Checkpoint

It was another day filled with drama, records, glory, and shattered dreams in Glasgow. The opening six days of the Commonwealth Games have produced a plethora of moments, not all of them for sporting excellence. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Nashville may be home to country music's 'achy breaky heart' but New Zealand's country music capital is home to Meila Scully. The young singer's song writing about people who've experienced loss is earning awards. More recently the 13 year old won the junior category at the Southern Country music awards. Meila Scully spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about fresh strikes kicking off between the US and Iran again, as well as a school in New York that has backtracked on a plan to introduce an AI-powered humanoid robot teacher.

A science teacher at St Patrick's College in Wellington says he is moving to make sure all assessments are done in the classroom under supervision, to combat AI. The strategy comes as the Education Review Office today released a report saying AI is becoming part of everyday life and schools want more formal guidance from the Education Ministry. 

Europe correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about wildfires continuing to rage across parts of Europe as another heatwave looms, as well as new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham giving Labour a big bump in the polls.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Warriors are looking to steady their strong season following another slip up at the weekend. After seemingly getting things back on track, the Warriors were battered by the Bulldogs, the loss dropping them out of second place on the NRL ladder. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Councils are being encouraged to record more consistent dog control data to help tackle the problem with roaming and uncontrolled dogs. Guidelines around how to use the current powers in law have also been released today. Local Government Minister Simon Watts spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

About 30 people gathered this morning to mark the life of a stillborn baby boy, who was found on the side of a rural Marlborough road in May. Police are yet to identify the child or its family. The funeral service was held at the children's memorial area at Fairhall Cemetery, near Blenheim. Samantha Gee was there.

There has been mixed reaction to the government's response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 response, with NZ First calling it "pathetic" and Labour calling it a distraction. But the government has accepted "in some form" all of the 63 recommendations, promising key advice will be made public within five working days in future pandemics. Political reporter Lillian Hanly has mor...

The Human Rights Commission has urged the Government to abandon its review of laws that refer to Te Tiriti Treaty clauses. In a submission released today, the Commission said the reforms were 'constitutionally regressive' and warned of the impact on creating uncertainty, discrimination and increasing conflict. Human Rights Commission Indigenous Governance Partner Dayle Takitimu spoke to Melissa Ch...

Michael Meaclem and his wife Wendy are hanging up their aprons after running Christchurch's Michael's Bakery for 40 years. Now a new owner takes over, Nakesha McDouall who began working there five years ago as an apprentice. Anna Sargent reports.

Transparency and stronger legislation are among the two key priorities in the Government's response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19. Released today, it says all 63 recommendations have been accepted in some form, but some only partially. Health Minister Simeon Brown spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Upper Hutt's mayor is urging other Wellington councils not to force the city into amalgamating against its will. There's little over a week to go before all councils must come up with a plan on simplifying local government. But in the capital, there's still stark disagreement about the details. Wellington issues reporter Ellen O'Dwyer has more.

New Zealand has had a history-making golden day at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Another gold medal for Lewis Clareburt in the pool and the first for sprinter Zoe Hobbs on the track brings the overall medal tally to 13 at the end of day five. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

An idea that sprang from the tulip fields of the Netherlands is about to expand nationwide here in New Zealand. It's being led by 24 year old Yasmin Wessels. In the last three years she has saved a million plastic flower sleeves from landfill. Her initiative is called The Flower Loop - they collect plastic sleeves from florists that would otherwise be destined for the bin and transform them back i...

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about eased tensions between the US and Iran being tested once again. The US military has levelled fresh accusations against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard - blaming it for a "surprise attack" against American forces in the region. It follows a days-long pause in strikes between the two nations.

David Tamihere has appeared in court today on the same murder charges he first faced 37 years ago. He was found guilty in 1990 for the murder of Swedish tourists Urban Hoglin and Heidi Paakkonen in the Coromandel bush. But those convictions were quashed in March and prosecutors are still deciding whether to go again. Rowan Quinn was at the High Court in Auckland.

Desperate rescue efforts are underway in Japan following a deadly earthquake. The 6.8 magnitude quake rocked the city of Kumamoto in Japan's south yesterday. Dozens are missing following an explosion at a shopping mall - the origin of which is still under investigation. Correspondent in Tokyo, Chris Gilbert spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about an investigation revealing the ingredients of many supermarket items aren't what they are supposed to be.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Your face could soon be your ticket to get through the turnstiles for a sports game. Facial recognition technology is being rolled out across the Tasman as an alternative to digital or physical tickets for selected live events. The new ticketing method has been met with mixed reactions from footy fans and academics. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The Hoiho yellow-eyed penguin is set to face protection from fishers around the Otago Peninsula. From September 16th, emergency set-net restrictions to protect the birds around the Otago peninsula will become permanent. But is it enough to help the penguins, with number at critical levels and falling fast. General Manager of the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust, Norcombe Barker spoke to Melissa Chan-Gree...

A man accused of threatening to attack two Auckland schools allegedly said that he wanted to kill more people than the Christchurch mosque terrorist. Tiedan Huo is on trial in the Manukau District Court facing a raft of charges relating to a manifesto threatening to kill people at Waiuku and Rutherford colleges. Huo denies all charges. Matthew Theunissen reports.

New Zealand horse racing is "over venued and under capitalised" according to independent consultants employed to come up with a masterplan to save the ailing industry. They recommend that major tracks like Trentham and Alexandra Park be closed permanently, along with 21 other courses. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing CEO Matt Ballesty spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.