Checkpoint

The upsets keep coming at the Football World Cup. Four-time winners Germany have crashed out in a shock penalty shootout loss to Paraguay. Just a couple of hours later it was Netherlands and Morocco keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Michelin awards are set to be given out tonight. The famous restaurant and travel guide has spent nearly a year snooping around Aotearoa, dining undercover, deciding whether any of our culinary destinations are up to their standards. Tourism NZ CEO Rene de Monchy spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about a day of legal victories and setbacks for Donald Trump, with the Supreme Court making rulings on several major cases concering the president.

The government is pushing ahead with move on orders, that could see people jailed for being disorderly, begging, rough sleeping or attempting to inhabit a public place. It comes as the Prime Minister admitted he was not aware there is no night shelter in Auckland for rough sleepers.

It was whisker to whisker right to the end for a highly contested cover spot. That's the competition to grace the front of the SPCA's 2027 calendar. This year a fierce battle emerged to displace a cat named Deli Department, who has featured on the front page for four years running. The main contender was William the cat, and it went down to the wire. SPCA chief executive Todd Westwood spoke to Lis...

Europe correspondent Grace Thomas spoke to Lisa Owen about a skydiving aircraft crash in France that has killed five people, as well as Prince Harry reportedly reconsidering plans to bring his wife Meghan and children the UK next month after his request for police protection was rejected.

Birds are taking a battering as blustery weather hits the capital more frequently. A Wellington bird rescue has had more than 640 birds drop in this year. Owner and founder of Wellington Flock Birdcare, Nyssa Skorgee spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

It's the start of the first test week of the year. The All Blacks have arrived in Otautahi ahead of their opening game of the season against the French, the first under new coach Dave Rennie. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The leader of a fringe religious group Kai-xiao Liu and his wife Lanyue Xiao have been found guilty of the kidnapping and manslaughter of one of Liu's followers. 69-year-old Shulai Wang was found bound in tape, wrapped in black plastic rubbish bags and floating in Auckland's Gulf Harbour two years ago. Lucy Xia reports.

The Prime Minister has admitted he was not aware that Auckland had no night shelter for the homeless, given the City Mission closes at 5pm. It comes after revelations that officials have been regularly assessed on whether they're meeting targets to reduce the numbers using emergency housing. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

A leading blood cancer specialist is quitting New Zealand for Australia, because of what he describes as a race to the bottom in medical laboratory services. Lab scientist has resigned from his specialist cancer diagnostic role at Dunedin Hospital's Awanui owned pathology lab. Taylor has expressed serious concerns about Awanui labs, including a lack of training and resources. Taylor spoke to Lisa...

It was even more bruising than your usual political showdown, with a cabinet minister walking away with two broken ribs. The Rumble in Russell to benefit Rugby for Life saw politicians, former All Blacks and local sportspeople square off in rugby and netball matches on Saturday. Spectators packed the sidelines to witness one of the biggest events on Northlands sporting calendar. Reporter Peter de...

Palmerston North Hospital is funded for six full time gastroenterologists, but has none following the departure of its last specialist. A public meeting to address concerns about the gradual gutting of the service gets underway shortly. Health NZ says gastro services are continuing at the hospital, but patients are worried about continuity of care. Health NZ chief clinical officer, Doctor Richard...

Hundreds of people in isolated southern Wairarapa remain cut off, some without power, after wild weather washed out a bridge and damaged roads. The Cape Palliser, Lake Ferry, Whangaimoana and Ngawi communities had supplies such as baby formula sent in by helicopter today, and they're being told to sit tight for another day or so. Sammy Carter reports.

Former Olympian, Auckland mayor and founder of a fitness empire, Les Mills Senior has died, aged 91. Mills began his athletics journey at Western Suburbs Running Club in Auckland as a youngster and went on to represent New Zealand on the world stage for two decades at a time when sport was not professional. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's a murky mystery, and some locals are milking it. On and off for nearly two years someone has been leaving half empty bottles of flavoured milk on top of a self service pump at a fuel stop in Alexandra. The milk bandit has left a smorgasboard of brands and flavours. A local woman who used the same fuel station has become obsessed with solving the mystery and is back on the case. Poppy Prenderg...

Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about a blame game breaking out over potential ceasefire breaches between the US and Iran. The fragile truce has faced more tests with the US carrying out a number of strikes on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz while Iran launched its own attacks across the Gulf.

ACT is campaigning on a welfare clampdown this election, saying benefits should be a hand up not a way of life. It wants to be make it mandatory for all health and disability benefits to be issued by MSD approved, designated doctors. Beneficiary advocate Kay Brereton says the policy shows a complete lack of understand of some peoples reality. Brereton spoke to Lisa Owen.

Teens in a Hutt Valley youth employment programme say without it they'd just be 'bumming out' - but now, they're confident they can find a job. Youth unemployment is soaring - at nearly 15 percent, it's roughly three times that of the wider working age population. Charity organisation Youth Inspire helps young people get the skills the skills to get into work, but recently it's been forced to crow...

UK correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the extreme heat that is causing havoc in Europe, as well as growing concerns about the long-term health of younger adults in England following a new obesity study.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Calls for a South Island-based NRL team continue to grow louder. The Warriors made their debut at the new Te Kaha Stadium last weekend, with fans packing the house having been starved of rugby league. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A charity match is on the cards between the parliamentary rugby team and a squad presenting Rugby for Life. It's part of a fundraiser for the organisation the helps people build skills and careers through and beyond rugby. Deputy chair of Rugby for Life, Riki Kinnaird spoke to Lisa Owen.

The fast-track panel assessing plans for a vast gold mine in Central Otago wants to know if the applicant would foot the bill after a catastrophic failure. The panel is seeking a social impact assessment and a worst-case economic scenario from Australian company Santana Minerals, which this week voluntarily paused the processing of its application. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd has the story...