Checkpoint

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%...

Lionel Messi has just made his final appearance for Argentina. Messi's departure from the international game comes three months after Argentina fell short in the World Cup final. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

The hunt is on for a vaccine to save hoiho, or yellow eyed penguin, with numbers tanking over past years. There are now fewer than 115 hoiho breeding pairs on mainland New Zealand and Rakiura/Stewart island. Evolutionary virologist, Professor Jemma Geoghan spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East and North Africa correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about an entire independent newsroom in Egypt facing terrorism charges. The six journalists - who work for the fact-checking platform Matsadaash - were arrested last week. They've reportedly been accused of spreading fake news, among several other terror-related claims. Press freedom and human rights groups have condemned...

As we head into summer concert season, the leaders of the two main parties are not completely in tune when it comes to the arts. Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins agree the government has a role in funding the sector, but Luxon doesn't believe that overseas artists should be required to have a local opening act. Head of the NZ arm of APRA, Anthony Healey spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a training exercise gone wrong which resulted in the death of a soldier.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

A tennis player has made a costly error at an ATP event in China. Russian Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the China Open after hitting a ball into the crowd and striking a spectator. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

An Australian horse trainer and entertainer is expected to wow audiences at an upcoming festival in Hamilton. Joe Gardiner specialises in trick riding, the type of thing seen in an old fashioned western or gladiator style movie. His tricks will be on display at Equifest, kicking off next week. Joe Gardiner spoke to Lisa Owen.

National's Christopher Luxon and Labour's Chris Hipkins have only a few more hours to cram before they go to head-to-head in their first televised debate of the campaign. The showdown is set to begin at 7 o'clock on TVNZ and will be simulcast here on RNZ National.

National has resuscitated health promises it failed to deliver on this term. It has also made a new commitment, to give more than $600 million of additional funding for Pharmac's medicines budget, which will be funded by cutting foreign aid outside the Pacific. Tim Edmonds, spokesperson for The Forbidden Pharmacy spoke to Lisa Owen.

Experts say online misogyny - veiled under the cloak of the manosphere - is creeping into social media feeds in ways that are difficult to spot. The help educate young people and their parents, a university student has repurposed the alphabet, making each letter represent a term from the darker edges of the internet. Sammy Carter reports.

A specialist vape store has been fined tens of thousands of dollars following a first of its kind prosecution by health authorities. Discount Mall Vape Ltd, illegally sold vapes to under 18s and failed to prevent underaged persons entering its premises. The joint action taken by Health NZ and the Ministry of Health, marks the first time a business has been found guilty of both offences. Vape Free...

A North Canterbury eating disorder residential facility says it still can't attract government funding despite saving the lives of those admitted there. Recovered living cares for just nine people at a time and patients can stay for months, but it costs more than $8000 a week. The facility has raised concerns the care is too expensive for some, with people facing long wait times and under resourci...

The All Blacks are looking to flush their three defeats to the Springboks as they prepare to host Australia in Auckland. Despite a slew of injuries, the All Blacks are confident about locking away the Bledisloe Cup for a 24th consecutive year. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

For the past 94 days Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has been wearing a t-shirt promoting a different start up. Capiche is one of the companies featured. It's an AI tool helping people with dyslexia write. Founder Paul Mallinson spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the US president saying he'll fund his own TV advertisements from now on, following backlash over recent taxpayer funded ads promoted him, meanwhile Trump has also said the US removed its bombers from a British airbase because of "some threats".

National has again made the promise, if re-elected, to lower the free bowel screening age to 50 by 2029. Christopher Luxon committed to lowering the age to 50 in the last election campaign in 2023. Despite that the government only just lowered the screening age to 56 last month. A Nelson dad with terminal bowel cancer says the promise falls short for the most vulnerable people. Bowel cancer patien...

United Kingdom correspondent, Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the American military withdrawing its bombers a week after an alleged terror plot was thwarted at the joint UK-US RAF Fairford air base, as well as the former Prince Andrew taking Thames Valley police to court.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

South Islanders are waiting longer for bowel cancer diagnostic procedures than people in the North Island. A patient advocate says the stark regional divide is causing anxiety, and health authorities should act with urgency the close the gap. Health NZ says plans are in place to do just that. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd spoke to Lisa Owen.

Scott Barrett is back in the All Blacks, albeit no longer as skipper. Barret has been recalled to the team after 10 months on the sideline ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup test this weekend. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.