Checkpoint

The government is introducing legislation to ban under 16s from social media today, and put greater responsibilities on technology companies to protect children online. It will require social media platforms like Instagram, Tiktok, Snapchat and Facebook to take "reasonable steps" to check users are over the age of 16. It will also introduce "significant penalties" for companies that fail to meet t...

Middle East correspondent, Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about the US treasury secretary talking up a plan to cripple the Iranian regime with new sanctions. Just how the US will financially target the Islamic Republic isn't yet clear - with details set to be laid out tomorrow morning. Iranian officials have warned the US against the planned action, threatening to further choke off oil shipments in...

Regional Tourism NZ say they have been blindsided over an apparent political flip flop on a bed levy. The National Party has now ruled out any kind of accommodation levy for visitors. That is despite Christopher Luxon speaking about the possibility of one just a fortnight ago. Any levy was intended to help fund infrastructure in the face of growing tourist numbers. General manager of Destination M...

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the return of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to the UK reigniting debate over their security arrangements.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

We're about a day and a half away from the first test between the All Blacks and Springboks in Johannesburg and All Blacks coach Dave Rennie believes his side can give themselves an early advantage in the four test series by "drawing first blood". Rugby reporter Joe Porter joins us from Johannesburg.

An east coast conservationist has turned surrogate dad to two baby emus that escaped a feral cat attack on their nest. Ruatoria man Graeme Atkins rescued the survivors after earlier stumbling across the nest and scaring away the real bird dad.

Provincial rugby's crown jewel has returned after nearly 50 years. Te Tai Tokerau's Taniwha team blew away Canterbury last night at Te Kaha stadium to be the latest Ranfurly Shield holders. Teuila Fuatai was at Whangarei airport for the team's arrival.

Tauranga councillors had a detailed report showing there was a high risk people could die if their local campground got hit by a landslide but no one read the report. The council says that despite the report being in an August 2025 council agenda, it was not read and the meeting never happened. Five months after the meeting was cancelled six people were killed in a landslide. Waikato/Bay of Plenty...

Auckland's had its worst week for flu related hospitalisations in a decade; 177 people admitted across four of the city's hospitals. Health New Zealand says 188 elective surgery were cancelled to free up resources, following a surge in respiratory cases. University of Otago Professor of Public Health Dr Michael Baker, believes more could have been done sooner - including stronger advice about mask...

Twin brothers Tom and Reuben Allen will go head-to-head when the Hawke's Bay Magpies take on the Manawatu Turbos tonight. It's the first time the 22 year old twins have played against each other. Hawke's Bay Tairawhiti reporter Alexa Cook caught up with them ahead of their big game.

A New Zealand company making fully electric hydrofoil passenger boats is looking to expand into the US market, after raising $30 million from investors. Vessev's first customer in America is Fly Tahoe, a sustainable water transport operator. Company co-founder and CEO, Eric Laakmann spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about the US treasury secretary vowing to impose "the toughest economic sanctions in history" on Iran, while Iran accuses the US of "economic terrorism".

Auckland FC are on their way to Saudi Arabia for the Intercontinental Cup with reassurances from FIFA that it is safe to do so. Next week's clash in Jeddah against Asian champions Al-Alhi will boost the coffers to the tune of close to $2 million even if the Aucklanders lose. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen. 

A Tauranga woman is describing a $100 ticket for double parking during a passenger drop off as 'the most expensive three seconds' of her life. The drop off was was in Durham Street in July. Leticia Emery was behind the wheel and believes the ticket is an example of over the top revenue gathering by the council. Leticia Emery spoke to Lisa Owen. 

Healthline has called in reinforcements to cope with a deluge of calls following a surge in flu like illnesses. The boss of Health New Zealand says the entire system is under pressure from the biggest flu outbreak in years. Flu related hospitalisations are at a 10 year high in Auckland. Wakarongorau Aotearoa operates Healthline, Chief Operating Officer Brian O'connell spoke to Lisa Owen.

Stressed out, fed up, and worried about bills. Those are the messages some Wellington residents want to tell new water entity Tiaki Wait about what they see as soaring bills. Hundreds gathered in the capital today as part of a Stop Tiaki Wai protest. Wellington issues reporter Ellen O'Dwyer has more.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a tragic conclusion to the search for a teenager missing in bushland outside of Sydney.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The All Blacks are set to announce who will take the field against the Springboks in the first of four tests this weekend. With some players already ruled out with injury most of the side should be fairly predictable to pick. However, a couple of positions are proving harder to nail down. Rugby reporter Joe Porter spoke to Lisa Owen

There has been a sharp rise in the number of retail businesses shutting up shop. The latest quarterly market report from BWA Insolvency shows retail businesses going into liquidation, receivership or voluntary administration is up almost 75 percent in the last quarter. That is despite the overall insolvency rate for all business types being relatively flat. BWA Insolvency principal Bryan Williams...

Nursing graduates who have applied for hundreds of jobs and haven't found work say it is devastating to hear there is a shortage of nurses. The nurses union says our health system is falling into a deeper crisis with emergency departments and wards bursting at the seams. It follows revelations that Health New Zealand has hired just 54 additional full time equivalent nurses in the past two years. T...

A review in to the Mount Maunganui landslide concluded no one person was to blame for the tragedy, but a litany of systemic failings led to preventable deaths. The report also made a series of recommendations, including that every natural hazard identified as a risk to life should have a single named person within the council is accountable for its management. Structural and geotechnical engineer...

A former mayor of Tauranga says warnings about the landslide risk on Mount Maunganui never reached him in his 12 years as mayor. Stuart Crosby says a review that found the council failed to act before a landslide killed six campers should be a wake-up call for councils up and down the country. Felix Walton has more.

Auckland has had it's worst week for flu hospitalisations in a decade, while New Zealand is also close to the highest influenza rates in four years. Charlotte Cook spoke to Lisa Owen about the latest data.