Checkpoint

The government was warned not to pump taxpayer money into concerts, because profits would probably go off shore and the costs would likely outweigh the benefits. Yet the Tourism Minister went ahead and funded shows by Robbie Williams, Linkin Park, Post Malone and Bruno Mars. Former festival director for Splore, Jon Minty had a funding application rejected, and Rob Warner, a music industry veteran...

A survey has found that most adults are putting off getting their eyes checked. But is it more than just not wanting to wear glasses that's stopping them? Anya Fielding reports, in this first of two stories about the cost of eye care.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Ministry of Education says suggestions information isn't recorded in writing to avoid scrutiny are unacceptable. It comes after a leaked video showed an official telling staff not to put things into writing - the ministry's chief executive is now looking into whether it's an isolated incident. Parliament held an urgent debate on the matter this afternoon - on its penultimate sitting day this t...

The world champion English women's rugby team's incredible 39-match winning run has come to an end, after a draw at the weekend. The result has buoyed the Black Ferns who will now look to hand the Roses their first loss since the 2022 world cup final. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Search crews have been scouring a South Westland lake today for signs of a plane that went missing without a trace, half a century ago, with seven people on board. The renewed search for flight ZK-EBU has brought relative to the shores of Lake Moeraki north of Haast, after volunteer aviation investigators reported spotting an object on the lakebed. Reporter Katie Todd spoke to Lisa Owen.

Public meetings are being held in the Tararua district focusing on the dire state of primary health care. Six staff, including four nurses at the Pahiatua Medical centre tendered their resignations yesterday over what they have described as a ballooning safety crisis. Health New Zealand's Geoff Gwyn, who's the central region's director planning, funding and outcomes spoke to Lisa Owen.

A public meeting is being held in Pahiatua over the state of the medical centre in the Tararua District town. Reporter Mary Argue was there and spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Australian Government has just released its latest Intergenerational Report.

A woman, who's had her driver testing credentials revoked as part of an NZTA investigation, says she's done nothing wrong and the students she passed are fit to be on the road. In July, 23 testing officers were suspended or stood down from practical driver licence testing. NZTA alleges they have abnormally high pass rates, that's unlikely to be by chance. Michaela Howe categorically denies any wro...

A woman who scammed a man out of more than half a million dollars was posing as a police recruit in Australia. She made promises to cross the Tasman and move to Dunedin to be with the man, when in reality the scammer was unemployed and living rent-free in Auckland with her mother. Court documents released to RNZ reveal the scale of the romance ruse that strung along the man for 18 years, even as h...

The Football Ferns want to leave no stone unturned as they look ahead to next year's Football World Cup in Brazil. After four months apart the team will come together again against Panama next month - with two new faces in camp. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Southland nonagenarian is gearing up for a world record cycling attempt next month. Peter Grandiek who turns 95 in October needs to crack 21.5km in an hour to break the current distance record for the 95-100 age group. Peter Grandiek spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about Donald Trump's ban on media outlets from the White House.

Otago Coastal area prevention manager community and youth, Senior Sergeant Iain Notman spoke to Lisa Owen about youth drinking culture in Dunedin.

An emergency department doctor is urging the University of Otago and Police to get tough after a party of 400 people in the city's quarter left one person with serious injuries and others having to be treated for alcohol and drug-related harm. The party comes less than a week after a Coroner warned students about excessive alcohol consumption following the death of a 20 year old who choked on his...

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer making headlines after an interview with the BBC, as well as a man stealing a double-decker bus.

A navy lieutenant has denied he repeatedly raped a woman while deployed overseas. The lieutenant, who has interim name suppression, is facing a court martial at the Devonport Naval Base on Auckland's North Shore. Reporter Felix Walton spoke to Lisa Owen.

Woody debris is washing down from forestry blocks in rain and covering many beaches on Tairawhiti's East Coast. Diggers have to be used to clear central city beaches of the stuff. Gisborne District Council has commissioned an independent review into its consenting and monitoring processes. In May, Minister for Regulation David Seymour wrote to the Gisborne District Council, imploring it to effecti...

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Warriors lost the NRL semifinal last night and some fans lost control at Eden Park. Projectiles were thrown at the referee and his assistants as they left the field following the Newcastle Knights 12-10 victory. Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner wants to the government to get involved in a crack down on unruly fans. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The families of two men killed at work are shocked by the government's changes to workplace health and safety legislation. They're worried more people will die at work as a result and want to see the changes repealed before they come into effect next April. South Island Correspondent Timothy Brown reports, in the second story of a two-part series.

An urgent SOS has gone out over rural health services. Six staff at the Pahiatua Medical Centre have resigned amid growing concern around extreme workloads and patient safety. In a series of letters to clinic owners Tararua Health Group and the PHO staff have laid out a litany of serious issues. Public health advocacy groups Kaitiaki Hauora and Patient Voice Aotearoa are now holding meetings in Pa...

After National and Labour unveiled their plans to break up the supermarket duopoly, Te Pāti Māori has today added its own policy to the pre-election mix. It will campaign on a $3.1 billion plan for "kai sovereignty", including funding for Māori owned supermarkets if elected. Political reporter Lillian Hanly spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tairāwhiti's beaches are some of the most well-known and loved in New Zealand, but they're now always covered in forestry slash. The debris is swept down from forestry blocks in the rain. It's a constant reminder the region is still struggling with industry practices that led to catastrophic damage in disasters like Cyclone Gabrielle and Cyclone Hale three years ago. Teuila Fuatai reports.