Checkpoint

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

The All Whites had one of their newest and most influential fans in the stands in Florida for today's World Cup warm-up game against Haiti. Argentine social media star Valen Scarsini, known as El Scarso, was there to meet defender Tim Payne who now has 4 million followers on social media thanks to the South American. However, New Zealand's first game since Payne put the team in the international s...

A former tech guy turned orchard owner has put the call out to the country's farmers to turn electric and he thinks they're switching on. Mike Casey runs Electric Cherries in Central Otago, purely on solar power. He's on a crusade to electrify the country and believes farmers hold the key to solving our energy crisis. Mike Casey spoke to Lisa Owen.

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little has hit out at the government's August deadline for amalgamation proposals...while saying he wants to talk seriously about a mega-merger.

Chinese hip-hop artists in Auckland are dropping a new voice into the city's music scene. The sixteen-member collective known as AKLA performs in regional Chinese dialects, Cantonese, Mandarin slang and English, mixing rap, beatboxing and street dance to tell stories of culture, identity and migration. The group has performed at numerous large cultural events, including the Auckland Lantern Festiv...

More than $8 million, that's how much the Super Rugby franchise Moana Pasifika is in debt. The first liquidators report shows $4.3 million is owed to secured creditors. That includes a $2.7 million loan from Sport NZ, a crown entity. Approximately $3.9 million is owed to unsecured creditors. Players are among those owed money. Boss of the Rugby Players Association, Rob Nichol spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Department of Conservation's disposal of a small backcountry hut in north Canterbury has led to community backlash with accusations DOC has breached trust and the Conservation Act.

One of the largest teams in sport is coming to our shores for the biggest tour in New Zealand cricket history. India will headline a mammoth home summer announced in Papatoetoe today, with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh women also set to tour. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A 17-year-old Auckland student is about to get a taste of Apple after impressing the tech giant with a development of his own. Alex Liang, a student at Westlake Boys' Highschool, wrote the code for a star gazing app that can be used with the the tech company's vision pro mixed reality headset. It won him top honours in an Apple student challenge and a trip to the company's California head office....

Middle East correspondent in Doha, Lou Browne.

Any money made from charging international tourists to visit Aotearoa's most iconic spots should be spent in the region, the attraction is in. That's the view of a Coromandel resident's group. DOC is consulting on plans to charge international tourists a fee at up to ten popular spots around the motu. They include Milford Sound, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Cathedral Cove. It estimates up to...

In Australia, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party has been on an absolute tear so far this year, enjoying a surge in support that has seen one poll showing it's become the country's most popular political party. Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen.

River levels are dropping in the Tasman district, where some places received 700 millimetres of rain over the King's Birthday long weekend. It has felt all too familiar for some people, with the downpours coming almost a year from last winter's devastating floods. Samantha Gee reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The final standings make for pretty reading for New Zealand fans, the entire top four consisting of kiwi teams. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

On Tuesday, a team of whale disentanglement specialists managed to free a Southern Right Whale from a cray pot line which it had been stuck in for at least four days. It's fight for survival began just off Stewart Island on Saturday, when a cray pot anchored the whale to one spot, it could not swim away. Step up a kind-hearted fisherman, a local ferry and a boat load of whale specialists. Jennifer...