Checkpoint

The owner of an Auckland gardening business is frustrated at how difficult it seems to get workers despite high numbers of people apparently needing jobs. She says she's advertised several times for a gardener to join her company, with no experience required and on the job training. She's now resorted to using a recruitment company. The business owner spoke to Lisa Owen.

Neil the Seal is causing more destruction - officials say to admire from afar. Australia correspondent Nick Grimm joins Lisa Owen on Checkpoint.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie's first team of the year has two debuntants on the bench and a new first-five. Rugby reporter Joe Porter spoke with Lisa Owen.

A hand-made silk victorian frock, coloured with arsenic-based dye, is going on display for the first time at Whanganui regional museum. Museum acting director Trish Nugent Lyne spoke with Lisa Owen.

Every option, as soon as possible. It's what the Consumer Affairs Minister is demanding after findings this morning showed asbestos in contaminated children's play sand can be airborne. One of the options Cameron Brewer has asked for could be a total ban on the products. His urgent meeting with officials today came hours after AUT released its results from a world-first study. Some every-day paren...

One of Aotearoa's most popular fish is on the verge of extinction and drastic action is needed to save it, according to an environmental group. Tarakihi is often one half of that much loved duo, fish and chips, part of a home fry up or popular on restaurant menus. Most are caught commercially using trawl nets. Raewyn Peart from the Environmental Defence Society spoke to Lisa Owen.

Six underwater hockey players from Nelson are representing New Zealand at the age group world championships in Turkey later this month. The minority sport has always had a strong following at the top of the South, with Nelson Tasman club players often competing nationally and internationally, trained by coaches who have represented the country at an elite level.

Te Pati Maori's troubles have resurfaced, with a former co-leader calling for a change in leadership. It comes after the party faced a period of turmoil and infighting, resulting in one of its MPs being expelled and another leaving to start her own party. Te Ururoa Flavell says he's been approached by many staunch supporters who were uncertain about how to vote.

New Plymouth has one, Tauranga three and Palmerston North? Well, it's getting a fourth McDonalds. But not everyone is lovin' it. Locals have been debating whether another set of gold arches are necessary, with the construction for a new restaurant underway. Sammy Carter reports.

Two NZ coaches potentially face homicide charges in the Philippines over the tragic deaths last month of two basketball players, who were on a training exercise. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

Not everyone is eating up Aotearoa's new Michelin status. One top chef has described the award night as an absolute joke and questioned how some winners were chosen. In a social media post, Chef Jack Crosti applauded those who've worked their butts off. But he's questioning some selections and said it felt like Michelin had resorted to a google search. Crosti spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about how the US president's finances for last year have been revealed and how the US is trying to kick its way to the next round of the World Cup.

Enormous amounts of packaging waste from the government's school lunch programme is going straight to the dump. An Audit Office report has highlighted high levels of waste in the programme and not just food. The School Lunch Collective provides 200,000 lunches a day, many of them in aluminium trays, with disposable utensils. The report said at the moment waste packaging from 57 percent of the scho...

From today Council's are required to take a common sense, risk based approach to temporary traffic management. That should mean less rows of bright orange safety cones. Tranport minister Chris Bishop spoke with Lisa Owen.

An independent watchdog has found the handling of an official information request by the Prime Minister's office was unreasonable. It comes after a court ordered lobbying documents relating to changing climate laws be released. The Prime Minister's accepted the recommendations - including to review the decision, but opposition parties say it still stinks. Political reporter Lillian Hanly has more.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Mexico and Ecuador's match was dislayed due to weather this afternoon. The oldest player in the NBA, LeBron James, is also making moves. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke with Lisa Owen.

Refugees allowed to settle in the UK might have to repay the government £10,000 to cover their own support, while commuters in England grappled with major disruption this week. UK correspondent Grace Thomas spoke with Lisa Owen.

A Government taskforce set up to target black market cigarettes says it has shut down a network and raided eight stores that were selling products. RNZ has been investigating the illicit smokes, sold over the counter at prices well below retail value, and without any of the health warnings or quitline numbers required by law. Finn Blackwell reports.

Deep fakes and A-I generated scams are now so sophisticated it's getting harder to pick them out of a line-up. That's why a tech users advocacy groups wants laws requiring telcos and social media platforms to proactively detect and block fraudulent activity and scams, in a move away from the "user beware" approach. TUANZ said too much responsibility is being placed on individual users and small bu...

A Taranaki couple wants the government to stop chasing them for hundreds of thousands of dollars in court costs after the Crown dropped plans to seize part of their farm for a highway project. Taranaki-Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is calling for an independent inquiry into the death of a man at Waikato Hospital's emergency department. The man was found unconcious in the ED toilet and he was unable to be resusciated. NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter spoke with Lisa Owen.

A mother and daughter who watched as Waikato Hospital staff frantically tried to resuscitate a man found unconscious on the floor of a toilet say the waiting room had a line out the door. The man presented to ED on Monday night. Health correspondent Kate Green reports.

Serena Williams' much anticipated return to competitive singles tennis action was cut short in the first round at Wimbledon. The tennis icon hadn't played a singles match in almost four years prior to today's loss. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.