Checkpoint

A bit of leftover lawn on a Whangarei street has grown into a living pantry for people in need. The berm has been transformed with an array of raised vege garden beds, that have since got the council's approval. Ian Page who set up the community garden spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about inflation in the US ballooning past predictions, as well as questions being raised about the performance and background of the White House's new press secretary.

The number of dog attacks has fallen in Auckland for the first time in six years. Incidents of roaming dogs are also down, according to Auckland Council's Annual Animal Management Report. But, still more than 240 children were attacked by dogs in the past year. Auckland Council says recent fatal attacks in other parts of the country highlight the urgent need to strengthen the Dog Control Act. Auck...

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the head of the intelligence service giving his annual address in London, as well as new research about the state of the UK's bird population.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns are turning to home for inspiration ahead of their Rugby League World Cup campaigns. Both sides play their opening matches of the tournament this week, one against tournament favourites, the other against World Cup newcomers. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Hundreds of collectables once owned by The Chills front man and rocker Martin Phillipps are up for auction, with proceeds to go to charity and causes close to his heart. The eclectic collection includes James Bond books, a keyboard, drawings by Phillipps, plus a stripey guitar he played in a Chills video. Friend of Phillipps and curator of the Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery, Bruce Mahalski spok...

It could have transformed Kerikeri for the better, hundreds of urgently needed homes next to to the town centre, an expanded CBD, and public access to a scenic stretch of river. But that's not how it's working out so far. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf reports.

Is diversity a good or bad thing for New Zealand? It was a question posed at TVNZ's multiparty debate last night, and four of the five leaders agreed it was good. NZ First leader Winston Peters did not. New Zealand First's policy is to hold a referendum on a legislated annual cap on the number of residents visas. Massey Emeritus professor and social scientist Paul Spoonley spoke to Lisa Owen.

A year long battle for information has revealed NZ Food Safety knew there were high levels of toxic pesticides on food samples, despite saying there was no risk to the public. Internal documents released to Greenpeace under the Official Information Act said New Zealand Food Safety couldn't exclude health risks from the pesticide breach. Reporter Keiller MacDuff has been investigating and joins Lis...

Most people have had the irritating experience of talking to a chatbot, but could you guess every time whether you are chatting with AI or an actual human? Canterbury University researchers have been investigating using the Turing test. It has been claimed that generative AI has already passed the Turing test, but NZ researchers have different takes. Professor of Philosophy at Canterbury Universit...

While many of us assume we'll outlive our pets, what happens when they outlive us? A Public Trust survey finds that pets are increasingly being put in wills. Sammy Carter reports.

Three All Whites club sides have been caught up in ugly scenes in football's English Championship today. The match between Swansea City and Milwall was paused while officials dealt with racist chanting. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Green Party is backing a bed levy, and says it will give councils the tool they need to charge visitors spending the night so regions can fund infrastructure. The party is also promising to set-up a national Airbnb register to help council's identify and charge short term rentals too. Green Party co-leader, Chloe Swarbrick spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about revelations that Saudi Arabia's public warning system was essentially switched off prior to a series of fatal airport attacks launched by Yemen's Houthis, as well as a Saudi national who has been charged with planting a recording device in an office at the headquarters of ChatGPT owner OpenAI.

Proposed changes to animal welfare rules could mean the end of some rodeo events. The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is considering new roping rules and more stringent requirements for training animals and competitors. Vet and Chair of the Committee, Matthew Stone spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about a Qantas flight that was grounded after a bed bug outbreak, as well as 16 year olds being able to purchase pepper spray in the Northern Territory.

Latest business news including a market report.

The Black Ferns kick off a three test series against France in Hamilton this weekend. Leading into this WXV home series, Black Ferns coach Whitney Hansen has proven she's not afraid of some feedback from inside or outside the camp. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A South Canterbury dentist, who sometimes pulls out a hundred teeth a day says more needs to be done to keep young mouths healthy. Timaru Dentist Fraser Dunbar works in private practice and also at the local hospital. He says there used to be several schjool dental therapists in the district but that's no longer the case. Timaru Dentist Fraser Dunbar spoke to Lisa Owen.

A special radar is aiding the search for unmarked graves of patients who died in care in mental asylums near Dunedin. The region has a long - and often dark - history of large-scale institutional care including Seacliff Lunatic Asylum and Cherry Farm as well as welfare homes and church-run facilities. Earlier this year, the Dunedin City Council received government funding to help find and honour t...

Coastguard has grounded its two volunteer air patrol and search teams in the Upper North Island raising concerns about boaties safety at Aotearoa heads into peak season the water. The volunteer pilots in Auckland and Northland have been benched due to a change in safety standards. President of Coastguards Auckland Air Patrol, Andrew Lamb spoke to Lisa Owen. 

People have 12 days left to enrol to vote, with enrolments closing at midnight on October 25th. Unlike previous elections, you can not sign up and vote on election day. There's also been boundary changes that could mean you have shifted electorates even if you have not shifted house. Chair of the Electoral Commission, Simon Moore spoke to Lisa Owen.

A New Zealand medical tourist whose weight loss operation went wrong in Turkey says her bid to get her money back has hit a wall. Helen Watson had gastric sleeve surgery at the Medicana hospital in Istanbul last year, and was immediately stricken with pain and problems. Watson's pleas for a refund from Medicana have so far fallen on deaf ears and she has few options to claw her money back. Jimmy E...

He was Australian cycling's golden boy on the track - then he jumped ship to Great Britain, triggering a major fallout within the sport. Now sprinter Matthew Richardson has been sent home from the World Championships in Shanghai amid serious misconduct. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.