Checkpoint

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The men tasked with maintaining the All Blacks 23 year Bledisloe Cup streak have been named. Dave Rennie has selected his 34 man squad to play the Wallabies, with a couple of vterans recalled to test rugby. Sports reporty Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A part of measuring time known as leap seconds could soon be adandoned. At the moment there a two systems used to measure time, atomic time and solar time. To keep the two in sync, leap seconds are added. But the General Conference on Weights and Measurements votes next month on whether to call time on leap seconds. Adam Dunford from the Measurement Standards Laboratory spoke to Lisa Owen.

Nicola Willis has been given a pre-election lift, with Treasury painting a brighter picture of the government's finances in the short term. But the recovery has been largely driven by an increased tax take due to "higher and more persistent" inflation. So - what does it all mean for the election? Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

A senior pathologist is warning there's a traffic jam of tests in labs needing analysis, and the specialists who do the job are overwhelmed with work. The government is expanding some testing and screening, or making it more accessible for the likes of bowel and cervical cancer. But Associate Professor Diane Kenwright says the government has done nothing to bolster the workforce to deal with incre...

Wellingtonians may pay more for their electricity network in the coming years - as necessary infrastructure upgrades threaten to push them up significantly. The provider, Wellington Electricity wants to increase lines charges by up to $168 more for a year from 2028. But a consumer group says that'll be tough for many, who are already struggling with "astronomically high" power bills. Wellington is...

While the government's books were poured over in parliament today, Labour leader Chris Hipkins visited blue heartland - trying to win over the Employers and Manufacturers Association in a late-morning meet and greet. Meanwhile, National leader Christopher Luxon was visiting industry, and an old people's home in Wellington. Political reporters Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira and Lauren Crimp spoke to Lisa O...

The NRL judiciary will tonight decide the fate of Kiwi Rugby league player Phoenix Crossland. The Newcastle Knights hooker was sent off in Sunday's NRL preliminary final after a tackle on Penrith Panthers' star Nathan Cleary left him with a horrific ankle break. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

To some, election billboards might seem a bit old fashion, a symbol of a bygone political era, to others, a platform to vent their frustrations with politicians. A man has been arrested for allegedly defacing and removing election hoardings in Auckland's Takanini. So are billboards still an effective way to reach voters? Political marketing expert at the University of Auckland, Dr Edward Elder spo...

United States correspondent, Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about a series of taxpayer funded ads lauding the US president, which have copped criticism from both sides of the political aisle. As well as a female prisoner who is set to be executed in Tennessee, which will be the first time a woman has been executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years.

As the election looms closer, only about 60 percent of young people eligible to vote are actually enrolled. So Checkpoint took the streets today to ask those aged 18 to 24 if they'll be voting, or why they're chosing not to. Bella Craig reports.

The Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update has forecast a deficit of $6.8 billion in 2026/27, down from May budget's $11.4 billion prediction. The improved forecasts meant the government intended to borrow $15 billion less over the next four years. Economist Cameron Bagrie spoke to Lisa Owen and broke down what the numbers mean. 

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about British Police arresting five men on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences after a major incident was declared at an airbase, as well as hundreds of protesters blocking a road in Northern Ireland as tensions rise over the controversial Drumcree parade.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

A Kiwi league player may have his NRL grand final dream taken away. Knights hooker - Phoenix Crossland is looking at suspension from the game, after injuring Panthers star Nathan Cleary in last night's preliminary final. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Wanaka based clothing brand is bucking the trend, expanding while other labels are in retreat. Mons Royale makes high performance merino apparel for the mountains and beyond. It's targeting $100 million in sales and is hiring for 10 new roles. Mons Royale chief executive, Hamish Acland spoke to Lisa Owen.

Lok Fung Lorrence Li was involved in a minor car crash. Instead of settling things through insurance companies, Li went to the Disputes Tribunal and got the home address of the other driver, Fuk Fu Joseph Kwok. Almost a year later Li went to the Kwoks' Ellerslie home and brutally murdered the theatre nurse and his wife,Mei Han Chong. Today in the High Court at Auckland, a jury found him guilty of...

Health New Zealand has finished a rapid review of Dannevirke Community Hospital, the second audit in less than six months. Health practitioners told Checkpoint they were reluctant to refer patients to the Hospital because of staffing and safety concerns. Health New Zealand's Geoff Gwyn spoke to Lisa Owen.

Economic plans, endless handshakes and selfies, and daily media conferences. It is election campaign time, and after the hype of the major party launches over the weekend, politicians are in full press-the-flesh mode. Political reporters Tu Natanahira and Giles Dexter spoke to Lisa Owen.

The All Whites have ended a winless drought with their first ever victory over China. It had been six months since the New Zealanders had a win, and more than a year since they stopped the opposition from scoring. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Manurewa teacher was pulled on stage at Jason Derulo's Auckland concert last night, and put on the spot to dance in front of thousands of people. Mele Taeiloa seized the moment, with a video going viral online. Mele Taeiloa spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about Iran's latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz which has been rejected by the US President, as well as a far right Israeli minister saying his country's military should "go to war" in the occupied West Bank.

A pharmacist in one of Auckland's wealthier suburbs is worried about people using GLP-1 weight loss drugs, when they don't need them. The injectable drugs mimic natural hormones that make you feel full, slow the stomach emptying and control blood sugar. Auckland Pharmacist Shirley Coleman spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about a Royal Air Force jet that crashed in Wales, as well as the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats hitting its highest daily total so far this year.

News from the business sector, including a market report.