Checkpoint

A wildlife hospital has set up an off-site triage centre to assess wild birds for signs of the deadly H5 flu. There have been no new cases in the three weeks since the second case of the flu was confirmed in a New Zealand bird. So, the hospital, as well as New Zealand's poultry industry, are playing a waiting game while they ponder its next moves. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

After the Prime Minister has spent the week combatting record unemployment figures and navigating an apology to the business community - it is Labour leader Chris Hipkins who ends it defending his parties position in the polls. Political Editor Jo Moir spoke to Melissa Chan-Green with an analysis of the latest poll numbers. 

El Nino and it's spiky temperatures, annoying wind and drier than normal conditions is going to dominate our summer, but won't mean consistently hot temperatures. Those who will bear the brunt of the temperamental season are those in water-reliant sectors. Ministry for Primary Industries National Response Manager Andrew Curtis spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Sunday marks the deadline for District councils to submit their proposals to amalgamate with at least one other nearby authority. Council's across the country have been meeting to finalise their proposals or face the process being dictated to them by central government. Bill Hickman has more.

The Black Sticks women have been missing from hockey's big events for the last four years - but this month they're back. The men's and women's World Cups are being run co-currently in Europe, starting in a couple of weeks time. For the New Zealand teams their journey to the global tournament looks different to their opposition. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A retirement village custom built just for you and your friends is surely not possible, or is it? Three friends from Hamilton have decided to do just that. They all needed to downsize but didn't love the idea of traditional retirement living, so combined two houses into one. The house is designed to they can be near each other and still have their own spacer. Sue O'Brien is one of the trio living...

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about attacks between government forces and the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, with dozens reportedly killed. Meanwhile, there are various discussions around deals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Pacific foreign leaders have failed to agree on a joint statement about the nuclear-capable missile China fired into the region's waters last month. Winston Peters has been pushing his counterparts to take a stand during today's Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers meeting in Fiji. Political reporter Lauren Crimp was in Suva and has more.

The Advertising Standards Authority has investigated a complaint about the font size and layout of mandatory information on a billboard for weight loss injection Wegovy. The authority found it was "not sufficiently accessible enough to be read and understood by consumers. New Zealand the US are the only developed countries that allow drug companies to advertise direct to consumers. Associate profe...

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about a horrific medical mishap which led to doctors removing part of a woman's genitals by mistake in an operation gone wrong.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Now that Joseph Parker's name has been cleared, he is setting his sights on a return to action. As for who Parker wants to fight? "Everyone can get it" the former heavyweight champion declared today. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The first New Zealander to go to space is now launching what is hoped will be a hub for Aerospace in Canterbury. New Zealand's space sector already supports a total of 17,000 full-time equivalent jobs according to a 2025 report. Entrepreneur, Mark Rocket would like to see that grow and he has a track record in the industry having been involved in the early days of RocketLab and Virgin Galactic. No...

After budget blowouts and years of delays - ironically when it came time to announce the date Auckland's first underground rail will open, the Council and Government got ahead of themselves. Hours before Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland's Mayor Wayne Brown were to announce the opening date, the billboards had beaten them to it - in a mistake by the advertising supplier. Lucy Xia was at...

The government's new plan to introduce industry led subjects for senior students has the potential to stem the flow of early exits from school, a principal says. The number of students leaving school before the legal age of 16 has been trending upwards for the last decade. Those who leave have to get an early leaving exemption once they are 15. The government today announced it would introduce nin...

The mother of a Kiwi climber trapped in ravine in Solomon Islands for more than a week says her son and his friend are doing well, after a pretty harrowing experience. Deni Holl's 25 year old son Keanu Isaksson and his 19 year old mate Luca Zylstra-Law were climbing the Solomons' highest peak when they got stuck for eight days before being rescued on Tuesday. RNZ Pacific's Kaya Selby reports.

Christopher Luxon has caught his caucus off-guard with an off-the-cuff campaign promise today, telling talkback radio that he'll hold an referendum on MMP if re-elected. The Prime Minister made the captain's call on NewstalkZB this morning, after being asked whether he would test public's appetite on the country's electoral system next term. Deputy political editor, Craig McCulloch spoke to Meliss...

Police say last year saw a 50 percent increase in burglaries involving copper and recyclable metals, with over a million dollars worth of metal going missing over a six month period. Now they're working alongside the scrap metal industry in a new scheme designed to disrupt the surge of thefts. Bill Hickman reports.

Some of the biggest names in women's football will be playing in Auckland on Saturday in a rare exhibition match. English side Chelsea have just arrived for the clash against an Auckland FC Invitational team, and they've brought some stars to this side of the world. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A group of nine to 11 year olds have successfully prompted change from the Council over road safety concerns. The year five and six students at Lyall Bay School went to Wellington City Council to bravely deliver their submission on a trial that will make the road outside their school a low traffic zone. The change, which the committee voted to make a permanent fixture, is hoped to make the school...

United States correspondent Zach Montellaro spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about a major election that has wrapped up in Michigan, with the result potentially sending major shockwaves through the Democratic party.

Nine new secondary school subjects have been announced by the Government. Subjects like Next-Gen Manufacturing and Applied Intelligent Systems will be developed by industry bodies and taught to senior students from 2029. Business leaders are excited but teachers have questions. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

Christopher Luxon has promised to hold a MMP referendum if re-elected, saying he wants to know if it's a system New Zealanders want. Back in 2011 former MP Peter Dunne urged people to consider the importance of their vote when New Zealanders last had the chance to have their say in a referendum. But the Prime Minister says he wants to avoid coalitions with parties who don't have the same values in...

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about Prime Minister Andy Burnham announcing a raft of changes to the prison system, as well as police in Scotland investigating after several athletes failed to return home following the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

News from the business sector, including a market report.