Checkpoint

The former partner of a woman whose baby died in Canterbury has denied responsibility for killing her son. Soul Turany was less than four months old when he died from catastrophic head injuries in 2014. Police say only the boy's mother, Storme Turany, or her then-partner, Tony Farmer, could have killed the child. Reporter Timothy Brown has more.

A New Zealander and five Australian residents caught up in a deadly cruise ship hantavirus outbreak have touched down in Perth. The group landed at an airforce base and were bussed to a quarantine centre where they must stay for at least three weeks. The group was on the MV Hondius when the rat-borne virus broke out. Three people from the ship have died and a further 11 are either confirmed or sus...

Government plans to amend references to the Treaty of Waitangi across a raft of legislation is being compared to ACT's Treaty Principles Bill by critics. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the amendments will ensure references to the principles of the Treaty are clear and consistent, however the Waitangi Tribunal says it will weaken the Treaty in the law. Maori news journalist Tuwhenuaroa Natana...

Melodious singing is filling a Palmerston North theatre as 400 women take part in the annual Sweet Adelines competition. It comes with a top prize, the chance to represent New Zealand on the world stage. The Manawatu Overtones are hosting the Harmony Manawatu Convention. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham caught up with chorus members as they put the finishing touches on their preparation.

The Woolworths in the Hastings suburb of Flaxmere, has applied for a licence to sell alcohol seven days a week from 9am to 9pm. In its submission Health New Zealand say Flaxmere is a vulnerable community with high levels of deprivation and it's opposed the licence. Submissions on the application by Woolworths have been heard this week, Lawyer Grant Hewison, who is a member of Communities against A...

Invercargill's mayor is condemning the thugs who attacked two people they lured off into a public park through dating apps.

Auckland FC's A-League season is on the line once again with one last chance to make it to a grand final. Auckland and Adelaide are level at one-all heading into the second, and deciding, semifinal at a sold-out Coopers Stadium. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The SPCA's calling for nominations for its 2027 Pets of the Year Calendars. It's a fundraiser for the animal welfare group, with proceeds going to medical care, shelter and providing a second chance for vulnerable animals needing homes. SPCA Events and Partnerships manager Elinor Birch spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about how dozens of ships have managed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and the latest from the talks in Washington between Lebanon and Israel.

Tourism is New Zealand's second largest export but with rising aviation costs and cuts to capacity, what does that mean for the industry, which is gearing up for TRENZ, its big international tourism expo? Rebecca Ingram the chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa spoke to Lisa Owen.

An urban renewal project in New Plymouth's CBD is revealing traces of the city's past - piece by piece. The derelict Metro Plaza is being demolished to allow a stretch of the Huatoki Stream - which has been hidden from view for about a century - to be uncovered. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin was on site.

Australian supermarket operator Coles has been found by a court to have been misleading shoppers with fake discounts on a number of common household items. Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Warriors have addressed the drama surrounding one of their star playmakers. Wantaway Wah Luke Metcalf has been actively speaking to other NRL clubs, as he looks to leave Auckland. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Reusable period products are under the microscope, or they would be if researchers could get funding to investigate how safe they are. Well known microbiologist Associate Professor, Siouxsie Wiles has been trying for the past 18 months to get funding to study period cups, but with no luck. She spoke to Lisa Owen.

The mother of a Canterbury baby who died from catastrophic head injuries in 2014 insists she did not hurt her son, despite inconsistencies in her account of what happened that morning. Soul Turany was less than four months old when he died in 2014. His mother's former partner has been giving evidence at the inquest, Timothy Brown reports.

Andrew Maaka was last seen at a West Auckland gang headquarters 35 years ago, police believe he's dead and today they revealed they're looking for his killer, again. They made the announcement outside the Head Hunters gang pad in Henderson. More than three decades ago, Andrew Maaka was a prospect for the Head Hunters, the West Chapter. He'd been at party gang pad before he disappeared, no one has...

Air New Zealand's taking a massive financial hit off the back of soaring fuel costs. It's on track for a full year loss of up to $400 million, full year pre-tax loss. The national carrier's forecasting fuel price increases of more than 30 percent for the second half of the year, driven by war in the Middle East. Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravishankar spoke to Lisa Owen.

Families who've lost a child say new funding from the government for paediatric palliative care will mean others won't have to do it alone. This morning, health minister Simeon Brown announced 15-and-a-half million dollars from Budget 2026 for two dedicated specialist teams in the North and South islands. Health correspondent Kate Green reports.

Fourteen months ago the All Whites booked their ticket to the Football World Cup for just the third time in jubilant scenes at Eden Park. Today, in those same changing rooms where they celebrated last March, the names of the 26 men who will represent the fern at the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico were revealed. Lisa Owen spoke to sports reporter Felicity Reid who was...

Don't kill off funding for arts and culture, that's the message a jazz funeral band's delivered to Wellington City Council today, along with a petition asking it to rethink budget cuts. The council's looking at slashing more than $400,000 of funding that goes to arts and events grants and venue subsidies. Arts Wellington is one of the advocacy groups behind the petition, co-chair Kirsten Mason spo...

"It's an honour to be your friend." That from the US president to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at a high stakes meeting in Beijing today. It's part of a two-day summit involving both leaders and marks the first presidential visit to China in almost a decade. Washington DC correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.

Kiwbanks own bosses believe the bank needs to grow if it wants go toe-to-toe with the big-four Australian banks. Minister, Simeon Brown has asked them to look at ways to do that; including a potential public listing. David Cunningham is the former chief executive of the Co-operative Bank and now runs mortgage brokerage company Squirrel. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Grace Thomas spoke to Lisa Owen about how British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has managed to hang on for another day and how Te Ariki-nui Kuini Nga Wai hono i te po, the Maori Queen, has met Prince William at Windsor Castle during her trip to the United Kingdom. She also spoke about how the Eurovision semi-finals have kicked off in Vienna, despite controversy over Isra...

A Reserve Bank survey indicates inflation expectations are on the rise. And small aged-care service providers remain under pressure, while big operators appear to be doing well. Business reporter Nona Pelletier spoke to Lisa Owen.