Checkpoint

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Caleb Tangitau was struck down with a ruptured achilles after the siren in his side's loss to the Chiefs on Friday night. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

DNA samples are generally matched using a minimum of 6 genetic markers that are present in both samples. One sample for example may be taken from crime scene evidence and matched to samples in a data base. Now, a team of scientists has been working on a mathematical algorithm that can match DNA with just half the makers. So, three instead of six. That means it can match partial or degraded DNA sam...

Nearly nine-thousand public servants are in line to lose their jobs over the next three years - as a result of cuts to the public service in the coming Budget. The seismic shake-up - outlined in a pre-Budget speech today - will come as a result of merging a suite of ministries - yet to be determined - with the goal of saving an average 600 million dollars a year. But the coalition parties aren't a...

The worst piece of legislation I've ever seen. That's an advocate's verdict on legislation supposed to clarify the purpose of Disability Support Services. The bill introduced yesterday makes it clear the crown is the not the employer of family carers. It follows a Supreme Court ruling last year, that two parents who care full-time for their disabled children should be considered government employe...

After several false starts, The Enhanced Games, a sporting event that allows athletes to dope, will get under way in Las Vegas. But days out from the start of competition, little is known about the details of the event and the athletes taking part. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

A property investment expert says councils could crack down on short term holiday rentals right now if they wanted to and there's no need for a bed register. Checkpoint spoke to a Christchurch councillor who is campaigning for a nations wide bed register; to make it easier to track Airbnb's and other short-term rentals. The register would force platforms to share data, like addresses and the numbe...

A shooting at San Diego's largest mosque has left 5 people dead. Three victims, including a security guard, were shot and killed when two teenage shooters opened fire on the mosque. Both suspects were found dead in a car nearby soon after the incident. The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime. US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.

More than 8,500 public service jobs are being axed as part of a government overhaul. AI and digital technology are a big part of the plan. The cuts are forecast to save $2.4 billion dollars over four years. Andrew Lensen, senior lecturer in AI at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about how another Labour MP has weighed in on Keir Starmer's leadership and how the Metropolitan police have revealed the scale of efforts to deescalate two rival protests held in London. She also spoke about how England is preparing for the annual Watercress Festival.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Wellington Phoenix women fell just short of the ultimate prize in the A-League but the club is predicting bigger things to come. The Phoenix lost the grand final to Melbourne City 3-1 on Saturday night and a couple of hours later were already planning for the next season. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A warning that the following story discusses suicide. An inquest has heard that a Christchurch man who died after a police stand-off was planning to carry out a mass shooting in the weeks following the mosque terror attack. Artemiy Dubovskiy, who was known as Troy, is suspected of taking his own life early on March the 27th, 2019 after police negotiated with him for hours. Timothy Brown was in the...

More than one hundred and thirty million dollars. That's how much the government's investing in literacy and maths support for budget 2026 .. as part of its "Teaching the Basics Brilliantly" policy.

A cat rescuer who tames, desexes and rehomes stray felines is worried a bureaucratic battle could put his operation on pause. Tony Hitchcock has run Feral No More from the small Rangitikei town of Marton for the past three years with no issue. But a move to Eketahuna in Tararua is proving problematic for continuing his rescue work. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

The Queenstown experience could be elevated even further, if a futuristic transport project gets off the ground. Whoosh is a system of autonmous electric passenger pods that move along a static overhead network of cables and rails. Queenstown business consortium spokesperson Matthew Day spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Hurricanes are embracing the expectations surrounding them. The men from the capital have kicked clear at the top of the table and are determined to end a decade long title drought. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Game Animal Council and Wild Game Recovery Trust have set up a new online platform to simplify the process for hunters wanting to donate wild meat to families in need. The site Hunt and Share include QR codes for labelling and allows meat to be traced from the hills to the plate. The Game Changer NZ project also connects-up hunters, butchers and foodbanks. Wayne Langford, chair of the Wild Gam...

Donald Trump says "the clock is ticking" for Iran as the road to resolving the Middle East conflict drags on.

There are calls for a national bed register, to stop so called ghost communities caused by short term holiday rentals. A bed register could force operators, like AirBnB, to share data with local councils; including accommodation addresses. The concern is that some areas, particularly in visitor hotspots, are being taken over with temporary accommodation... hollowing out neighbourhoods and making i...

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about Lucas Gill, an 18-year-old from Winton who was accepted by five Ivy League universities.

Thousands of police officers are being deployed to central London at the weekends ahead of two protests. Meanwhile, the political drama continues at Downing Street. UK correspondent Grace Thomas spoke with Lisa Owen.

Businesses are becoming more cautious about investment while The Warehouse has reported flat third-quarter sales as consumers grapple with the high cost of living. Business reporter Nona Pelletier spoke with Lisa Owen.

The two sides meet in a crucial Super Rugby clash in Auckland this weekend. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke with Lisa Owen.

Runners know where they must finish but are blind-folded and dropped at a mystery start point. From there teams of two must find a way to their way to the finish line more than 20km away without any technology. Lisa Owen spoke with John Moore, the organiser of Christchurch's new Find Your Way Home adventure challenge, due to take place in July.