Checkpoint

A lifeline has been extended to a volunteer service supporting people in the ED at Palmerston North Hospital. Last year Hato Hone St John announced it would be scrapping the Friend of the Emergency Department programme due to funding constraints. Now the charity, Palmerston North Hospital Foundation's stumping up $75,000 over the next three years to keep the local volunteers going. Foundation Chai...

Fuel is again edging to record prices, off the back of ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile the government is giving regional airlines a share of $5.7 million to help protect essential air links as operators face soaring fuel prices. Westpac Chief Economist, Kelly Eckhold spoke to Lisa Owen.

South Island surfer Jack Tyro is preparing to paddle out for New Zealand at the world champs. It's far from the 19 year old's first international competition, but this time he is captaining the country's youngest longboarding squad. Tess Brunton reports.

A near miss caused by a car racing to beat a train today caught the Greens off guard as they touted a plan to get rid of level crossings in Auckland. Labour had an announcement of its own - about the right to repair. For National, leader Christopher Luxon pressed the flesh in Canterbury, while deputy Nicola Willis put the boot into Labour's fiscal plan. Political reporter Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira sp...

Telehealth services are offering assessments for ADHD, as some people seeking a diagnosis for the condition don't want to wait months for an in-person consultation. Since February, GPs and nurse practitioners have been able to diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication for it. But many GP practices aren't providing the service, meaning people are turning to virtual assessments. For the second story in...

A fifth Black Cap has turned his back on a central contract just weeks before the international summer starts. Michael Bracewell has opted to move to a casual contract to pursue an opportunity in the Australian Big Bash League, opening the door for a veteran first class player to earn his first national contract. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

An amateur sleuth is close to finding the whanau of a young WWI soldier whose medals were discovered recently during a police raid. Two medals, belonging to Private Victor Powell were found at a Christchurch property during an unrelated search. Ian Martyn from Medals Reunited is working to track down his family, and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East and North Africa correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about backlash after staff members from the newsroom of one of the country's few independent media organisations were arrested, as well as Yemen's Saudi-backed government saying it is taking measures to regain territory from the Houthis.

Auckland Council is pledging to repair 95 percent of potholes on Auckland's roads within 24 hours of being reported. The quick fixes are reserved for the busiest or mains roads, while others will be patched within five days. It's not the first time they have run the campaign. Auckland Council's head of Road Asset Maintenance, Alan Wallace spoke to Lisa Owen

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about Jessica Elworthy. She's an 82-year-old double amputee who gave para ice hockey a go for the first time.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about an arrest being made in relation to the incident at RAF Fairford, as well as hundreds of prisoners in England and Wales being released early, as the government tries to stop the prison system from running out of space.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Sir Richard Hadlee has released a statement, taking aim at New Zealand Cricket, the game's governing body. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen. 

Judges have been working hard to find the winner of the legendary sausage roll competition. They nibbled their way through dozens of sausage rolls, with just over 200 of the kiwi favourites making it to judging. Judge Steve Pederson spoke to Lisa Owen about what it takes to the be the country's best sausage roll. 

Residents of a south Auckland street are feeling deeply traumatised after a number of people, including children, saw a body on the doorstep of a suburban house last night. When police arrived, they found a further two people dead at the property. RNZ has been told by multiple sources that two children lived there, but there is no confirmation whether they are among the deceased. Matthew Theunisse...

There are renewed calls to scrap the death penalty, after the botched execution left a convicted murderer in hospital when efforts to kill her by lethal injection failed. Witnesses say after two doses of the potentially fatal medicine, Christa Pike was still alive, speaking in full sentences to begin with and then snoring. Professor Deborah Denno from New York's Fordham University School of Law ha...

Some MPs have paused campaigning today, to attend former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe's tangi - but not Christopher Luxon, who announced his party's energy policy in Auckland. Act leader David Seymour didn't pause either - organising a whole event to take a crack at other parties' policies to break up the supermarket duopoly - including his coalition partner, National. Political reporter Lillian Hanly h...

For years the sound of Christchurch's tsunami sirens have been a signal to get away from the beach if there's an earthquake, but that's all going to change next week. They're being removed, and in their place the council's civil defence chiefs are urging people to rely on their own judgment in an emergency, as well as mobile phone alerts. Rachel Graham reports from New Brighton.

Reviews have been launched into more than a dozen medical clinics owned by a company that's already under the microscope over staffing levels and patient safety. The 16 centres are owned by OmniHealth, the parent company behind the Pahiatua Medical Centre, where seven staff tendered their resignations. The PHO manages the contracts at the OmniHealth clinics. PHO CEO Tony Wai spoke to Lisa Owen.

The glint of gold has drawn dozens of high-speed prospectors to Central Otago. The World Gold Panning Championship is under way in Cromwell, where more than 150 international competitors are vying for top honours. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd went along.

One of the WNBA's biggest stars has given her first interview to New Zealand media. Hailey Van Lith has joined her Connecticut Sun teammate Charlisse Leger-Walker at the Tokomanawa Queens in Wellington. The pair will debut in the NZ Women's basketball league this Sunday. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe was at the Queen's media stand up and spoke to Lisa Owen. 

For the first time in more than eight months the main route into a tiny Northland community is finally open, after being badly damaged in extreme weather in January. A massive slip betwene Whangarei and Helena Bay left some homes and businesses in Helena Bay, Oakura Bay and other settlements around Whangaruru with limited road access. Owner of Whangaruru Beachfront Camp, Robynne Cooper spoke to Li...

Australia correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen about Australia's eSafety commissioner calling out some of the gaming industry's biggest names in a new child safety report.

Election candidates have faced a grilling today from young people calling for more restrictions for online gambling. Three political hopefuls were asked what their parties would do about the harm it causes. Many of the people they heard from felt pushed into action because they've grown up inundated by online ads for gambling outfits, and have seen firsthand their mates gamble away meagre student...

A lawyer who resigned from her job after faking an obituary to justify bereavement leave has this week been censured by a professional body. The case is an unusual one, but it raises the question - how common is faking for sick or bereavement leave? Senior employment lawyer, Gerard Elwell spoke to Lisa Owen.