Checkpoint

A man is missing after Wellington was hit by a severe thunderstorm early this morning. A regionwide state of emergency has also been declared, with a red heavy rain warning in place through to tomorrow night. People in low lying areas have been told to move elsewhere for the next 24 hours, and advised against waiting for official warnings if they feel they are in danger. Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

Another poll with National's support below 30 percent has kept the fires of speculation around the prime minister's leadership burning. Last week ended with Christopher Luxon repeatedly asserting he had the support of his National Party colleages. And after the disastrous poll results last night, he spent his morning media round admitting there are a handful of MPs dissatisfied enough to speak to...

Boxer Lani Daniels is the country's newest world chamption, creating history at the weekend by winning a third world title in a shock upset in New York. And in the Super Rugby competition, the Hurricanes are reassuring fans that their golden point loss to the Chiefs on Saturday hasn't dented the team's confidence. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Part of a colossal fossil collection gathered over Paeroa man Rex Williams' life time is now on display at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery. Williams collected thousands and thousands of preserved remains, including fossils from the jurassic age, as a hobby. Gallery curator Jon Primmer spoke to Lisa Owen.

President Donald Trump said marines took "full custody" of the vessel after "blowing a hole in the engine room." It comes less than a week after the US placed a blockade on Iranian ships. Meanwhile, the ceasefire brokered by Pakistan is about to expire. Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen.

New Zealand First's made a campaign promise to break up the country's supermarket duopoly in a bid to lower grocery prices. It said Woolworths and Foodstuffs dominate more than 80 percent of the market, driving up costs and squeezing suppliers. The party's plan is to split Foodstuffs into two competing cooperatives and ramp up enforcement powers and fines. Earlier this month, Harvest Market, a new...

The Wellington Region is under a state of emergency after being hit with torrential rain this morning. Residents in low lying and flood prone areas are being warned to go somewhere else for the next 24 hours. Wellington and Wairarapa have also been upgraded to a red heavy rain warning, with extreme conditions posing a potential threat to life. Metservice duty forecaster Lewis Ferris spoke to Lisa...

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about the process to replace a missing Olympic medal.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about how it's been revealed the former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson failed vetting but was given the job anyway and how Britain is preparing for a worst case scenario should the Iran war continue. She also spoke about how passengers on an EasyJet flight from London thought the pilot was joking when he asked for volunteers to...

Another bumper round of Super Rugby kicks off on Friday evening. Two blockbuster kiwi derbies headline the weekend, with the return of some big names to action. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

RNZ understands National's Stuart Smith had tried but failed get a meeting with Christopher Luxon to warn him about flagging caucus support before Easter. Three polls have National hovering on or just under 30 percent. Ministers Todd McClay and Mark Mitchell have rubbished claims of leadership rumbles. Paul Goldsmith said any nervous backbenchers need to hold their nerve. Former National MP Mauric...

The political leadership rumours have been swirling again today, with fresh reports of a National party mutiny. But Christopher Luxon is digging in - amid the questions about his leadership - insisting he still has the full support of his caucus. Political editor Craig McCulloch has more.

The conviction of serial rapist Malcolm Rewa for another rape almost four decades after he committed the crime has triggered a review of unsolved rape cases. Rewa was senteced at the High Court in Auckland today to ten years in jail for a rape committed in the 1980s. He was already serving a life sentence and preventive detention for the murder of Susan Burdett in 1992 and sexual attacks on 25 wom...

Residents of the Waitaki District in the South Island may face a 19 percent hike in rates. Officials say the proposed increase will costs ratepayers an average of about 13 dollars a week. Rachel Graham report.

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown says transport companies wanting to keep fuel costs down should be moving goods overnight when there's no traffic on the roads. But the New Zealand Trucking Association says it's not that simple, with many warehouses and businesses unable to open at those hours. Trucking Association chief executive Dave Boyce spoke to Lisa Owen.

Sports funding has been in the spotlight this week with reports that Saudia Arabia's Public Investment Fund is slowing down their spending in the sector. Over the last five years the kingdom has outlayed more than 10 billion dollars to prop up traditional sports and launch new events. LIV Golf is facing funding concerns for next season and two New Zealand players could find their careers in limbo....

Researchers from New Zealand, Australia and China are designing a chatbot they hope will make life online safer and more welcoming to seniors and non-digital natives. The research team has been speaking to senior citizens about challenges navagating tech and they're also working with a major charity that can't be named yet. University of Auckland researcher Dr Jade Brooks spoke to Lisa Owen.

Cuba's president said his country is "ready" for a potential attack by the United States. It comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations and repeated comments from Donald Trump that he'll turn his attention to Cuba after the Iran war. Americas correspondent, Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen.

In the year to the end of March, petrol prices went up almost 14 percent, diesel increased almost 37 percent. At the same time, fruit and vege is up almost 6.5 percent. Meat, poultry and fish is up 7.3 percent. Electricity is up about 13 percent. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

In Australia -- fuel supply problems caused by the war in the Middle East suddenly got a whole lot worse today as a result of an overnight fire at one of the country's two oil refineries. Our Australia correspondent Nick Grimm joins Lisa Owen on Checkpoint.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Football Ferns have qualified for 2027's World Cup with a far from convincing victory over Papua New Guinea in Auckland. There is now 14 months until the tournament kicks off in Brazil. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Two Waikato scientists, turned modern day pied pipers have been playing rodent chatter through speakers in the forest to lure rats into traps. If it works, it could cut pest erradication costs and be more efficient than waiting for rats to wander into traps. Speakers mounted on trees played the rat sound track on a loop day and night in forest at Tuateawa on the Coromandel Peninsula and Te Hoe nea...

Businesses in a south Auckland's suburb say they're sick of 18-wheeler commercial trucks blocking their access paths, doing roadside repairs and leaving oil on the streets. Last month, the Wiri Business Association asked Parliament's regulation review committee to look at how Auckland Council is enforcing the new Vehicle Use and Parking Bylaw, that came into effect in July 2025. The bylaw gives Au...