Checkpoint

It was even more bruising than your usual political showdown, with a cabinet minister walking away with two broken ribs. The Rumble in Russell to benefit Rugby for Life saw politicians, former All Blacks and local sportspeople square off in rugby and netball matches on Saturday. Spectators packed the sidelines to witness one of the biggest events on Northlands sporting calendar. Reporter Peter de...

Palmerston North Hospital is funded for six full time gastroenterologists, but has none following the departure of its last specialist. A public meeting to address concerns about the gradual gutting of the service gets underway shortly. Health NZ says gastro services are continuing at the hospital, but patients are worried about continuity of care. Health NZ chief clinical officer, Doctor Richard...

Hundreds of people in isolated southern Wairarapa remain cut off, some without power, after wild weather washed out a bridge and damaged roads. The Cape Palliser, Lake Ferry, Whangaimoana and Ngawi communities had supplies such as baby formula sent in by helicopter today, and they're being told to sit tight for another day or so. Sammy Carter reports.

Former Olympian, Auckland mayor and founder of a fitness empire, Les Mills Senior has died, aged 91. Mills began his athletics journey at Western Suburbs Running Club in Auckland as a youngster and went on to represent New Zealand on the world stage for two decades at a time when sport was not professional. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's a murky mystery, and some locals are milking it. On and off for nearly two years someone has been leaving half empty bottles of flavoured milk on top of a self service pump at a fuel stop in Alexandra. The milk bandit has left a smorgasboard of brands and flavours. A local woman who used the same fuel station has become obsessed with solving the mystery and is back on the case. Poppy Prenderg...

Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about a blame game breaking out over potential ceasefire breaches between the US and Iran. The fragile truce has faced more tests with the US carrying out a number of strikes on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz while Iran launched its own attacks across the Gulf.

ACT is campaigning on a welfare clampdown this election, saying benefits should be a hand up not a way of life. It wants to be make it mandatory for all health and disability benefits to be issued by MSD approved, designated doctors. Beneficiary advocate Kay Brereton says the policy shows a complete lack of understand of some peoples reality. Brereton spoke to Lisa Owen.

Teens in a Hutt Valley youth employment programme say without it they'd just be 'bumming out' - but now, they're confident they can find a job. Youth unemployment is soaring - at nearly 15 percent, it's roughly three times that of the wider working age population. Charity organisation Youth Inspire helps young people get the skills the skills to get into work, but recently it's been forced to crow...

UK correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the extreme heat that is causing havoc in Europe, as well as growing concerns about the long-term health of younger adults in England following a new obesity study.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Calls for a South Island-based NRL team continue to grow louder. The Warriors made their debut at the new Te Kaha Stadium last weekend, with fans packing the house having been starved of rugby league. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A charity match is on the cards between the parliamentary rugby team and a squad presenting Rugby for Life. It's part of a fundraiser for the organisation the helps people build skills and careers through and beyond rugby. Deputy chair of Rugby for Life, Riki Kinnaird spoke to Lisa Owen.

The fast-track panel assessing plans for a vast gold mine in Central Otago wants to know if the applicant would foot the bill after a catastrophic failure. The panel is seeking a social impact assessment and a worst-case economic scenario from Australian company Santana Minerals, which this week voluntarily paused the processing of its application. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd has the story...

Grounded flights, ferocious winds, trees down, slips and flooding. Wellington and Taranaki are being hit with terrible weather this evening. Severe weather warnings have been issued across the North Island, and thousands of homes are without power. Anya Fielding reports.

A collective of ethnic, faith and community leaders have written to MPs with a call for politicians to get behind laws aimed at curbing hate speech and incitement to violence. It follows social media comments by Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki. The Royal Commission on the Christchurch mosque attacks recommended improved hate speech and incitement laws, but last year the government abandoned wor...

Parents forced to fork out for transport to get their children to school in Palmerston North because of Ministry of Education changes to rural bus routes face a new dilemma. A user-pays service from one rural town is about to stop due to a lack of numbers, leaving families pondering homeschooling as an option if they can't find transport. Field correspondent Jimmy Ellingham reports.

The Minister responsible for the drug buying agency Pharmac is doubling down on his call for efficencies driven by AI. In a letter to Pharmac detailing his expectations for the next year, David Seymour has emphasised investment in data and digital infrastructure to enhance core functions, including the use of artificial intelligence. Associate Minister of Health David Seymour spoke to Lisa Owen.

It is do or die for The All Whites in Vancouver tomorrow. They need to beat Belgium, a top-10 side, to avoid an early exit from the Football World Cup. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Poachers are allegedly pilfering trout at a popular fishing spot in Ngongotaha near Rotorua, and it's making some locals pretty mad. A fishing club there says the culprits are fishing outside of legal hours, using illegal methods and exceeding limits. NGO Trout Fishing Club founder Simon Aston spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about evacuations being paused in the Strait of Hormuz after a ship attack, as well as US secretary of state Marco Rubio who has been in the region.

There's a tough lesson in store for New Zealanders who have gone offshore and ignored their student loan debts. Last month a doctor was arrested at Wellington airport before he could fly home to Australia where he now lives. The crime - defaulting on a decades old student loan, that with penalties has grown to about $180,000. Former IRD prosecuter turned student loan lawyer and tax negotiator, Dav...

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Nine Television network reportedly negotiating terms with one of its major stars to leave the network over a chummy interview with a controversial British anti-immigration activist. 

News from the business sector, including a market report.

It is set to be one of the biggest nights of boxing in Aotearoa. Last month it was announced that David Nyika would fight in a world title eliminator in Auckland in August, with the rest of the card now confirmed. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tama Potaka has been forced to do a complete u-turn and ditch a controversial clause in the Conservation Amendment bill that would have allowed the sale of some conservation land. Last week Forest and Bird released a series of maps that suggest up to 60 percent of the DOC estate could be sold or exchanged under the proposed law. Now the Conservation Minister has announced he is axing the clause, s...