Checkpoint

Most people have had the irritating experience of talking to a chatbot, but could you guess every time whether you are chatting with AI or an actual human? Canterbury University researchers have been investigating using the Turing test. It has been claimed that generative AI has already passed the Turing test, but NZ researchers have different takes. Professor of Philosophy at Canterbury Universit...

While many of us assume we'll outlive our pets, what happens when they outlive us? A Public Trust survey finds that pets are increasingly being put in wills. Sammy Carter reports.

Three All Whites club sides have been caught up in ugly scenes in football's English Championship today. The match between Swansea City and Milwall was paused while officials dealt with racist chanting. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Green Party is backing a bed levy, and says it will give councils the tool they need to charge visitors spending the night so regions can fund infrastructure. The party is also promising to set-up a national Airbnb register to help council's identify and charge short term rentals too. Green Party co-leader, Chloe Swarbrick spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about revelations that Saudi Arabia's public warning system was essentially switched off prior to a series of fatal airport attacks launched by Yemen's Houthis, as well as a Saudi national who has been charged with planting a recording device in an office at the headquarters of ChatGPT owner OpenAI.

Proposed changes to animal welfare rules could mean the end of some rodeo events. The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is considering new roping rules and more stringent requirements for training animals and competitors. Vet and Chair of the Committee, Matthew Stone spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about a Qantas flight that was grounded after a bed bug outbreak, as well as 16 year olds being able to purchase pepper spray in the Northern Territory.

Latest business news including a market report.

The Black Ferns kick off a three test series against France in Hamilton this weekend. Leading into this WXV home series, Black Ferns coach Whitney Hansen has proven she's not afraid of some feedback from inside or outside the camp. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A South Canterbury dentist, who sometimes pulls out a hundred teeth a day says more needs to be done to keep young mouths healthy. Timaru Dentist Fraser Dunbar works in private practice and also at the local hospital. He says there used to be several schjool dental therapists in the district but that's no longer the case. Timaru Dentist Fraser Dunbar spoke to Lisa Owen.

A special radar is aiding the search for unmarked graves of patients who died in care in mental asylums near Dunedin. The region has a long - and often dark - history of large-scale institutional care including Seacliff Lunatic Asylum and Cherry Farm as well as welfare homes and church-run facilities. Earlier this year, the Dunedin City Council received government funding to help find and honour t...

Coastguard has grounded its two volunteer air patrol and search teams in the Upper North Island raising concerns about boaties safety at Aotearoa heads into peak season the water. The volunteer pilots in Auckland and Northland have been benched due to a change in safety standards. President of Coastguards Auckland Air Patrol, Andrew Lamb spoke to Lisa Owen. 

People have 12 days left to enrol to vote, with enrolments closing at midnight on October 25th. Unlike previous elections, you can not sign up and vote on election day. There's also been boundary changes that could mean you have shifted electorates even if you have not shifted house. Chair of the Electoral Commission, Simon Moore spoke to Lisa Owen.

A New Zealand medical tourist whose weight loss operation went wrong in Turkey says her bid to get her money back has hit a wall. Helen Watson had gastric sleeve surgery at the Medicana hospital in Istanbul last year, and was immediately stricken with pain and problems. Watson's pleas for a refund from Medicana have so far fallen on deaf ears and she has few options to claw her money back. Jimmy E...

He was Australian cycling's golden boy on the track - then he jumped ship to Great Britain, triggering a major fallout within the sport. Now sprinter Matthew Richardson has been sent home from the World Championships in Shanghai amid serious misconduct. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

A series of provocative political billboards have gone missing in Tauranga, just days after they went up. The boards were branded with the slogan 'I'd rather crap in my hands and clap than have three more years of these idiots wrecking our country'. Alongside that are arrows pointing towards the billboards of National, ACT and NZ First. The man behind the billboards, businessman and former Gisborn...

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about a raid by immigration agents on a democrat congresswoman's home just weeks out from the crucial midterm elections, as well as ads promoting a Republican candidate that were supposed to run in Portland, Maine accidentally playing in Portland, Oregon due to a mix up.

The campaign trail was explosive for some today, but with little in the way of policy. ACT leader David Seymour blasted just shy of 50,000 tonnes of rocks in a controlled demolition at Hunua Quarry. Meanwhile, Labour and National went to war over who has done more for the typical kiwi family. Political reporter Tu Natanahira spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Education Minister believes the case of a child sex offender who was able to keep teaching despite multiple warning signs, is not isolated. Barrister Katherine Anderson KC today released a scathing report into the case of Timothy Fisher. She found the Teaching Council should have struck him off a decade before he was convicted of indecency and sex offences against children, most of them under...

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK Defence Secretary weighing in on Trump's Russia diesel deal, as well as the UK setting up a new taskforce to prepare for extreme weather.

Both the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns kick off their World Cup campaigns this week. It's been 18 years since the Kiwis one and only title, and the current group of players are taking inspiration from the victorious 2008 side. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen. 

Business News for 12 October 2026.

Ten weeks from Christmas, businesses have started taking on extra staff to cope with what they hope will be a rush on retail. Retail NZ said the December quarter is where most people do their biggest trade, with many retailers relying on a sucessful festive season to get them through the rest of the year. CEO of the Newmarket Business Association Mark Knoff-Thomas spoke to Lisa Owen.

One in every three households have experienced food insecurity in the past year. Statistically speaking, the means you or one of your immediate neighbours struggled to put food on the table. Those figures from the latest survey by the New Zealand Food Network are almost identical to last year's, as the cost of living shows no signs of dropping. Felix Walton reports.

ACT wants to save hundreds of millions of dollars by cutting the number of people on health and disability benefits, and it is focusing on those not working due to their mental health. The party wants compulsary independent medical certification to determine eligability for a jobseeker disability benefit. Mental Health Foundation CEO, Shaun Robinson spoke to Lisa Owen.