Checkpoint

Thousands of young people will lose access to unemployment benefits due to parental income testing being brought in today. The government has ended Jobseeker payments for 18-19-year-olds whose parents have a combined income of more than $67,225. In October last year, it was estimated that about 4300 young people would become ineligible for support as a result. Beneficiary advocate, Kay Brereton sp...

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK cracking down on the super rich in the wake of Wednesday's budget, as well as a political row at Westminster involving Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

It's a busy weekend of sport, with the Black Ferns, Black Caps, Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns all in action. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Two Rotorua teenagers who've honed their skateboarding skills in a factory space at their family's bakery are travelling the world trying to qualify for the LA Olympics. The Temara brothers, Dante, 16 and Gabriel, 14 only took up the sport to amuse themselves during Covid-19. Now both teens are on the NZ Open Mens Stakeboarding team with an eye on the 2028 Olympic Games. Dante Temara spoke to Lisa...

The National Party is trying to save itself from its own supporters - stepping up its campaign against so-called strategic voting. For one, it's parachuted in former leader - Sir John Key - to try rally the troops. It also appears to have complained to the Electoral Commission about the right-wing Split Your Vote campaign - at least that's what its creator Harry Mowbray reckons. Deputy political e...

Dozens of netball players have been left in the lurch after plans for a privately run domestic league collapsed out of the blue. Netball New Zealand pulled the pin on the deal with investors Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray. It says its key objectives and principles had not been met. The news has thrown the future of a domestic competition into question. General Manager of the Netball Players Associa...

A new groundwater survey shows almost 60 percent of Canterbury wells are recording increasing nitrate levels. The Green Party says nitrate pollution is costing ratepayers in the region at least $17 million combined. Anna Sargent reports.

One of Aotearoa's largest property company's says it is a big believer in Auckland and its potential, but the time is just not right for a mega downtown development. Precinct's plan for a $1.5 billion tower block in the CBD has been put on hold. It was planned to be 55 stories, accomodating 7000 workers, alongside retail and hospitality space. The project had fast track consent, and was in advance...

There's plenty of cash flowing through the Canterbury Plains, thanks to high farm prices and Fonterra's sale of its Mainland brands. But the farming sector still only employs a small minority in the region and plenty of other people aren't enjoying the benefits of the boom. In the fourth of a six-part series called Backroads to the Beehive, South Island Correspondent Tim Brown heads out on the pla...

From crisis, to salvation, and seemingly back to crisis again - the rollercoaster for New Zealand's top netballer continues. Eight weeks ago it appeared the elite domestic league had been saved by a proposal from Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams to privatise the competition. But now Netball NZ has abruptly pulled the pin on negotiations. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Waikato's Walton School has uncovered an unassuming time capsule. A giant white envelope from 26 years ago was uncovered, full of smaller envelopes containing letters from former students. The envelope had strict instructions on the front that Walton School principal, Jeremy Kurth has been trying to honour. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about mushroom murderer Erin Patterson loosing an appeal to overturn her convictions. She was convicted of murdering three relatives who ate beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms.

A Doctor who has gone public about "dire" staffing levels at Nelson Hospital says colleagues around the country are also worried that "no one is listening". Doctor Patrick Meffan's been a urologist in Nelson for almost three and a half decades. This week he raised the alarm about staffing levels at the hospital, where for the past year there's been just two urologists instead of the usual four. Ur...

A journalist retiring after 45 years of writing for Palmerston North's Manawatu Standard fears for the future of old-style reporting on community issues. Janine Rankin walked into a workplace filled with cigarette smoke, ink and clanking type writers, and on Friday she's leaving an industry completely changed. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Erin Patterson preparing to learn her fate in the mushroom murder appeal tomorrow. Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Erin Patterson preparing to learn her fate in the mushroom murder appeal tomorrow.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Silver Ferns could cap off a stunning 2026 with a win over the Australian Diamonds in Melbourne tonight. On Sunday, the Silver Ferns added the Constellation Cup to their Commonwealth Games gold medal, and there's more on the line in the final Test. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

The secret adventures of turtles have been revealed thanks to satelitte trackers. Researchers have been following green sea turtles, where they hang out and how far they travel. One of the big findings is that they don't breed here. DOC Marine Senior Science Advisor Dr Karen Middlemiss is the project lead of Team Turtle and spoke to Lisa Owen.

National leader Christopher Luxon has warned voters of 'dire consequences' if RNZ's latest poll was to become a reality. The rare statement has come with the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll showing National has dropped below 25 percent, which is below its disastrous 2020 election showing. Political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Lisa Owen.

A self confessed murderer who stabbed two people to death in October had killed before. In October Rodney Fallowfield killed two men in a rampage after someone punctured his tyres. He severely wounded two other victims who tried to intervene. He has pleaded guilty to two murders - but it has now been revealed that in 2020 he strangled his wife Shirley Reedy during their honeymoon. That time he was...

Some locals could be set to find out they are getting a five storey telco tower outside their property, with no recourse, no consultation and no compensation. Amendments to the Resource Management Act mean the towers can be built without resource consent and it seems there's nothing residents can do about it. Matthew Theunissen reports.

Flavoured vapes should be banned immediately according to Vape Free Kids NZ. It is calling on people to sign an open letter to politicians asking them to follow in Australia's footsteps. Over there flavours are restricted to tobacco, menthol and mint. There are more than 50 flavours on offer here. Co-founder of Vape Free Kids, Charyl Robinson spoke to Lisa Owen.

Ministry of Education data shows drinking water at more than 20 schools had nitrate levels of 5.6 milligrams a litre or more - that's at least half the legal limit - but a level that has been linked to serious health outcomes. A recent New Zealand student of more than 750,000 births found an increased risk of premature birth at levels well below 5.6 milligrams, and international research links col...

The All Blacks upcoming Nations Championship could bring a school reunion to the international stage, with two former schoolboy teammates set to share the black jersey for the first time. Leicester Fainga'anuku and Anton Segner first crossed paths at school - now they're on the same team at the highest level. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.