Checkpoint

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Warriors have addressed the drama surrounding one of their star playmakers. Wantaway Wah Luke Metcalf has been actively speaking to other NRL clubs, as he looks to leave Auckland. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Reusable period products are under the microscope, or they would be if researchers could get funding to investigate how safe they are. Well known microbiologist Associate Professor, Siouxsie Wiles has been trying for the past 18 months to get funding to study period cups, but with no luck. She spoke to Lisa Owen.

The mother of a Canterbury baby who died from catastrophic head injuries in 2014 insists she did not hurt her son, despite inconsistencies in her account of what happened that morning. Soul Turany was less than four months old when he died in 2014. His mother's former partner has been giving evidence at the inquest, Timothy Brown reports.

Andrew Maaka was last seen at a West Auckland gang headquarters 35 years ago, police believe he's dead and today they revealed they're looking for his killer, again. They made the announcement outside the Head Hunters gang pad in Henderson. More than three decades ago, Andrew Maaka was a prospect for the Head Hunters, the West Chapter. He'd been at party gang pad before he disappeared, no one has...

Air New Zealand's taking a massive financial hit off the back of soaring fuel costs. It's on track for a full year loss of up to $400 million, full year pre-tax loss. The national carrier's forecasting fuel price increases of more than 30 percent for the second half of the year, driven by war in the Middle East. Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravishankar spoke to Lisa Owen.

Families who've lost a child say new funding from the government for paediatric palliative care will mean others won't have to do it alone. This morning, health minister Simeon Brown announced 15-and-a-half million dollars from Budget 2026 for two dedicated specialist teams in the North and South islands. Health correspondent Kate Green reports.

Fourteen months ago the All Whites booked their ticket to the Football World Cup for just the third time in jubilant scenes at Eden Park. Today, in those same changing rooms where they celebrated last March, the names of the 26 men who will represent the fern at the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico were revealed. Lisa Owen spoke to sports reporter Felicity Reid who was...

Don't kill off funding for arts and culture, that's the message a jazz funeral band's delivered to Wellington City Council today, along with a petition asking it to rethink budget cuts. The council's looking at slashing more than $400,000 of funding that goes to arts and events grants and venue subsidies. Arts Wellington is one of the advocacy groups behind the petition, co-chair Kirsten Mason spo...

"It's an honour to be your friend." That from the US president to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at a high stakes meeting in Beijing today. It's part of a two-day summit involving both leaders and marks the first presidential visit to China in almost a decade. Washington DC correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.

Kiwbanks own bosses believe the bank needs to grow if it wants go toe-to-toe with the big-four Australian banks. Minister, Simeon Brown has asked them to look at ways to do that; including a potential public listing. David Cunningham is the former chief executive of the Co-operative Bank and now runs mortgage brokerage company Squirrel. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Grace Thomas spoke to Lisa Owen about how British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has managed to hang on for another day and how Te Ariki-nui Kuini Nga Wai hono i te po, the Maori Queen, has met Prince William at Windsor Castle during her trip to the United Kingdom. She also spoke about how the Eurovision semi-finals have kicked off in Vienna, despite controversy over Isra...

A Reserve Bank survey indicates inflation expectations are on the rise. And small aged-care service providers remain under pressure, while big operators appear to be doing well. Business reporter Nona Pelletier spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Wellington Phoenix Women flew to Melbourne today ahead of their first A-league football grand final. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

Grammy winning pop star Dua Lipa refuses to be put in a box or actually anywhere on the box, when it comes to selling TVs. The singer is suing the electronic giant Samsung for $15 million us-dollars for allegedly using her photo to sell televisions in the US. The pop star's face is plastered across the packaging of Samsung's TVs. Auckland University senior law lecturer Joshua Yuvaraj has been foll...

Storme Turany, the mother of a 16-week-old Canterbury baby that died from catastrophic head injuries in 2014, says she was not involved in the infant's death. Soul Turany's skull was fractured in two places and he was bleeding in one eye and across a large area of his brain. Police believe Soul's fatal injuries must have been caused by either Ms Turany, or her then-partner, Tony Farmer. Reporter T...

A call tonight for a full independent review of a privately owned Southland lab service, after doctors twice missed signs a woman had cancer, delaying her treatment. She died a year later. Awanui labs failed to detect the 74 year old retired nurse had stomach cancer, despite analysing multiple biopsies, with cancer cells present. The lab is privately owned but is contracted by Health New Zealand t...

For the past 20 years Annette Hall has been the voice of a vital maritime radio service, checking in on fishermen, providing forecasts, and coordinating rescues. For those on the water in the Far North, she's seen as something of a guardian angel. At 6pm tonight, however, the long-serving volunteer with an infectious laugh will hang up her handpiece for the last time and the channel will fall sile...

A proposal to run a floating sauna in a popular Te Anau reserve has run out of steam, for now. The plan was for people to sweat it out on a floating pontoon on Lake Henry, with the option to finish with a cold plunge. Floating Sauna Limited had already been granted resource consent for the proposal, today was about considering submissions for and against the idea. Tess Brunton has more.

Christopher Luxon has jumped into the immigration debate, promising a careful approach, putting social cohesion ahead of business profit. It's already prompted scepticism from his coalition partner New Zealand First - which says the India free trade deal suggests otherwise. The Prime Minister made the comments in a speech to business leaders in Auckland this morning, also signalling a tighter-than...

Wellingtonians will be looking up to catch the only Australasia film festival projected on a 360-degree planetarium dome. The Dome Under Film Festival, or DUFF, will be making its New Zealand debut this week at Wellington's Planetarium Space Place. Krystal Gibbens reports.

In a surprise shake-up for Team New Zealand, three-time America's Cup winner Blair Tuke is stepping off the boat. The veteran has not been named in the crew for the first preliminary regatta of the 38th America's Cup cycle in Cagliari next week. Instead, he will move into a strategic shore-based position. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

An eggs-trodinary art collection, linked to Dunedin's famous music scene, has gone on display at the city's Museum of Natural Mystery. The eclectic array of objects belonged to the frontman for the rock band the Chills; Martin Phillips, who died in 2024. Curator for the Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery, Bruce Mahalski spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about how the Iran war is approaching the 11-week mark. She also spoke about how Lebanese and Israeli officials are set to meet in Washington to try bring an end to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and how Turkey's foreign minister has visited Qatar to discuss the Iran war.

Rules around high-powered electric dirt bikes are not fit for purpose, according to AA. The motoring association's writing to the transport minister, asking him to look at the problem. Police have expressed serious concerns about electric bikes that can hit high speeds, but in some cases are being ridden in pedestrian areas. Terry Collins from the AA spoke to Lisa Owen.