Checkpoint

"Enabled and entitled". That's how one political commentator described Shane Jones remarks about a "butter chicken tsunami". The New Zealand First minister made the comments while condemming New Zealand's free trade agreement with India. Despite strong criticism, he refused to apologise. A new poll from Horizon Research asked adults whether they agreed with the use of racial remarks in politics in...

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about how former senior Foreign Office official Olly Robbins has been giving evidence about his role in Lord Mandelson's appointment and about how a major shift in public health policy is on the way in the UK.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

New Zealand Formula One driver Liam Lawson is likely to avoid the ire of Italian tax authorities but some of the sport's biggest names could get caught up in a tax evasion investigation. Italy's financial police are reportedly looking into every current and recent Formula One driver and the income earned by foreign drivers from races held on Italian soil. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lis...

Annual deaths from blood cancer have increased almost 40 percent in the past two decades, according to a new report that paints a grim picture of how the disease is being managed in Aotearoa. The State of Blood Cancer said it's one of the fastest growing contributors to cancer mortality and treatment here is not keeping pace with comparable countries. About 27,000 people in New Zealand are living...

Christopher Luxon's handling of disunity within his own party's ranks has begun exposing rifts in the coalition. Now he and deputy Nicola Willis have both publicly retaliated against coalition partner Winston Peters, saying he's scaremongering, anti-immigrant and making mischief. Mr Peters' complaint: no heads up from the PM about a potential leadership spill he initiated on himself. Political rep...

Corrections did not call police for hours after losing track of a high risk would be sex offender when his GPS monitor went dead and they failed to confirm his whereabouts. John Tekuru, who was jailed for trying to snatch a toddler for sex, was released from prison on March 10. Just days later, he was back in jail after admitting he breached his release by hanging around a playground and school. S...

People power, or should that be Putiki power, is being credited for the creation of a new bus route in Whanganui. Championed by the kaumatua and kuia of Putiki Marae, it's the first time the riverside area of the city's had a public bus service in living memory. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin went along for a ride.

A would be sex offender who's supposed to be GPS tracked was unmonitored for several hours after his tracker went flat and Corrections failed to verify where he was. John Tekuru, who was jailed for trying to snatch a toddler for sex, was released from prison on March 10. Just days after his release Tekuru went to a playground, and was also found near a childhood centre. He's banned from being near...

Christchurch police are scouring the city's Red Zone in search of a woman who's been missing for eight months. Police have grave concerns for 39-year-old Rowena Walker and say her kids are desperate for their mum to come home. Anna Sargent reports.

As the country battles a budding blackmarket of illicit tobacco, concerns are being raised the issue is being overblown by interest groups. RNZ has been investigating black market cigarettes and tobacco being sold over the counter, without any of the mandated health warnings and for a fraction of the cost of retail brands. Authorities are calling for a crack down on those selling the smokes illega...

The New Zealand Canoe Sprint team to compete in Europe has been named and Dame Lisa Carrington is in, but some key names are missing. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

Does it make any difference whether an all girls school has man or a woman leading it? After a century and a half of women at the helm, Southland Girls High School has it's first even permanent male principal. The school in Invercagill has a roll of more than 1000 students and is the third oldest girls school in Aotearoa. John Grogan, who spent 8 years as the school's deputy and is now Southland G...

Mexico's president has called for 'stricter checks' following a fatal shooting at a major tourist site near the nation's capital. One person was killed and thirteen others injured when a gunman opened fire at the ancient Teotihuacán pyramids. Mexico correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen.

A home care worker's calling the government out for alleged double standards over mileage rates paid to MPs. Earlier this month, home and community support workers were given a temporary "boost'' to their mileage rates - from 63.5 cents to 82.5 cents per kilometre. Relief teachers also received a similar increase. But the amount politicians can claim for using their private vehicles for work purpo...

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about how in Australia, the retail giant Woolworth's has been fronting allegations its been offering customers dodgy discounts and how there's a campaign to recruit New Zealand bus drivers to Australian shores.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

New All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has put the final touches on his management group, which sees the return of old faces. One of the returnees is mental skills coach Dr Gilbert Enoka - the man behind the team's 'no dickheads' policy of nearly two decades ago. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The family's back together again, with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown describing China as "a very good friend" while New Zealand is "family". The reunion between Cook Islands and Aotearoa was sealed with a defence agreement, signed this month. It follwed a major falling out between the two governments after the Cooks signed a strategic agreement with China last year. Cook Islands did not c...

The Prime Minister emerged from closed door meeting, that lasted more than two and half hours and said he has the support of his MPs, as their leader. In the face of speculation, bad poll results and dissent in the ranks Christopher Luxon confirmed he moved a motion of confidence in his leadership. Former National party chief press secretary and political commentator Janet Wilson.

The Prime Minister emerged from closed door meeting, that lasted more than two and half hours, saying he has the support of his MPs, as their leader. In the face of speculation, bad poll results and dissent in the ranks, Christopher Luxon confirmed he moved a motion of confidence in his leadership. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch has more.

An advertisement calling for an intellectually curious librarian or curator at a multi-million-dollar remote coastal estate in Golden Bay has sparked widespread interest. The job? To build and furnish an End of the World Library for Eva and Toni Piëch on their sprawling property overlooking the Whanganui Inlet. More specifically, the entrepreneurial couple, who will split their time between Europe...

Curiosity is killing the kea: The native parrot's inqiuisitive nature means it is nibbling at things that are toxic and potentially fatal, including lead-based materials found in old roofs, paint and nail heads. Eight have been treated for lead poisoning in the last month at the South Island Wildlife Hospital; but two unfortunately died. The Kea Conservation Trust is working to clear lead in kea h...

An RNZ investigation into the tobacco blackmarket has found packs of cigarettes and loose tobacco being sold brazenly over the counter at heavily discounted prices. By law, cigarettes have to include pictures and health warnings covering at least 75-percent of the front of the packs. But the cigarettes being sold on the blackmarket are a throw back to the 1990s of glossy, embossed packaging and no...

Devastating storms that smashed Wellington on Monday moved to Wairarapa, bringing down trees, flooding farmland and closing roads. Both regions are under heavy rain warnings, until 6pm in Wellington and 9pm in Wairarapa and a state of emergency. The main route connecting the two regions, the Remutaka Hill Road, is closed until further notice because of damage to a bridge. John Gerritsen reports.