Checkpoint

In the last 25 years neither the Black Caps or their T20 Cricket World Cup semi-final opponents South Africa have won an ICC white-ball trophy. Tomorrow morning the two sides meet at Eden Gardens with the Proteas seen as the favourites to progress to the final. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Prime Minister has been forced to correct the record once more on a matter related to the Middle East - prompting the Greens to claim he's out of his depth. Except the Greens have made a mistake themselves this week too. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

The US-Israeli war with Iran is approaching its fifth day and the death toll continues to climb with one human rights group reporting over a thousand civilian deaths in Iran. US Admiral Brad Cooper says America's military has deployed more than 50,000 troops to the region and destroyed 17 Iranian ships so far in the operation dubbed "Epic Fury". While this conflict began with US-Israeli strikes against Iran, several other countries have now been dragged into the war. CNN's Matthew Chance spoke to Lisa Owen from Beirut.

The Middle East conflict could bring significant pain at the New Zealand petrol pump. The price of brent crude has already risen about 16 percent in the past week. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow strip of water between Oman and Iran is a vital shipping lane for about 20 percent of the world's oil. Iran is threatening to attack any ships trying to pass through the strait. Waitomo Group chief executive Simon Parham spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland Council is campaigning for changes to the Dog Control Act that is almost 30 years old. General manager; Licensing and Compliance, Robert Irvine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland animal control officers say they need laws with more teeth, with current dangerous dogs legislation resulting in dogs being locked up for years. Last year, the council received almost 17,000 reports of roaming dogs and more than 1300 reports of dog attacks on people. Currently, 60 owners are facing prosecution for dog attacks. It's prompted calls for a revamp of the three decades old Dog Control Act and more power for animal control officers. Bella Craig reports.

In the Mackenzie some workers are resorting to sleeping in cars, campervans or commuting because there aren't enough affordable rentals as travellers continue to stream through. The local mayor has described Tekapo and Twizel as bursting at the seams with visitors, saying it's a welcome economic boost but it's coming at a cost. Hundreds of homes are earmarked for short term stays and prices are high, leaving some struggling to find a roof over their heads. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton has more.

The All Blacks have a new head coach. After weeks of guessing games, Dave Rennie has landed the most prestigious and scrutinised job in the country. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

An Auckland business association says the government's move on orders are "inhumane and a bad idea". Planned law changes will mean police can move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour; including those as young as 14. Karangahape Road is one of Auckland's most famous and colourful shopping and entertainment strips and it is host to some people who are effectively living on the street. But the K-Road Business Association does not support move on orders. General manager Jamey Holloway spoke to Lisa Owen.

The conflict in the Middle East has caused widespread disruption for many major events around the world. Despite international turmoil, the upcoming FIFA World Cup hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico has seen a massive surge in demand recently. America's correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen from Mexico.

A Kiwi stuck in the Middle East has driven hours through the desert in an effort to race back to New Zealand. The US-Israeli conflict with Iran has disrupted travel in and out of the region with much of the airspace completely shut - leaving thousands of international travellers stranded. Kiwi journalist and Checkpoint's Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown has just made the overland journey from Qatar to Saudi Arabia and hopes to fly back to New Zealand shortly. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

As the conflict in the middle east rages on, Australia has taken collateral damage after an air base used by its Defence Force near Dubai was hit by an Iranian drone strike. It comes as the Australian government steps up its efforts to repatriate its citizens stuck in the region. Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Protesting could be banned from some parts of Christchurch, if one councillor gets his way. The council will tomorrow vote on a notice of motion requesting staff investigate Aaron Keown's proposal to create protest-free zones at what he calls 'sensitive sites', including the Bridge of Remembrance, the earthquake memorial, places of worship and cemeteries. That's alarmed one of the city's best-known protesters and Amnesty International, as Keiller MacDuff reports.

The Warriors will bide their time as they search for a suitable replacement to their co-captain. The side recently granted a release for Mitch Barnett to leave the club at the end of the season on compassionate grounds. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

An advocacy group is campaigning for health school lunches this election year, saying they could be funded by a junk or sugary foods levy. Following Government cost cutting meals served as part of the revamped school lunch programme cost an average $3:50. The lunches have to meet a number of nutritional guidelines, but Health Coalition Aotearoa believe there's too much packaged food, meals are not big enough or high enough quality. Co-chair Professor Lisa Te Morenga spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government is playing-down impact the Iran conflict could have on energy prices here, as global oil and gas prices surge in the wake of the attacks by the US and Israel. It's seen traffic grind to a halt through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route connecting the Persian Gulf with open ocean. The price of brent crude oil has risen by around 9 percent since, while Goldman Sachs is forecasting liquefied natural will more than double in price if the disruption continues through March. A leading economist says Kiwi motorists will start to see significant price rises at the pump in the coming weeks. Giles Dexter reports.

Attacks have continued to escalate on both sides of the Middle East conflict. The U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh has been hit by two drones. President Trump says people will soon find out how America will retaliate. It comes as Iran continues to strike Gulf states that host U.S. military. New Zealand is not immune, with exports to Gulf Co-operation council countries valued at almost $3 billion in 2025. Trade and Associate Foreign Affairs Minister Todd McClay spoke to Lisa Owen.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger's proposal to pump stinking sewage from the Bromley Plant into the ocean without being fully treated has other interested parties baffled that he didn't consult with them first. Residents who live in the city's eastern suburbs have been plagued the foul odour since fire damaged the facility in 2021. And this year, the Bromley Pong has got markedly worse and started wafting across other parts of the city. Canterbury Regional Council issued Christchurch City Council with an abatement notice last week due to the stench. Timothy Brown has more.

A kiwi living very near a Middle East military base that is critical to the US says he feels safe enough for the moment, but his family has an overland evacuation plan just in case. The US State Department has today issued a "depart now" warning to Americans living in more than a dozen locations in the Middle East. Just outside Abu Dhabi is a military base that hosts U-S troops. It's reportedly been a target of retaliatory strikes. Jordon Buchanan, his wife and two young children moved to Abu Dhabi about ten months ago. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

For decades, raw sewage was pumped into Lake Horowhenua, earning it the dubious reputation as one of New Zealand's most polluted waterways. Now, a huge cleanup project is underway to try and restore it back to health. But could the fetid lake two kilometres west of Levin ever be safe to swim in again? For the past five summers a special harvester has operated in the lake, chopping out invasive weeds to try and give native species to the chance to flourish and replenish the oxygen-deprived water. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

San Diego wasn't the All Whites first choice as a team base for the Football World Cup, but they believe it's better than some other options. The team will stay and train in the Californian city and travel to play their group games in Los Angeles and Vancouver. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland's mayor and the Government are locking horns over reworked housing density rules for the city. A fortnight ago, the government agreed to slash the number of houses Auckland has to plan for from over two million down to 1.6 million. Auckland's Mayor says the government now expects Auckland Council to provide maps of intended zoning changes ahead of law its law changes, that's something Wayne Brown has given a hard no. Mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

A woman whose young daughter had part of her face bitten off by an aggressive dog can't understand why the animal has not been euthanised a month after the attack. The dog belongs to a family member who came to stay at their Waikato home. They were aware it had previously bitten an adult and had been impounded, but the family was unaware it had also previously attacked a child. The dog was seized by animal control but the owner won't give permission for it to be destroyed. Georjeana Tupawa, whose daughter was attacked, spoke to Lisa Owen.

The US conflict with Iran is approaching its fourth day, with continued strikes in the Middle East. The Iranian death toll has reportedly topped 550. Dozens more have been killed in Lebanon, with Israel bombing the capital Beirut. The US has confirmed six military personnel have died. US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK's response to the Iran strikes, as Defence Secretary John Healey spoke for the first time since the air strikes began.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Black Caps have secured their place as one of the top four teams in the world in T20 cricket, but they are still chasing the elusive silverware. A semi-final win against one of the form teams of the tournament, South Africa, later this week will get them a step closer. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Corner dairies and convenience stores should not be selling nangs or nitrous oxide at all according to Retail NZ. It is illegal to sell the gas for huffing, but a Checkpoint investigation found corner stores and vape shops are selling large cannisters of the gas that contain hundreds of hits, with virtually no questions asked. The police are now cracking down on outlets reminding them of the rules, before escalating to enforcement. Retail New Zealand chief executive Carolyn Young spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Prime Minister says he cannot make an assessment on whether the United States and Israel's attack on Iran was lawful, as New Zealand isn't party to all the information. The government has called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations - criticising the Iranian regime for threatening international peace and security but not saying whether it believes the strikes carried out by the US and Israel were lawful. Political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Lisa Owen.

Could the fall out from conflict in the Middle East flatten New Zealand's economy? Strikes on Iran by the US and Israel have closed airspace and disrupted flights, as Iran retaliates. The Hormuz strait, a vital trade route is effectively shut, where up to 20 percent of the world's oil transits the narrow strip of water between Iran and Oman. One local logistics company has said it has 4000 cargo containers in transit in that trade lane. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Thousands of flights have been disrupted as military strikes continue in the Middle East. Flights in and out of airports in Tel Aviv, Dubai, Doha and other international hubs in the region have been suspended or severely restricted with much of the air space there closed. It follows the US-Israel attack on Iran. Executive Director of the NZ Board of Airline Reprsentatives, Cath O'Brien spoke to Lisa Owen.

A paediatrician who assessed 10-month-year-old Poseidyn Hemopo-Pickering, who died in 2020, says his injuries were so severe, it was like he'd been swung into a hard surface like a cricket bat. Poseidyn was rushed to Middlemore Hospital and then taken to Starship Hospital on the evening of September the 5th, 2020, after being found unresponsive at his Manurewa home. He died hours later. But no one has been held responsible. A coronial inquiry into Poseidyn's death has begun at the Coroner's Court in Auckland today. Jessica Hopkins reports.

A rural Auckland community is wanting to see something done about dog attacks on their sheep, raising concerns a person could be next. Residents in Paremoremo are sounding alarm bells saying the risk posed by having a roaming dog in the area is a tragedy waiting to happen. They want to see something done before it's too late. Finn Blackwell has more.

After another thrilling weekend of Super Rugby, sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

At what age should your children be financially independent? 40 percent of kiwi parents surveyed by YouGov believe they should be by 20 to 25 years old. 33 percent went even younger, saying offspring should be financially independent between the ages of 16 to 19 years old. Ruth Henderson from the blog and podcast The Happy Saver spoke to Lisa Owen.

The US President has warned combat operations will continue in Iran until all of Washington's objective have been achieved. US and Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation have already cost dozens of lives and disrupted global shipping and air travel. Iran has retaliated, striking at US military installations in the region. The Gulf cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha have been under bombardment. Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about handheld facial recognition technology being rolled out by Police in London, as well as new figures out of the UK showing the number of young people not in work, education or training edging towards one million.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Football fans at this year's world cup will face some strict rules about what can be brought into stadiums. But without a ball even being kicked at the global tournament Scotland's supporters have already had a win. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Early trials of a breakthrough stem cell therapy to treat babies with spina bifida while still in the womb is showing remarkable results. The trial results published today in The Lancet medical journal show babies who were treated with cells from the mother's placenta were born with no signs of infection, abnormal tissue growth or tumour formation. Associate Professor Lana McClements from the University of Technology in Sydney is one of those who has been watching closely, and she spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The High School and Primary School workforce look to be grappling with two different kinds of challenges. Figures from the Ministry of Education show last year they were expecting a shortfall of 880 secondary school teachers to come. That has now risen to 1220 for this year and next. In Primary schools meanwhile, there are teacher shortages expected in Taranaki, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Auckland Principal Kyle Brewerton spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Waipā District is now in recovery after extreme weather forced it into a state of emergency two weeks ago. But with some residents still cut off and Pirongia village still rationing water, things are far from back to normal. Waikato reporter Libby Kirkby-McLeod reports.

The SPCA is rolling out a new programme to teach children to recognise the signs of certain dog behaviour in the hope it prevents bites and attacks on young people. It comes after a fortnight of serious reported attacks, including a 62 year-old woman who died following an attack in Northland, and a father and his teenage son seriously injured in Christchurch on Saturday. SPCA Chief Scientific Officer Dr Arnja Dale spoke to Lisa Owen.

The shortage of secondary teachers is getting worse. The education ministry today forecast high schools will be short 1220 teachers this year and next, a big jump from last year's estimate of 880 for the same period. The figures were unveiled moments after the Education Minister Erica Stanford talked up the government's efforts to encourage more people to become teachers. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

A Dunedin croquet club has been roughing it since 2018 after asbestos was found in their old clubrooms. The Tainui Croquet Club has no electricity, fresh water comes from a hose poked through a nearby fence, there's a portaloo and they share kai outside because the temporary building - an old shed - is too small to shelter them all. But they're hoping to turn cheese rolls and tea towel fundraisers into a new clubroom. Tess Brunton has more.

After two rounds of Super Rugby Pacific, the Aussies are leading the pack. The Brumbies and Waratahs are setting the pace with New Zealand-based sides occupying spots three to eight on the table and another blockbuster weekend ahead. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A pedestrian advocacy group is pushing back against the Government's proposed changes to cycling on the footpath - saying only children aged 5 or younger should be allowed. Living Streets Aotearoa says the current proposal, which would see children up to 12 years old being allowed to ride bikes or e-bikes on the footpath with no speed restriction, is dangerous for pedestrians using the footpath. They also say some footpaths should be off limits to all bikes completely. President of Living Streets Aotearoa, Tim Jones spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Americas' correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about officials confirming that an American citizen was killed in yesterday's clash between Cuba's coastguard and a US-registered speedboat.

At the supermarket what makes you decide between fresh or frozen veggies? If it's price or nutritional value, then you may be interested to know what really comes out on top. According to the latest New Zealand Health Survey only 6.8 percent of adults and 5.8 percent of children are meeting the recommended daily vegetable intake. Dietician Julia Sekula spoke to Lisa Owen.