Checkpoint

Lionel Messi has just made his final appearance for Argentina. Messi's departure from the international game comes three months after Argentina fell short in the World Cup final. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

The hunt is on for a vaccine to save hoiho, or yellow eyed penguin, with numbers tanking over past years. There are now fewer than 115 hoiho breeding pairs on mainland New Zealand and Rakiura/Stewart island. Evolutionary virologist, Professor Jemma Geoghan spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East and North Africa correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about an entire independent newsroom in Egypt facing terrorism charges. The six journalists - who work for the fact-checking platform Matsadaash - were arrested last week. They've reportedly been accused of spreading fake news, among several other terror-related claims. Press freedom and human rights groups have condemned...

As we head into summer concert season, the leaders of the two main parties are not completely in tune when it comes to the arts. Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins agree the government has a role in funding the sector, but Luxon doesn't believe that overseas artists should be required to have a local opening act. Head of the NZ arm of APRA, Anthony Healey spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a training exercise gone wrong which resulted in the death of a soldier.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

A tennis player has made a costly error at an ATP event in China. Russian Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the China Open after hitting a ball into the crowd and striking a spectator. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

An Australian horse trainer and entertainer is expected to wow audiences at an upcoming festival in Hamilton. Joe Gardiner specialises in trick riding, the type of thing seen in an old fashioned western or gladiator style movie. His tricks will be on display at Equifest, kicking off next week. Joe Gardiner spoke to Lisa Owen.

National's Christopher Luxon and Labour's Chris Hipkins have only a few more hours to cram before they go to head-to-head in their first televised debate of the campaign. The showdown is set to begin at 7 o'clock on TVNZ and will be simulcast here on RNZ National.

National has resuscitated health promises it failed to deliver on this term. It has also made a new commitment, to give more than $600 million of additional funding for Pharmac's medicines budget, which will be funded by cutting foreign aid outside the Pacific. Tim Edmonds, spokesperson for The Forbidden Pharmacy spoke to Lisa Owen.

Experts say online misogyny - veiled under the cloak of the manosphere - is creeping into social media feeds in ways that are difficult to spot. The help educate young people and their parents, a university student has repurposed the alphabet, making each letter represent a term from the darker edges of the internet. Sammy Carter reports.

A specialist vape store has been fined tens of thousands of dollars following a first of its kind prosecution by health authorities. Discount Mall Vape Ltd, illegally sold vapes to under 18s and failed to prevent underaged persons entering its premises. The joint action taken by Health NZ and the Ministry of Health, marks the first time a business has been found guilty of both offences. Vape Free...

A North Canterbury eating disorder residential facility says it still can't attract government funding despite saving the lives of those admitted there. Recovered living cares for just nine people at a time and patients can stay for months, but it costs more than $8000 a week. The facility has raised concerns the care is too expensive for some, with people facing long wait times and under resourci...

The All Blacks are looking to flush their three defeats to the Springboks as they prepare to host Australia in Auckland. Despite a slew of injuries, the All Blacks are confident about locking away the Bledisloe Cup for a 24th consecutive year. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

For the past 94 days Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has been wearing a t-shirt promoting a different start up. Capiche is one of the companies featured. It's an AI tool helping people with dyslexia write. Founder Paul Mallinson spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the US president saying he'll fund his own TV advertisements from now on, following backlash over recent taxpayer funded ads promoted him, meanwhile Trump has also said the US removed its bombers from a British airbase because of "some threats".

National has again made the promise, if re-elected, to lower the free bowel screening age to 50 by 2029. Christopher Luxon committed to lowering the age to 50 in the last election campaign in 2023. Despite that the government only just lowered the screening age to 56 last month. A Nelson dad with terminal bowel cancer says the promise falls short for the most vulnerable people. Bowel cancer patien...

United Kingdom correspondent, Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the American military withdrawing its bombers a week after an alleged terror plot was thwarted at the joint UK-US RAF Fairford air base, as well as the former Prince Andrew taking Thames Valley police to court.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

South Islanders are waiting longer for bowel cancer diagnostic procedures than people in the North Island. A patient advocate says the stark regional divide is causing anxiety, and health authorities should act with urgency the close the gap. Health NZ says plans are in place to do just that. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd spoke to Lisa Owen.

Scott Barrett is back in the All Blacks, albeit no longer as skipper. Barret has been recalled to the team after 10 months on the sideline ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup test this weekend. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A lifeline has been extended to a volunteer service supporting people in the ED at Palmerston North Hospital. Last year Hato Hone St John announced it would be scrapping the Friend of the Emergency Department programme due to funding constraints. Now the charity, Palmerston North Hospital Foundation's stumping up $75,000 over the next three years to keep the local volunteers going. Foundation Chai...

Fuel is again edging to record prices, off the back of ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile the government is giving regional airlines a share of $5.7 million to help protect essential air links as operators face soaring fuel prices. Westpac Chief Economist, Kelly Eckhold spoke to Lisa Owen.

South Island surfer Jack Tyro is preparing to paddle out for New Zealand at the world champs. It's far from the 19 year old's first international competition, but this time he is captaining the country's youngest longboarding squad. Tess Brunton reports.

A near miss caused by a car racing to beat a train today caught the Greens off guard as they touted a plan to get rid of level crossings in Auckland. Labour had an announcement of its own - about the right to repair. For National, leader Christopher Luxon pressed the flesh in Canterbury, while deputy Nicola Willis put the boot into Labour's fiscal plan. Political reporter Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira sp...