Checkpoint

Left over cow bones could play a pivotal role in building back human jaws. Otago University Scientists have been working on ways to use minerals in the bones for medical and dental bone grafts. Researcher Jithendra Ratnayake explained the process to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about an AI company, which was set to be the Australian Stock Market's biggest listing in decades, but has got cold feet on going public, as well as a petition calling for a trial of animal-friendly carriages on NSW trains and metro systems.

Are you politically worn out? There's still 29 days to the election, but with a barrage of policy announcements everyday many may feel like they've hit a wall. Danny Osborne is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Auckland University, and specialises in political psychology. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a surfer who has lived to tell the tale of how a shark bit off his leg last month.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The All Blacks have named their side to defend the Bledisloe Cup. Richie Mo'unga was a late withdrawal from the side, with Damian McKenzie given the nod for the 10 jersey. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Elections can be overwhelming with a tsunami of policies that leave you wondering who has got your best interests at heart. But you might also want to consider your pets. The SPCA has got animal lovers covered with an animal policy score card. SPCA Senior Scientific Officer, Marie McAnich explained it all to Lisa Owen.

National is promising to introduce random drug testing for those on the jobseeker benefit to ensure they're "ready for work". The proposal has sparked backlash from many on the opposing side. Emma Hunter from the Salvation Army spoke to Lisa Owen.

Politicians on the left have reacted with fury to National's proposal to randomly drug test beneficiaries, while National says it's about fairness. It's part of a five point plan to get more jobseekers into work. That includes reducing benefit payments after just two years. Political reporter Lillian Hanly reports.

From next month, harvesting some sealife from large parts of the Auckland Coromandel coastlines will be banned. Fisheries Minister Shane Jones made the announcement at Auckland's Takapuna Beach today, in response to rising tensions and community concerns about overharvesting rockpools. But while local advocates have welcomed the new ban, many say it still doesn't go far enough. Jessica Hopkins rep...

National is promising to introduce random drug testing for people on the jobseeker benefit. Too many failed tests could result in their benefit being cut. Labour said the policy is "offensive" to people desperately trying to find a job. But what do voters think, is it a fair crackdown or a targeted kick to beneficiaries? Evie Richardson took to the streets of Auckland to find out.

RNZ's Chief Financial Officer has unexpectedly resigned and walked off the job the same day, prompting an emergency board meeting. CFO Hilary Parker quit last Friday while the CEO was out of the country, and just weeks before the public broadcaster is due to report its accounts. RNZ board member, Richard Dellabarca is now acting as the organisations CFO. RNZ Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch...

In the space of a fortnight the New Zealand Breakers will travel to just about every corner of Australia that has an NBL team, and one that doesn't. A schedule that has stops in Perth, Canberra, Tasmania and then Cairns has seen the club's owners fund an extended stay across the Tasman to try to offset some of the travel challenges. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen. 

The Chiefs are in a showdown with Papua New Guinea's new rugby league franchise team over their name, The PNG Chiefs. NZ Rugby has asked the Aussie NRL to reconsider the name of the team, which is set to join the league competition in 2028. But things have escalated and NZR is seeking a High Court injunction to block PNG using the Chiefs moniker. CEO of the Chiefs Rugby franchise Simon Graafhuis s...

US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about more details coming about about the condition of death row inmate Christa Pike, who is awake after surviving two lethal injection doses, as well as US President Donald Trump planning on calling Vladimir Putin about a suspected plague death at a SIberian laboratory.

Beneficiaries will face random drug tests and have their payments docked if they continue to fail those tests if National is re-elected. It will initially do 10,000 random tests on job seekers and expand from there. Anyone on jobseeker support for two of the previous three years will also get their benefit reduced. To qualify for a benefit people will need to be resident in NZ for five years rathe...

Europe correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about a quarter of a million people taking to the streets of France to protest school conditions, as well as a seventh arrest in relation to the Fairford airbase incident.

Business News for 7 October 2026.

A one of a kind Rotorua te reo course turns 40 next month. He Kainga Mo te Reo is a free full time immersion language course for adults. It's funded through the Ministry of Education. Over four decades it's taught an estimated 8000 students. Tutu Kautai has been a kaiako with He Kainga Mo Te Ro for more than 30 years, and spoke to Lisa Owen.

New Zealand Cricket is finally opening up about how it arrived at the decision to pursue a proposal for a new privately-owned T20 franchise league. It comes six months after the decision, and follows some pretty pointed criticism from high profile members of the cricket community. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

After nearly 36 years, David Tamihere has had the charges against him for murdering a pair of Swedish backpackers thrown out. Tamihere already had his convictions quashed by the Supreme Court earlier this year, but it was left to the Crown to decide whether to hold another trial - and this morning the court heard they didn't have sufficient evidence to proceed. Finn Blackwell was there.

Firefighting efforts resumed from the air and the ground at Walter Peak near Queenstown as a vegetation fire continues to burn. The fire above the shores of Lake Wakatipu has grown to an estimated 1200 hectares, with volatile winds and rugged terrain testing the efforts of crews. The dramatic developments have also sparked the interests of locals and visitors. Katie Todd reports.

A union is calling out a rubbish deal that could see more than a dozen workers made redundant, only to be hired back as contractors. Workers First is accusing Waste Management, one of New Zealand's largest recovery and recycle operators of taking away guaranteed hours, wage protections, leave provisions and secure jobs. Workers are being made redundant with the option of buying their rubbish truck...

There's growing concern over wait times for the results of critical cancer tests. An Auckland woman, who had been diagnosed with cancer, told Checkpoint she waited three weeks for urgent biopsy results that should have taken a maximum of 48 hours. Those test results showed she needed further treatment. Chair of the Breast Cancer Foundation's medical advisory committee Dr Reena Ramsaroop spoke to L...

Online safety organisation Netsafe says sextortion is at its highest ever level in Aotearoa, and the number of people falling victim to online harm is rising rapidly. Sextortion is a form of blackmail in which someone is tricked or pressured into sharing intimate images, then threatened with having them posted online unless they pay a ransom or send more. Netsafe says cases have gone up nearly 25%...