Checkpoint

One of the greatest ever in football is hanging up his boots. Argentina's Lionel Messi is retiring from international football after 207 appearances for his country. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A Christchurch cafe is offering up a single cup of coffee for $100. Rook Cafe is brewing up the specific cup from some of the most expensive beans in Panama. The cafe's co-owner, Kyle Cabangun managed to get his hands on a rare variety, and spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

United States correspondent, Todd Zwillich spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about a guilty verdict in the Tupac Murder trial bringing the near 30 year cold case to a close, as well as dozens of people who are still unaccounted for after deadly flash flooding.

A privatised competition for elite domestic netball is back on the cards for 2027, but Netball New Zealand has told Checkpoint the agreement commits to a "number of years" to gauge success. The body announced today it has signed a non-binding term sheet with Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams, the sporting and business couple who are also co-owners of Auckland FC. Netball New Zealand Chief Executive Je...

United Kingdom correspondent, Lucy Thomson spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about the US reportedly considering threatening Britain's sovereignty claim over the Falkland Islands, in a bid to push the UK to spend more on defence.

Crown prosecutors have claimed a minor traffic accident led to the double murder of an Auckland couple in their home in 2023. Lok Fung Lorrence Li is charged with the murder of Fuk-Fu Joseph Kwok and his wife Mei Han Chong at their Ellerslie home. He's also charged with conspiring to murder another person, who's identity is suppressed. Finn Blackwell, who was in court today and heard the opening s...

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The All Blacks weren't the only New Zealanders dealt a loss in South Africa at the weekend. A large number of fans were turned away from the stadium in Cape Town after being caught up in a ticket scam. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A snapshot of how businesses are using AI shows uptake at 91 percent but a list of concerns is holding them back from using it to transform operations. The Datacom research heard from 207 business leaders in organisations of more than 100 employees. Nearly two thirds though New Zealand should introduce specific AI legislations and controls. Director of AI at Datacom, Lou Compagnone spoke to Meliss...

Parents worry changes to the jobseeker benefit could bite them if their teenagers can't find work after high school. From November, the government will end jobseeker payments for 18 and 19 year olds whose parents make more than $67,000 a year. Felix Walton has more.

The government has delayed next year's planned fuel excise hike - instead staggering the tax increase over later years - and dipping into a rainy day fund to help pay for it. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

It's a trip over 50 years in the making. Two New Zealand frigates were sent to the Pacific to observe and protest French nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll in 1973, exposing 500 sailors to radiation. On the way back one of those vessels, the HMNZS Canterbury, was invited to Rarotongo, but the ship's captain decided to head home instead. Now, 19 veterans from the tests are finally heading to the Cook...

National is just "kicking a can down the road" with its promised changes to student loan debt, according to a tax lawyer. David Ananth says reducing the compulsory repayment rate from 12 cents to 10 cents on every dollars earned above $24,000 isn't enough of a reward to stop newly qualified students leaving the country without paying their debt off. Tax lawyer, David Ananth spoke to Melissa Chan-G...

A small community in rural Hawke's Bay is working hard to restore a big area of precious native bush that is home to one of New Zealand's largest Totara trees, and a colony of long tail bats. A'Deanes Bush is the best remaining example of the original forest of the Ruataniwha Plains. 18 year ago locals teamed up with DOC to create a wildlife sanctuary where native plants and animals can flourish....

Netball New Zealand has latched onto the lifeline offered by Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams to keep the elite domestic competition afloat in 2027. RNZ understands the national body has selected the Mowbray-Williams bid to establish a private franchise league as its preferred option to replace the ANZ Premiership, following months of uncertainty over the future of the competition. Sports editor Dana...

When ski-mad Mike Wilwert takes to the slopes this week, every metre he skis will benefit families who need to be close to medical care at Christchurch Hospital. A few years ago Mike was diagnosed with blood cancer and spent almost a year at Ranui House, which provides free and subsidised accomodation for families travelling to Christchurch for medical treatment. Now he's giving back in the best w...

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about tensions flaring in the Middle East following a new round of strikes between the US and Iran. After no reports of American attacks in the region for a month, an island in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by ballistic missiles. in response, Iran has reportedly targeted American bases in Jordan.

Just over half of New Zealanders are open to the idea of leaving a gift to charity in their will - but while new research shows 52 percent are interested, the number who follow through is only six percent. It is more to do with not knowing how to do it, than reluctance, according to Giving in Aotearoa NZ research. Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ comissioned the research, and Chief executive,...

Snow flurries are hitting central Dunedin today, as winter brings one last polar blast to the southern city. The icy change has sent shivers down spines in the lower South Island the MetService is warning that temperatures are expected to drop even further tonight. Reporter Tess Brunton spoke to Melissa Chan-Green from Dunedin.

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about Morgan MacAllister-Robb - a truck driver turned pet chauffeur who reunited a cat found in Christchurch with its owner in Blenheim 2.5 years after it went missing.

United Kingdom correspondent, Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Russia warning it could retaliate against Britain over the UK's military support for Ukraine, as well as grave concerns for the dozens of British travellers still missing in Nepal.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The All Blacks face a tough task in their hopes to go two for two against South Africa this weekend. Despite snatching a victory in the series' first match in Johannesburg - Coach Dave Rennie he's prepared for the Springboks to bounce back. Rugby reporter Joe Porter spoke to Lisa Owen. 

A bio waste project is converting wine waste to a nutrient rich drink for the soil. The Marlborough Circular Wine Programme is getting nearly $3 million of government funding and just over $4 million from the industry. They take the sediment left over from wine making and add a few other things to convert it to something organic that can be safely returned to the soil. Programme leader, Dr Seth La...

The new Dunedin Hospital marked a major milestone when its long-awaited outpatient building officially opened today. The project has faced years of setbacks, cost overruns, and protests, but today there was plenty of applause. Tess Brunton reports.