Checkpoint

More malicious fake social media posts are targeting sportspeople. The latest victim of the phenomenon is Warriors coach Andrew Webster a false post announcing the death of his wife Emma. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Bad music is literally driving customers away according to new research. The study by One Music NZ, the agency that collects royalties and licenses music for commercial use surveyed more than 1200 people. It found 38 percent of people walk out of a store or venue if they don't like the music playing, and almost 50 percent will stay longer if the music vibe is right. OneMusic New Zealand director G...

US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about tensions erupting again in the Middle East with the United States launching more strikes against Iran. President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran "very hard" after the US carried out so called "self-defence" strikes. Meanwhile, Iran said it has shut the Strait of Hormuz

It is estimated more than 1000 young people in Gisborne don't have a home to go to. The area is one of the worst for severe housing deprivation according to a study by the Coalition to End Women's Homelessness. It said there were almost 33,200 people under the age of 17 experiencing some form of homelessness at the 2023 census, and homeless children were three times more likely to live in Gisborne...

Europe correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about anti-immigration protests in Northern Ireland after a vicious knife attack in Belfast. As well as Albania's Prime Minister defending Donald Trump's daughter and son-in-law's plan to build a luxury resort despite public outrage.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has made more history as the first New Zealander named in Time magazine's inaugural 100 most influential people in sport. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A thousand new homes in Queenstown are being targeted at "high quality, long term" renterns, with seasonal workers warned not to apply. Housing developer Simplicity living has the project on the fast-track pathway, and if it gets the green light the first 200 homes should be available within 18 months. Chief executive Sam Stubbs spoke to Lisa Owen.

The politics of climate change and the environment is front and centre at the annual Field Days agricultural showcase as Hamilton's Mystery Creek. National and ACT announced key emissions policies, with ACT reiterating its call to leave the Paris Climate Change agreement if methane targets aren't relaxed. Business Editor Corin Dann reports.

Expense records show a government minister spent almost $17,000 in airport parking fees over two years. Credit card records show between February 2024 and February 2026 Karen Chhour parked her vehicle at Auckland airport for a combined eight and a half months. That cost taxpayers $16,686. The figures were revealed alongside other MPs spending habits. Former Minister Peter Dunne spoke to Lisa Owen...

A New Zealand blood cancer patient who was forced to leave his children behind and make a last chance dash to Australia to access funded drugs has now been given a cutting edge transplant that is not publicly available here. Tawhai Reti, who has myeloma, had exhausted all treatment options in NZ. Earlier this year he moved to Australia without his family to access the lifesaving drug Daratumamab,...

The Labour Party is promising cost-of-living relief for public transport users - pledging to cap their fares at no more than $20 a week if elected. National says it's just more irresponsible spending from Labour. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

The sister-in-law of a woman detained by ICE in the US has described the quashing of her 2016 conviction as a huge relief. Everlee Wihongi's lawyer has told RNZ that she could be released from US custody is a matter of days or weeks, after a judge vacated her conviction for marijuana possession. The next step is to get the court's decision to immigration officials and homeland security. Finn Black...

One of New Zealand's most enduring sporting careers is set to reach another remarkable milestone. Twenty years on from making his Commonwealth Games debut, artistic gymnast Misha Koudinov has been named in the NZ team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. It puts him on track become just the third Kiwi athlete to compete at six Commonwealth games. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa O...

It was a bottle of wine sure to get people talking. A group of friends indulging in a bottle worth $400,000 over dinner a few nights ago. The 1996 bottle was bought by one of the friends in 1999 for $2000. Since then, friends have bought shares in the bottle. It was finally consumed after more than two decades at Wellington's Noble Rot wine bar. Bar operations manager, Jessica Wood spoke to Lisa O...

Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about a fresh wave of back and forth strikes between the United States and Iran. The latest flare up follows the downing of a US Apache helicopter which was reportedly hit by an Iranian drone.

Aotearoa lacks a coherant complete approach to reducing the risk of natural hazards, according to a new report commissioned by on the country's largest insurers. AIG estimates that over the past 15 years the direct cost of natural hazards has been $4.2 billion a year. With 95 percent of that going directly to response and recovery, and just 5 percent to reducing future risk. Tasman mayor Tim King...

Auckland Councillors have been deep in discussion about exactly where high rise housing should be built to allow for close to another million and a half homes in the next decade. The government back-tracked on asking council to allow for two million more homes over the next decade, dropping the number to 1.4 earlier this year. Reporter Amy Williams was at today's Police and Planning Committee meet...

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about new data, which has revealed that Australians are more miserable about their lot in life than ever before. 

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The government is proposing to raise the penalty for power companies if they come up short in supply, from $2 million to $10 million. It is also investigating a new Winter Energy Reliability Obligation, meaning large electricity buyers have to lock in back up supply well ahead of forecast dry winters. Chair of the Major Electricity Users Group, John Harbord spoke to Lisa Owen.

A former Warrior has opened up about his off-field struggles with depression and substance abuse as he battled with his sexual identity. Kane Evans has become just the second NRL player in history to publicly come out as gay. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Wānaka GP fears the community could lose its after-hours service within weeks if proposed changes to rural healthcare funding are introduced. Under changes, which would see Wānaka reclassified due to its growing population, the rural funding for local general practices there could be slashed. Otago-Southland reporter Tess Brunton has more.

An advocacy group is hoping to swamp the Disability Minister's electorate office with complaints about cuts to a transport subsidy. The Total Mobility Scheme provides subsidies for taxis for people with disabilities who are unable to use public transport, but the government's fare subsidy is being reduced from 75 percent to 65 percent next month. Blind Low Vision NZ's head of policy and advocacy B...

Living in poor conditions shouldn't be seen as a rite of passage for university students, according to the boss of MBIE's tenancy investigations team. The team inspected 14 rentals in North Dunedin last month and found several breaches of healthy homes standards. National Manager of MBIE's tenancy and compliance team, Brett Wilson spoke to Lisa Owen.