Checkpoint

There was milk, Turkish Delight, and talk of the price of mince as National's Christopher Luxon and Labour's Chris Hipkins tried to win over business owners, less than two months out from the election. With Parliament on break, the two party leaders took to the streets to campaign early for the election. Jessica Hopkins reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The All Blacks continue their journey in America this weekend with the fourth and final test match in the Greatest Rivalry tour against South Africa in Baltimore. It's been 10 months since the All Blacks were last stateside and a lot has changed since then. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

One university student's love for the Takahe is so deep that he is on a mission to get it voted supreme winner in the hotly contested Bird of the Year. Sam McGee has self-funded, filmed and produced a short movie about the threatened species to bolster its election campaign. Sam McGee spoke to Lisa Owen.

A multi-national company is seeking to fast track plans to prolong the life of its Otago gold mine for the next decade. OceanaGold's fast-track application wants to expand the existing open pit and underground areas at Macraes mine, revisit previously mined ground and process stockpiled low-grade ore. The company says the extension will produce about 130-thousand ounces of gold a year and support...

Grey Power wants assurances there will be no more MSD botch ups, following a report into winter energy payments being wrongly suspended. An MSD review has revealed more than 16,000 pensioners were affected by the mistake. Grey Power National President, David Marshall spoke to Lisa Owen.

A convicted murderer has revealed how he and another man accused of the killings shot two people in their Auckland home. Lok Fung Lorrence Li has admitted manslaughter charges but pleaded not guilty to murdering Fu-Fu Joseph Kwok and his wife Mei Han Chong in 2023. Finn Blackwell reports.

A decapitated dolphin has washed up in the Coromandel, and DOC investigators want to know how it happened. The grisly find at Pauanui Beach was reported on Monday. The animal is believed to be a bottlenose dolphin - which is a protected species under the Marine Mammals Act. DOC Principal Investigations Officer Hayden Loper spoke to Lisa Owen.

Another early morning finish at the US Tennis Open has put grand slam scheduling under the spotlight again. But others argue marathon matches provide peak drama. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

Vape store number four has arrived near the small, far north town of Awanui and some residents are not happy. The town only has a population of about 420 and the wider region has about 2500 residents. Resident Brian Joyce has been leading a protest outside the store, and spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about oil prices topping $100 as attacks ramp up in the Gulf between Iran and the US, as well as a top AI researching warning the technology could kill us all in the next 10 years.

MSD wrongly suspended 30,000 benefits and other payments, despite concerns being raised for months. More than 16,000 pensioners were caught in the winter energy payment botch up according to a new report. Ministry of Social Development CEO, Debbie Power spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Israel closing the British consulate in Jerusalem in response to new sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as well as hundreds of flights in and out of the UK being cancelled after a technical failure in the country's air traffic control system.

Almost a year on from the previous Canterbury Regional Council declaring a 'nitrate emergency', a new report pointing to high nitrate levels across the region has been presented to councillors. The council also heard from Greenpeace, Health New Zealand and the water regulator, Taumata Arowai, who have proposed an additional limit on nitrate to protect people from possible long-term health effects....

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Some of America's leading athletes will be testing jet lag, customs processes and the appetite for the NFL in this part of the world when they start the season in Melbourne this week. The San Francisco 49ers and LA Rams have taken different approaches to coming Down Under as part of the sport's international games - and fans have been willing to shell out big amounts to witness history. Sports rep...

Food for thought is what's on offer at a not so ordinary lecture series. Raising the Bar is twenty free talks across ten pubs on one night, in Canterbury this time. The event is now in its 10th year. University of Canterbury Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, David Denkenberger spoke to Lisa Owen.

Labour is calling the government's stance on Israel an embarrassment to the country, and falls short of its responsibilities under the genocide convention. While the UK, France and Canada are imposing trade barriers on Israel, NZ is not following suit. Labour's foreign affairs spokesperson is promising to make sanctions - and recognition of Palestine - her top priority if the party wins government...

Thousands of government workers walked off the job today, some over stalled pay talks, others because of safety concerns. Gisborne Hospital Emergency Department nurses also walked off the job. Across the country almost 10,000 public servants were on strike, among them MSD workers, staff from Internal Affairs, the Emergency Management Agency and MBIE. PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons spoke t...

Thousands of public servants took to the streets across the motu today, chanting their messages for the Government. The Public Service Association says workers didn't want to go on strike, but says the Government is refusing to pay them fairly, and planning to replace almost 9000 of their jobs with AI by 2029. Now, they've reached a tipping point. Jessica Hopkins reports.

A rangitahi-led advocacy and support service is among those honoured for its outstanding work empowering people with disabilities to live their best lives. The first ever Enabling Good Lives Award were announced earlier today. I.lead designs and delivers programmes for youth with disabilities. I.lead national chair, Amy Clements spoke to Lisa Owen.

A convicted murder in a high-profile case has returned to court, this time as a witness. Prosecutors say Shu Man Poon schemed with his church friend Lok Fung Lorrence Li to commit murder in 2023. Li denies killing Fuk-Fu Joseph Kwok and his wife Mei Han Chong and plotting to murder his landlord. Poon has been sentenced for his part in the deaths and is a crown witness. Finn Blackwell reports.

Some big hitting Americans have reached the semi-finals of the US Tennis Open. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

The National Party has fallen foul of advertising standards with a flyer that makes a false claim about a Labour tax policy. The brochure that was mailed directly to some voters stated Labour's Capital gains policy would hit the the family bach, rentals, small businesses and Kiwisaver. The Advertising Standards Authority found National's claim about Kiwisaver being subject to CGT under Labour was...

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about conflicts between the US and Iran continuing, and now the Houthis have upped attacks against Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Israel has hit out at the UK over its move to sanction illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.