Checkpoint

The family of a Christchurch woman murdered by a patient who absconded from a psychiatric hospital have asked why it took their mother's death for changes to be made at Hillmorton. Laisa Waka Tunidau was stabbed to death by Zakariye Mohamed Hussein outside her Sockburn home in June 2022, after he left Hillmorton Hospital on unescorted community leave. An inquest into her death began in Christchurc...

A coroner's described the death of an Otago University student as "senseless" and a "woeful illustration" of the country's youth drinking culture. The 20 year old student died after choking on his own vomit at a flat party in 2023.

The capital city's annual literary festival is back, bigger than ever, after last year's hiatus. Verb Wellington is active again, much to the delight of authors and booklovers. Anya Fielding reports.

Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen about the latest news from the Beehive.

A spike in thefts of copper and other recyclable metals is causing millions of dollars of damage to important infrastructure. The risk of having high-voltage wires exposed is also endangering thieves and the public. Police say the thefts - which often occur at night and in remote locations - can be hard to detect. Bill Hickman has more.

Sports reporter Bridget Tunicliffe talked Lisa Owen through the Silver Ferns squad heading to next year's World Cup.

The environmental cost of a new pair of jeans could be enough to make a shopper blue. Brand new jeans can have an environmental footprint that is 180 times higher than pre-loved ones. That's according to new research from Planetary Accounting Network which uses a sophisticated dashboard to calculate the environmental costs of everyday purchases. Community recycling group Wanaka Wastebusters commis...

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about the price of oil rising as hostilities ramp up between the Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia, as well as an important summit between Iran and several Gulf nations being postponed.

So far so good for Auckland's City Rail Link, which had its first full weekday in operation today. Auckland Transport says trains ran smoothly and that by 9am about 24,000 people were travelling on the network. Reporter Matthew Theunissen was riding the rails and filed this report.

New Zealanders travelling to Fiji are being warned of an increased risk of HIV transmission, with the Fiji government declaring the epidemic a national crisis. The New Zealand government website Safetravel says travellers should avoid acitivities that may increase their risk of infection. With the school holidays approaching, the Ministry of Foreign affairs has encouraged all New Zealanders headin...

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about a largely forgotten story about a yacht grounding which happened almost five decades ago at the bottom of the South Island and how it connects two women that live 15,000km apart.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the future of assisted dying legislation in England and Wales hanging in the balance, with MPs preparing for a crucial vote, as well as two people being arrested in London on suspicion of helping Iran's intelligence service.

An Otago university researcher has landed what could be a significant scientific catch using a 2km line and a blob of marmite. What's believe to be a new species of fish was lured from the depths of Lake Manapouri and Lake Te Anau last month. The fish is being DNA tested, and if confirmed as a new species it could reveal the secrets of a whole new eco-system. University of Otago Zoology researcher...

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Warriors kick of their NRL finals series at a sold-out Mt Smart stadium tomorrow. While the home side have the upper hand in finals experience the visiting Dolphins are shaping up to be one of the Warriors' most formidable rivals. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The road cones are gone, the sculptures unveiled and 23 new trains are set to start carrying commuters on Auckland's very own City Rail Link. Although trains won't run until Sunday, the CRL was officially opened by the Prime Minister and Auckland Mayor at a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning. But as dignitaries congratulate one another on the completion of New Zealand's biggest-ever infrastructu...

Government agencies that haven't beefed up email security could be leaving the door open to hackers, according to an international cyber security company. It follows revelations data may have been stolen form Dunedin-based company ZenTech and published online. International Cyber Security company, Proofpoint claims 50 percent of NZ Government agencies are exposed when it comes to email security. S...

Warriors fans are furious that some tickets snapped up for tomorrow's sell-out playoff against the Dolphins at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium are now selling online at inflated prices. On Trade Me and other marketplaces some sellers are asking hundreds of dollars more than what they paid for the tickets. Rachel Moore reports.

One of Labour's most senior MPs has tied himself up in knots trying to explain the party's Capital Gains Tax policy. Willie Jackson seemed unaware whether the proposed CGT will affect small businesses, if they own the property they operate out of. Now, National's piling on the pressure. Political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Lisa Owen.

A 50-year-old Christchurch zoo is in financial crisis. There's a $4 million hole in its budget for this year and cash reserves will dry up by March. That is the sober assessment offered by Orana Wildlife Park's own board and leaders. Timothy Brown has more.

After a three-year hiatus Richie Mo'unga will be back in black in the last Test against the Springboks in Baltimore. Mo'unga is one of five players who will get their first start of the series on Sunday. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Auckland City Rail Link is about to open after a decade of construction and a spend of almost $5.5 billion. Auckland Transport's Stacey van der Putten spoke to Lisa Owen about what everyone needs to know ahead of the opening.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about major developments involving the Iran-backed Houthi militant group in Yemen, as well Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahi taking legal action against a newspaper that reported he was warned about a Hamas operation ahead of October 7th.

Is sport the answer to cutting youth crime and re-offending by tamariki? This week the government announced it is giving almost $2.5 million to six community sport and outdoor programmes. It is all part of the government's wider goal to reduce serious and persistent youth offending by 15 percent by 2030. Whenua Iti Outdoors in Tasman is getting $450,000 of funding over two years. CEO Mark Bruce-Mi...

The latest news from Australia with correspondent Nick Grimm.