north of Te Anau was initially recorded as magnitude 6.3 but was later revised to 5.9. A tsunami warning and evacuation order was issued by NEMA but was downgraded about half an hour later. Emergency Management Minister, Mark Mitchell spoke to Lisa Owen.

The National Emergency Management Agency will investigate why the Civil Defence website crashed following last night's magnitude 5.9 earthquake in Southland. The site was down for several hours after the quake, which prompted a brief tsunami evacuation order for parts of the south-west of the South Island. Keiller MacDuff reports.

A second case of a deadly strain of the bird flu has been confirmed, this time in Wairarapa. The bird is a native Kahu, swamp harrier hawke. DOC is already vaccinating breeding pairs from our five most endangered bird species after the strain was found in Australia. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka spoke to Lisa Owen.

While the opening date for Auckland's long-awaited underground rail is yet to be announced, Hamilton's station below the street has been there for decades. Few Hamiltonians are even aware that inside the 344 metre tunnel beneath their feet is the country's first ever underground passenger train station. The station is now blocked off but there are fresh calls to see it re-opened. Waikato reporter Rachel Moore has more.

The All Blacks insist it is not fear that is motivating them to perform in tomorrow night's test against Ireland at Eden Park. The hosts will put their 52 match unbeaten streak at the ground on the line, and the pressure to win is palpable. The All Blacks appear quietly confident, but how do fans feel about the test? Rugby reporter Joe Porter was in Auckland went to find out.

Police are investigating the alleged pilfering of an old shipwreck washed up on a Northland beach. A group of people using a tractor apparently took timber from the ship's carcass at Pouto Point in Kaipara. It's an offence to disturb a wreck that happened before 1900 under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act. Steven Cochrane was on the beach as things unfolded and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about the US military launching more strikes against Iran. It comes almost a week after hostilities between the US and Iran kicked off again.

A second case of a deadly strain of bird flu has been confirmed, this time in a native bird in the Wairarapa. The discovery follows confirmation on Wednesday that a sea bird found on Petone beach had tested positive for the H-5 virus. Fiona MacMillan - who represents the Egg Producers Federation of NZ spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about businesses receving some welcome refund payments from the US government as they recoup money collected as part of a tariff regime deemed to be unlawful.

Witness descriptions have been brought to the forefront of the trial of two former police officers, accused of perverting the course of justice. The judge presiding over the trial of Alan Hall for the 1985 murder of Arthur Easton said a witness's first description of a suspect should always be provided to the defence because it may be more accurate than later recollections. One of the officers continued giving evidence today and was asked why he failed to meet that basic legal principle. Matthew Theunissen reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has named his side set to defend the three-decade unbeaten streak at Eden Park. There are a number of changes to the squad gearing up to take on Ireland this weekend. It shapes as the biggest test of Rennie's short time in charge, with both sides entering the match on the back of two wins. Rugby reporter Joe Porter spoke to Lisa Owen.

Veterinary medication is being cut into cocaine and other drugs, according to High Alert, which is part of the National Drug Intelligence Bureau. Levamisole is an anti-worming drug, and is banned for human consumption. But it's being used as a cutting agent in cocaine, to bulk up the product. High Alert Supervisor Jen Vermeulen spoke to Lisa Owen.