Checkpoint

Education officials should have reviewed Tom Phillips' approval to home school his children after he disappeared with them the first time, according to an inquiry into the saga. Phillips was not required to provide any information about his qualifications or criminal record. Government Liaison for the National Council of Home Educators, Cynthia Hancox spoke to Lisa Owen.

Wellington residents affected by April's flooding say five months on they're still traumatised, displaced and unable to sleep. April's extreme rain triggered a state of emergency and caused flash flooding, landslips and damage to homes and businesses. Today the Wellington City Council committed to producing a public report into the disaster. Wellington Issues reporter Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

A new select committee report lays out a litany of shortcomings and failures at FENZ. From mismanagement, to misleading information, and missing fire trucks. The inquiry, into the state of FENZ, concludes its governance has been concerningly poor and questions whether board members can keep their jobs. NZ Professional Firefighters Union national secretary Wattie Watson spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government has debuted a provocative new campaign designed to fight meth use - after an earlier effort fell flat. It's called "F Meth" - with the F left open to interpretation. It comes after record-high consumption of methamphetamine in April this year - equating to almost 40kg of meth a week - though consumption has dropped since. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

Seven months on from the devestating floods, Te Araroa residents are still in survival mode, grappling with new problems related to January's storm. National's East Coast MP has taken a swing at the Gisbrone District Council for a lack of communication and action. She said she's waiting to hear from the council about what support it needs. Gisborne District Council's recovery manager Naomi Whitewo...

Police and the Defence Force are launching a new search for a charter plane that vanished almost 50 years ago with seven people on board in South Westland. It follows decades of work by volunteer investigators who believe their sonar equipment might have detected the submerged of the plane in Lake Moeraki. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd reports.

Dame Noeline Taurua has been reappointed as Silver Ferns head coach through to the 2027 Netball World Cup. The contract extension comes a year after her relationship with Netball New Zealand broke down in a bitter dispute over the teams's high-performance environment. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

It corporate fashion fast going out of style? Clothing retailers Cue and its sister brand Veronika Maine have gone into receivership, in a market where many stores and clothing desingers are struggling. Changing dress codes are being partly blamed for their demise. Retail NZ Chief Executive, Carolyn Young spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the US military's top leader telling troops to prepare for combat around the moon, as well as America's oldest dictionary gaining some new words.

Staff at a rural medical centre say they are at breaking point and are threatening to resign en masse. Doctors, nurses and administration staff at the Pahitua Medical Centre say they are facing severe staff shortages and a ballooning safety crisis. They say patients are wating three months for routine appointments, and preventative screening for bowel, breast and prostate cancer are up to 12 month...

The FENZ Minister has declared no confidence in the Chief Executive of the organisation over what's being described as a serious breach of the no surprises policy. The move comes just after the release of an absolutely scathing select committee inquiry into Fire and Emergency NZ. Political reporter Lillian Hanly spoke to Lisa Owen. 

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Ministers promising sweeping changes to the NHS after a damning hospital review into the Lucy Letby murders, as well as Bristol has become the first city in Britain to ban advertising for fast fashion.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The A-league will crack down on time-wasting during the upcoming football season with three new rule changes. Team captains and technology will be in the spotlight as the changes effect both the men's and women's competitions which kick-off next month. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

If re-elected National says it will look at separating the Foodstuff brand into two groups. New World and Four Square would be one nationwide chain and Pak'nSave another. It's contingent on the Commerce Commission carrying out an independent review and agreeing it's the right move. Chief executive at Consumer NZ, Jon Duffy spoke to Lisa Owen.

Seven months on from the devastating January floods, Te Araroa locals are still facing a massive clean up, and lingering damage. National's Dana Kirkpatrick, who is the MP for the East Coast and was in the area last week, spoke to Lisa Owen.

In Te Araroa, one of East Cape's famous beach towns, the previously booming tourist industry has virtually ground to a halt. The local holiday park is still closed, and there's a heap of mud to remove if it's to reopen but the summer holidays. Teuila Fuatai reports.

Forty percent of young people don't see buy now pay later services as debt, and that's a problem according to a finance expert. A survey of more than 700 people aged 18 to 34 found just 60 percent recognised the service as a debt. AUT professor of Finance Aaron Gilbert's been researching the issue and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about Turkey's LGBTQ+ crackdown which has seen dozens more arrested following a protest, as well as continued fallout from Ed Sheeran's America tour after supporting artist, Macklemore was dropped for his pro-Palestine comments on stage.

The National Party has vowed to break-up supermarket giant Foodstuffs if it's re-elected. It would mean separating New World and Four Square into one nationwide chain and Pak'nSave into another. Political reporter Lauren Crimp spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the nation's cyber intelligence chief calling for an "early warning system" as a frontline defence against artificial intelligence going rogue.

The ACT party wants to freeze the minimum wage for three years - and slash the training wage for under-20 year olds to about $14 - touting it as a win for struggling small businesses, and youngsters struggling to find work. Its policy was announced as political leaders spent the day selling their parties to the business worlds as they get set to step on the election campaign trail. Political repor...

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The hottest tickets in town have been snapped up in a matter of minutes. It may be a bigger venue, but it was the same scramble to secure seats to the Warriors vs Knights at Eden Park on Sunday. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Raglan is back on The World Surf League championship tour for next year. There were doubts the seaside town could cope with the swell of crowds when it hosted the world's best surfers for the first time in May, but it impressed the League with its deep surfing heritage, world class waves and passionate locals. Chair of Surfing NZ Jimi Higgins spoke to Lisa Owen.