Checkpoint

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.

The Wellington Phoenix Women flew to Melbourne today ahead of their first A-league football grand final. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

Grammy winning pop star Dua Lipa refuses to be put in a box or actually anywhere on the box, when it comes to selling TVs. The singer is suing the electronic giant Samsung for $15 million us-dollars for allegedly using her photo to sell televisions in the US. The pop star's face is plastered across the packaging of Samsung's TVs. Auckland University senior law lecturer Joshua Yuvaraj has been foll...

Storme Turany, the mother of a 16-week-old Canterbury baby that died from catastrophic head injuries in 2014, says she was not involved in the infant's death. Soul Turany's skull was fractured in two places and he was bleeding in one eye and across a large area of his brain. Police believe Soul's fatal injuries must have been caused by either Ms Turany, or her then-partner, Tony Farmer. Reporter T...

A call tonight for a full independent review of a privately owned Southland lab service, after doctors twice missed signs a woman had cancer, delaying her treatment. She died a year later. Awanui labs failed to detect the 74 year old retired nurse had stomach cancer, despite analysing multiple biopsies, with cancer cells present. The lab is privately owned but is contracted by Health New Zealand t...

For the past 20 years Annette Hall has been the voice of a vital maritime radio service, checking in on fishermen, providing forecasts, and coordinating rescues. For those on the water in the Far North, she's seen as something of a guardian angel. At 6pm tonight, however, the long-serving volunteer with an infectious laugh will hang up her handpiece for the last time and the channel will fall sile...

A proposal to run a floating sauna in a popular Te Anau reserve has run out of steam, for now. The plan was for people to sweat it out on a floating pontoon on Lake Henry, with the option to finish with a cold plunge. Floating Sauna Limited had already been granted resource consent for the proposal, today was about considering submissions for and against the idea. Tess Brunton has more.

Christopher Luxon has jumped into the immigration debate, promising a careful approach, putting social cohesion ahead of business profit. It's already prompted scepticism from his coalition partner New Zealand First - which says the India free trade deal suggests otherwise. The Prime Minister made the comments in a speech to business leaders in Auckland this morning, also signalling a tighter-than...