Checkpoint

There's a least one wildly enthusiastic indoor bowler among the hundreds gathered for the National Championships in Palmerston North. Kevin Boothby has been to 57 in a row, a record! The event that's being held at the Central Energy Trust Arena over eight days is being live streamed on YouTube. Kevin Boothby spoke to Lisa Owen.

A model, who's previously worked for Huffer believes the kiwi brand is using AI generated models in a new campaign. Elijah Timmins-Scanlon spotted the campaign on social media and initially thought one of the pictures was him. He said closer inspection shows it wasn't and he posted a comment suggesting it was AI generated and said Huffer blocked him. Huffer has not responded to Checkpoint's reques...

The annual muster of wild horses in the central North Island is underway but there's concern about how many can find new homes. The animals live on Defence Force land near Waiouru and the musters are an important part of keeping the population in check, to protect the alpine environment. Rehoming efforts are proving difficult this year too. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham has more.

The Prime Minister is in Brisbane ahead of meeting with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. The annual leaders meeting takes place tomorrow, where the pair will discuss trade, security and defence issues.

A mother and son caught smuggling 18 kilograms of pounamu to China have been fined $5000. It's illegal to take more than five kilograms outside the country without consent, but this is the first time anyone has been punished for it. Felix Walton reports.

Residents in Island Bay say they were confronted with nightmare scenes when faecal matter and sanitary products overflowed from the wastewater system during heavy rain. Wellington Water says a blockage near the southern end of the suburb overnight caused sewage to burst from manhole covers and gully traps over nearly a kilometre. Reporter Bill Hickman has more.

The White Ferns have wrapped their final training camp ahead of the T20 Cricket World Cup which begins next week. The New Zealanders are the reigning champions and International commentators predict they'll be in the final four again. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke with Lisa Owen.

A Bay of Plenty family is desperate to get back two emotional support dogs they fear have been stolen from their farm for breeding. The pure bred blue english Staffordshire bull terriers went missing on Tuesday from Glue Pot road in Oropi near Tauranga. Owner, Amanda Hacche, says the dogs are more than pets. She spoke with Lisa Owen.

Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah rejects a US-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. And Donald Trump responds to vote to rein in US military action in the Iran war. Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke with Lisa Owen.

Virgin Media O2 surveyed 6000 people over a year in the UK, with results indicating about 35 percent of phone use is without intent. It also estimates people there spend almost five years of their waking lives doom scrolling. Victoria University senior lecturer Alex Beattie spoke with Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the rise of black market tobacco consumption across the Tasman and the Finke Desert Race revving up for it's 50th anniversary.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

He may be a controversial choice for All Blacks fans, but the team's coaches clearly rate him. Former Wallaby Quade Cooper has been hired as an expert analyst for the upcoming All Blacks tests. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke with Lisa Owen.

Four Dunedin students from Taieri College have the answer to those hideously cold mornings where your car windscreen is frosted over. The group of year 13 students have invented a potato-based anti-frost spray 'Winter Warrior' for the Young Enterprise competition. Ollie Mcfelin is one of the Winter Warrior architects and spoke with Lisa Owen.

Sixty countries - including Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand - now face a new 12.5 percent tariff on goods exports to the United States.

The United States Trade Representative has called out 54 countries including New Zealand for failing to impose and effectively enforce a ban on imports made with forced labour. It claims US workers are competing globally on an unlevel playing field as a consequence. To address it, the US Trade representative is proposing an additional tariff of 12.5 percent on most New Zealand goods. Meanwhile a M...

From South Auckland to the world stage, the Royal Family Dance Crew says its success is proof that Maori and Pasifika creatives can have big dreams. Founded by Parris Goebel, they have choreographed and performed alongside global superstars like Rihanna, Justin Beiber, Lady Gaga and most recently, Karol G, who was a headliner at Coachella. They are now touring Australia and will be performing at M...

Fuel watchers would've noticed a drop in the cost of diesel. According to Gapsy, it's now an average of $3.04 a litre, down about 15.5 cents over last four weeks. 91 though is $3.20 a litre, up 23 cents over the same period. But Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold warns the crisis is not over yet. He spoke with Lisa Owen

Armani is five and suffers paralyitic fits. His mother Nesa Morey has recently returned from Turkiye where he was treated as a unique, so-called zebra case by doctors who strongly suspect he has a rare genetic condition. The family say they were forced to go overseas after New Zealand doctors dismissed their son's symptoms as autism. Amy Williams reports.

The $7.2 million complex is made of 19 modules that were constructed in Wellington and trucked to the site. It took eight months to construct and replaces the old Taradale station. Hawke's Bay Tairawhiti reporter Alexa Cook has more.

It has been a long time between drinks when it comes to test cricket series for New Zealand and England. England haven't played red ball cricket in five months and are coming off an internal review after an Ashes failing in Australia. Whereas New Zealand warmed up with a one-off Test against Ireland last week. Tonight the Black Caps will be a part of the 150th Test match at the Lords ground in Lon...

Speaker Gerry Brownlee is considering stripping Stuff Digital of its access to parliament, temporarily.

A vote which aims to halt the conflict in Iran has passed. It is the fourth time the House of Representatives has voted to limit President Trump's war powers. However, it does not guarantee the war will end. Washington DC correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

A disability advocate fears expanding the use of automated decision making could lead to beneficiaries being unfairly cut off.

News from the business sector, including a market report