Checkpoint

Auckland kindergartens have been emptier than usual this week, with some reporting more than half of their children off sick. Flu-related hospitalisations are at a 10 year high in Auckland, and national infection rates are at a four year high. The late season influenza spike has sparked concern for some of the most vulnerable, with reports of under-fives in intensive care, and outbreaks across 20...

A torrent of mud and water has swamped villages on the border of Nepal and Tibet. The devastating floods swallowed towns, roads and bridges in the Rasuwa district of Nepal. It initially registered as a 4.4 magnitude earthquake. More than 160 are dead and hundreds missing, including five New Zealanders. Secretary General of the Nepal Red Cross, Rishi Khanal spoke to Lisa Owen.

An emerging trend of people getting high on so-called space vapes has police worried. High Alert, New Zealand's early warning system for dangerous drugs, has also issued a warning over the vapes laced with illicit substances. There's concern people could be unwittingly consuming them, as they're indistinguishable from legal products, apart from containing an anaesthetic drug. Finn Blackwell report...

No new taxes is the latest catch-cry from National MPs, but Labour has tried to turn it around on them today with its own promise - no new increases in fuel tax. Labour's leader Chris Hipkins made the commitment this afternoon, which the government has labelled irresponsible. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

At least five New Zealanders are among the hundreds of people still unaccounted for after flooding and landslides in Nepal. The deadly flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border has caused widespread damage and Nepalese officials say they anticipate huge scale loss of life. Scientists are now trying to piece together the order of events behind the devastation. Felix Walton reports.

Ryan Fox has a reputation for getting around a golf course at pace. Tomorrow morning he will tee off in the season-ending PGA Tour Championship in Atlanta after just making the qualifying mark. In the lead-up to the tournament, Fox and his caddy were mic'd up by the PGA to get some insight into how one of the fastest players on tour approaches the game. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa...

A Westport food truck has been sent a cease and desist letter by McDonald's over its burger of the week. Mister Chops recently featured a special burger, the 'Chops Big Mac'. That prompted the letter from McDonald's alleging misuse of a trademark and claiming the burger closely resembles its well known staples. Owners of Mister Chops, Rob Carroll and Alex Hogg spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about Facebook owner Meta has reached a multi-billion dollar settlement in the massive social media addiction case, as well as Trump signing off on a plan to import more beef to the United States.

There are calls for health professionals to be more proactive in screening for malnutrition. New Zealand studies have shown high levels of malnutrition in people aged 80 plus, new admissions to residential care and hospital patients. Chair of Malnutrition care Aotearoa and Auckland University nutrition lecturer, Sue MacDonell spoke to Lisa Owen.

A major incident has unfolded in South Auckland, with two people confirmed dead in Wattle Downs. Two schools and an early childhood centre were forced into lockdown earlier. Reporter Erin Johnson spoke to Lisa Owen from the scene.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about British Prime Minister Andy Burnham possibly meeting with US President Donald Trump again next month, as well as London bus drivers walking off the job again in a dispute over working in extreme heat.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

It's long been known that contact sports like boxing, rugby and football can cause brain damage. But new research in the United States now suggest at least 25 percent of American footballers can expect to end up with a degenerative brain disease known as CTE - and the real figure may be even higher. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Northland teenager with a passion for volleyball is smashing it with her pick of scholarships from several US universities. Kerikeri year 13 student, Kaia Derbyshire has chosen Butte College in California and will head there next year to study and compete at indoor and beach volleyball. Kaia has had to travel hours to training in Auckland and Tauranga with the aim of going international. Kaia De...

The scheme that is meant to be driving down New Zealand's climate pollution is instead letting emitters kick the can down the road by planting pine forests. Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton says the emissions trading scheme needs major reform to do its job properly. He has tabled a report in Parliament suggesting forestry should be phased out of the scheme altogether, or...

Most under five year olds will be eligible for free flu vaccinations from next year, but that's not soon enough according to one doctor. Pharmac has announced that children from six months up to five years old will be able to get funded influenza vaccinations from April 2027. Clinical director of the National Hauora Coalition, Dr Nina Bevin spoke to Lisa Owen.

A top ministry boss has offered his resignation after being found to have deliberately misled MPs about a bungled immigration IT project. That offer has been turned down - although Parliament's privileges committee today found him - and another former public servant - in contempt of Parliament. Political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

Singer, songwriter, actor, activist and philanthropist. Many are mourning the death of the woman dubbed the Queen of Country, Dolly Parton. She was 80 years old and reportedly died after becoming ill with cancer. Christchurch based music publicist, Steve Guest worked with friend and legend Dolly for more than two decades. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

A man who strangled his partner to death at her home in Auckland during an argument last year had choked her twice before, once causing her to lose consciousness. Hao Feng pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the 40 year old Xiaoyan Wang in may, after the Crown withdrew a murder charge. Today he was sentenced to four years and two months in prison. Amy Williams reports. 

Netball New Zealand is closing in on a decision over the future of its elite domestic competition. RNZ understands a series of key meetings are being held this week as pressure mounts on the national body to make a call on what shape the ANZ Premiership will take next year. Netball NZ has been unable to commit to running a professional league next season as it faces losses of up to $6 million for...

After nearly 80 years of keeping the good people of Dunedin looking dapper, Brocklebanks Dry Cleaners is closing its doors this Friday. Three generations of the family have run the shop, first John Brocklebank in 1941, then his son Cyril, who passed the business to sons John and Roger. Owner Roger Brocklebank spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about the dust settling on the United States' announcement of "economic D-day" sanctions, as well as a vocational training centre operated by the UN for Palestinian refugees that has been raided by Israeli authorities.

A group of Gloriavale leavers are seeking tens of millions of dollars in lost wages, compensation and damages from a leader at the secretive Christian community. 61 former sect residents have filed an Employment Relations Authority claim, alleging the work they did amount to what they call modern day slavery. Lawyer Brian Henry spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about fears that the deadly H-5 bird flu could be set to devastate Australia's seal and sea lion populations.

A Coroner has heard that a pool where a toddler drowned in 2023 has failed multiple inspections. River Albert-Wihone had only recently turned one when he was found unresponsive in the backyard pool at his family home in Auckland. A Coroner's inquest is examing whether concerns about the pool's gate and fence were adequately dealt with. Finn Blackwell has more.