Checkpoint

A Queenstown chef has taken out the number two spot in the contemporary section at the World Pizza Championship in Naples. The field was vast, with about 600 competitors, mainly Italians. Yoni Dmoch who owns Biga Pizza got to compete in Naples after winning a New Zealand competition last year. Dmoch spoke to Lisa Owen.

Pike River families are calling on the government to kill a bill they warn will put lives at risk. Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden is proposing a radical shakeup of New Zealand's health and safety laws. Today relatives of the Pike River victims joined the Council of Trade Unions as they rallied against the changes outside Parliament. Tess Brunton reports.

Aotearoa's thoroughbred and harness industries are racing to their own demise. Combined the industries contribute $1.7 billion to GDP a year. But a report by the TAB New Zealand Racing Advisory Committee concludes without major, urgent governance, tax and attitude changes, the industry is effectively in a downward spiral. New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Association CEO Nick Johnson spoke to Lisa...

The January storms that battered the coast north of Whangarei are now a distant memory for many people, yet some Northlanders are still living with the effects. Five months later, displaced residents still can't go home, and as Peter de Graaf discovers, some have no home to go to.

It is game over for the Moana Pasifika rugby franchise, for now. Hail mary bids to save the franchise have failed, because no one could guarantee the capital needed, according to New Zealand Rugby. Moana went into liquidation in May, owing more than $8 million. NZR chief financial officer Chris Kinriad spoke to Lisa Owen.

A soldier facing court martial for headbutting and threatening to kill someone of senior rank denies there was any physical contact between the two. The solider was facing six charges at a hearing at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North, but three counts were today withdrawn. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham was at the court martial and spoke to Lisa Owen.

The White Ferns are still on the hunt to defend their T20 World Cup crown after beating Scotland by six wickets overnight. A better net run rate has boosted their hopes, but a tough showdown with England in their final pool play match awaits. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Parking fees are being extended in a popular Auckland retail strip, despite some businesses saying they're already on their knees. Auckland transport's extending paid parking into more Ponsonby streets even though more than 80 percent of feedback was against the move. Marcin Kulak who co-owns the restaurant Mekong Baby on Ponsonby Road is not happy with the decision and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about talks between the US and Iran concluding in Switzerland. The region, like the rest of the world, is hoping for real stability after a shaky start to the peace agreement.

The rise of far right extremism in the classroom has prompted a teachers union to seek expert advice for those at the chalkface. The PPTA is hiring someone to develop guidelines for teachers due to the growing prevalence of extremist views being expressed by some students. That includes homophobia, anti-semitism, racism, trad-wife and misogynistic views. PPTA president Chris Abercombie spoke to Li...

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about work continuing to determine whether the discovery of two seabirds infected with the deadly H5 strain of bird flu, foreshadows a major outbreak of the disease that could have serious consequences for the country's native animals and its poultry industry.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

It was a record breaking day at the Football World Cup as the one of the game's greats broke the all-time scoring record. Argentina's Lionel Messi scored two goals against Austria to take his tally to 18 goals. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A 70-year-old Chinese woman, who came to New Zealand to follow the religious instructions of a self-proclaimed sect leader, was leader found dead, wrapped in rubbish bags, in Auckland's Gulf Harbour. The Crown says Shulai Wang was at the bottom of the hierarchy in a strictly controlled house in Orewa, where it's alleged she was starved, stuffed in a suitcase, and likely suffocated. Four people are...

DOC is on the hunt to take a DNA sample from a dolphin spotted cruising in Northland waters, in order to determine whether it is a Hector's or Maui dolphin. Either would be special, but a Hector's has only been spotted in Northland three times in the past 100 years. University of Auckland Associate professor in biological and marine sciences, Dr Rochelle Constantine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Schools and alternative education experts agree thousands of the most vulnerable - and sometimes most difficult - students need a lot more support than they are getting. A new Education Review Office report says most teens enrolled in various forms of alternative education leave without any qualifications and too many go on to benefits or crime. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has met with some Pike River families, who fear workplaces are about to get more dangerous. The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill would exempt businesses with fewer than 20 workers from legally having to manage non-critical safety risk. The families are asking NZ First to withdraw it's support for the bill. Winston Peters spoke to Lisa Owen.

In the small Central Otago town of Ophir, the country's oldest continually operating post office is thriving in new hands. When the community's long-standing postmistress retired, it left a unique vacancy in the town of about 70 people. But a bit over six months ago Harriet Cameron seized the Ophir-tunity and took on the job. Tess Brunton reports.

Parliament is holding an urgent debate on the failure of an IT project officials are accused of misleading ministers over. The biometrics project was scrapped last year, having cost more than $30 million over about seven years, and the public service commission has ordered an investigation which was launched today. Political reporter Russell Palmer spoke to Lisa Owen.

Some survivors of abuse in care say there are still fighting for geniune recognition of what happened to them, two years on from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in care. They say meaningful redress and recognition for what they suffered is still lacking. Timothy Brown reports.

Yesterday Dave Rennie revealed the first squad he has tasked with bringing the All Blacks back to the top of world rugby. But what about those who missed the cut? Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.  

People pilfering crucial bits of rail infrastructure are causing major headaches for KiwiRail with disruptions to Wellington freight and commuter services. Signals, cables and overhead lines have all been stolen. During April, services on the Hutt Valley line had to be cancelled several times and dozens of services delays because of stolen equipment. KiwiRail Chief Metros Officer David Gordon spok...

US correspondence Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the latest on the fragile discussions happening in regards to the US-Iran peace deal.

An Education Review Office Report into Te Kura has found the correspondence school is failing thousands of at risk kids who are kicked out for drop out of mainstream school. Chief executive of Te Kura, Te Rina Leonard spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about reports suggesting Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering his future in office as pressure on him to step down continues to grow.