Checkpoint

Squaring off at this weekend's national school chess champs is a team from a tiny Otago school. Macandrew Bay School on the Otago Peninsula has around 140 students. Its year six team beat off tough competition to represent the region at the national interschool chess champs in Auckland. Principal Nic Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

One of New Zealand basketball's biggest stars has finished her rookie season in the WNBA today and is preparing to come home. Charlisse Leger-Walker signed off the Conneticut Sun's last game in the state with a 14 point win before the team moves to Houston next season. But before she can think about a stateside move Leger-Walker is coming back to play in Wellington. Sports reporter Felicity Reid s...

Health New Zealand is boosting its front line with an extra 380 full time nursing midwifery and health care assistants. Each year Health New Zealand uses a formula to estimate how many staff it needs and today's announcement of 380 additional roles stems from that. Te Whatu Ora's Chief National Nurse, Nadine Gray spoke to Lisa Owen.

Keep all car doors and windows shut. In you break down sound your horn and wait for the patrol vehicle. Remember - lions have right of way. That was the advice on a sign for people heading into Orana Wildlife Park's drive-through Lion Safari section when the Christchurch open-range zoo first opened 50 years ago today. While recent financial woes are weighing heavily on park management, the animals...

At the end of day two of the election campaign, the argy bargy had well and truly begun. Accusations were flying over who is - and who is not - putting the work in on the hustings. Ahead of the a big weekend on the campaign trail, political reporter Lauren Crimp spoke to Lisa Owen.

Sarah Hirini is returning to rugby with a new found superpower. The Black Ferns Sevens legend is only four months removed from giving birth to her first son, and is already setting her sights on adding more gold to an already stacked trophy cabinet. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A kiwi dog is starring in a new Hollywood blockbuster hitting movie theatres this week. Heart of the Beast stars Oscar winner Brad Pitt as a retired US Army Special Forces veteran, who is forced to battle nature's brutal elements after his sea plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness. But the film was actually shot across the South Island. Playing the supporting role of his dog Odin, is a New Zeala...

Australia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressing the United Nations, as well as his plan to ward off so-called "ghost camping" at several national parks in Tasmania.

The Southern medical officer of health wants a freeze on new liquor off licences in Dunedin's high deprivations areas, including the student quarter. It is part of a submission on Dunedin City Council's draft alcohol plan close in about an hour. Te Whatu Ora Southern Medical Officer of Health, Dr Michael Butchard spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a rogue AI program hacking its way into a restricted internet portal run by Australia's Medicare system, sparking concern about how private information is held online.

Dannevirke residents have the chance to make their voices heard about the state of healthcare in the Tararua district tonight. On Monday six staff in nearby Pahiatua resigned from the town's Medical Centre amid concerns about the extreme workload and patient safety. The centre, and Dannevirke Community Hospital, are owned by the Tararua Health Group. But the Hospital and Medical Centre are under r...

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Black Ferns are bracing for the Twickenham cauldron this Sunday. A crowd of more than 50,000 fans are expected as the Black Ferns take on the Red Roses in one of the biggest women's rugby tests of the year. Jonty Dine joins Lisa Owen. 

Unshackled from parliament, politicians have hit the ground running as the election campaign kicked up a gear today. Labour was out promising big investments in state houses, school repairs and hospitals. National meanwhile was still grappling with the business of government. Political reporter Lauren Crimp spoke to Lisa Owen.

Just a fortnight after the tragic death of a school student at a level crossing in Mount Albert, Auckland Transport officials have met with residents in the area to see what changes are needed. The work has been in the pipeline for a while. But, any change to improve safety and traffic flow comes with a warning - it will be expensive and disruptive. Erin Johnson reports.

Health New Zealand is providing additional clinical workforce support at Dannevirke Community Hospital for the next 30 days following a number of recent staff resignations. Patient Voice Aotearoa's Malcolm Mulholland spoke to Lisa Owen.

Councils are in limbo after they say they moved "heaven and earth " to meet "unrealistic deadlines" for amalgamation .only for the government to push pause on the reforms. They were given three months to present their proposals for regional amalgamation or the government threatened to do it for them. 18 proposals were submitted, but the government revealed today it won't make any decisions on fina...

A charity is calling for more investment into children's eye care as many families shy away from getting regular tests because of the cost. Painga Project says support for kids' vision is inadequate, and more must be done so they don't fall behind at school. Anya Fielding reports.

Some mayors and councils have been left frustrated and annoyed after the government pulled the handbrake on its local government reforms out of the blue. Councils were given three months to present their proposals for regional amalgamation or the government threatened to do it for them. But the government has now revealed it won't make any decisions on final plans until after the election. Local G...

Before vast numbers of Kauri trees were felled to build the villas of Ponsonby and Grey Lynn for early European settlers, Auckland's Waitakere Ranges were covered in ancient forests. But this century they've faced kauri dieback. There is no known cure but a collaboration between mana whenua, scientists, Auckland council and volunteers is providing a glimmer of hope. 2000 strong kauri seedlings hav...

89 days after exiting the Football World Cup at the group stage, the All Whites are back on the field in an historic match tonight. A game against Palestine in China will kick off this new cycle but very few people will see it happen. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Streets around the world bear his name, a depression era hero with an enormous heart, who was ahead of the field. Phar Lap, the legendary race horse, will be celebrated in his home town of Timaru next week on the 100th anniversary of his birth. After winning 37 races, Phar Lap died suddenly in the US in 1932. Nearly 100 years on debate continues over whether Phar Lap was intentionally poisoned. Se...

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about China's President Xi Jinping touching down in the US for his first visit in over a decade, as well as a feud involving Dolly Parton's nephew and her estate breaking out almost a month after her death.

A growth advocacy group wants to let up to 300 exceptionally talented people a year move to New Zealand with no job offer required. Growth New Zealand is floating the idea of a "Catalyst Visa", where unlike other options people would not need a job offer or sponsor ahead of their arrival. Applicants would have to prove they're top talent in their field, with a record of " internationally exception...

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Prime Minister Andy Burnham meeting with US President Donald Trump on the side lines at the UN General Assembly, as well as Earl Spencer being forced to apologise over a factual inaccuracy in his new memoir.