Checkpoint

A Korean national who was caught in an undercover sting trying to smuggle multiple New Zealand geckos out of the country has been jailed. Gunak Lee's lawyer argued he was a naive mule when he agreed to do it for someone he hadn't even met. Kim Baker Wilson, who was in the Manukau District Court for Lee's sentencing, spoke to Lisa Owen.

Critical public health roles - including in emergency management, pandemic preparedness and Maori health - are on the chopping block at the Ministry of Health, with yet another restructuring under way before Christmas. The Public Service Association says the loss of skills and expertise will leave New Zealand vulnerable, as the risk from disease and natural disasters continues to ramp up. Consultation on the changes closes in just over a fortnight and any changes are expected to be in place by April. Ruth Hill reports.

Finishing touches are getting added to the country's biggest indoor sport and aquatics centre, which opens to the public in central Christchurch in less than a fortnight. The long-delayed $500 million building, Parakiore, has a 50-metre competition pool and five hydroslides, as well as nine sports courts and a High Performance Sport New Zealand training base. It replaces the much-missed QEII park facilities destroyed in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Anna Sargent reports.

The country's fastest man over 100 metres is trading in his black singlet and hopping the ditch. National record holder Eddie Osei-Nketia has officially completed his transfer of allegiance and will now compete for Australia. The 24 year-old last represented New Zealand at the World Athletics Champs in 2022, and broke the New Zealand record in a time of 10.08 seconds. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

From a two bedroom apartment that went for just $15,000 to a $35 million seaside mansion, 2025 has seen some pretty remarkable property sales. Latest data from Cotality shows the national median house price sits at $806,551, which is more than 17% below the 2022 peak. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds shared some the years best bargains and biggest blowouts with Lisa Owen.

A Victoria University Professor has sparked a debate over what is acceptable language after she posted on social media saying she ignores emails from students if they use the greeting "hey", as she thinks it is rude. However in a statement Victoria University said "so long as correspondence is not ill-mannered, then an informal tone can be quite acceptable". Plain language and writing trainer Colleen Trolove spoke to Lisa Owen.

At least five children have been taken to hospital with chemical burns after an apparent mix up at a Christchurch childcare centre. Emergency services were called to the centre, in the suburb of Woolston, about quarter past one this afternoon. Samantha Gee was at the childcare centre on Ferry Road and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about an unofficial roll out of the country's social media ban beginning today with the tech giant Meta starting to delete accounts held on its platforms. The full social media ban is due to be implemented next week.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Black Caps are well in control of the first cricket test against the West Indies in Christchurch, as day three belonged to the kiwis who now have a lead of well over 300. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A blend of former soldiers posted from a range of conflicts, gathered together today to mark the 75th year since their military unit was formed. The 16th Field Regiment was formed to fight in the Korean War - and since 1950 it has served around the world. Today, veterans and their families have remembered their parts in modern history's turbulent times. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

After all the planning and waiting, the Swedish furniture megastore IKEA has opened in Auckland. While hundreds of customers, including the Prime Minister celebrated the much anticipated store opening, the rest of the city was braced for disruption. Traffic management was in full effect, with authorities warning of delays of up to 40-minutes around the motorway. Finn Blackwell got amongst the frenzied crowds and filed this report.

A government decision to reject stronger climate targets is pitiful, and will cost households in the long run, scientists, advocates and opposition politicians say. The coalition today released its response to recommendations from the Climate Change Commission to strengthen New Zealand's 2050 targets for methane and carbon emissions. It rejected them both, saying adopting stronger targets would impact GDP - but critics say today's decision will cost the country far more dearly. Climate Change Correspondent Kate Newton reports.

The New Zealand Transport Agency has frozen $6 million dollars of funding to police until it's satisfied they've met their alcohol breath test targets. It comes after RNZ revealed 30,000 breath tests had been "falsely or erroneously recorded" by frontliner staff. About 130 police around the country are under investigation. National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood spoke to Lisa Owen.

Two time Olympic swimmer Lewis Clareburt will dive into training in Australia in the new year as he chases the dream of a medal at the LA 2028 games. The 26 year old has announced he's moving from Auckland to Melbourne so he can train with other top Aussie and Japanese athletes, and he'll be coached by internationally renowned Jolyon Finck. Lewis Clareburt spoke to Lisa Owen as he arrived at the pool for training and explained why he needs to jump the ditch.

Long-awaited changes are coming for retirement villages meaning residents will be fully repaid within 12 months of leaving a unit, but some advocates are worried they still don't go far enough. The Government has announced it will proceed with changes to the Retirement Villages Act, which it says will give more fairness and certainty to residents and their families. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds reports.

Auckland commuters spotted digital motorway signs with warnings to beware traffic delays with IKEA opening in Auckland this morning. The Swedish homeware store takes up a whole block in Mount Wellington. Traffic forecasts showed worst case scenarios of 40-minute delays just to get off the motorways and a special traffic team was in place monitoring the situation. Auckland Transport Operation Centre manager Claire Howard spoke to Lisa Owen.

The first of two big World Cup draws happened this week, with the Rugby World Cup version happening last night in Sydney. The timing of the draw has raised a few eyebrows as the tournament is about two years away, and there's a feeling of deja vu about how it's panned out for the All Blacks. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about a number of new photos from sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's island that has been released to the public, as well as a Pentagon review into group chat messages related to US strikes on Yemen which were leaked earlier this year.

San Francisco is suing the makers of ultra processed food or UPFs, arguing local government is picking up the bill for the serious health consequences from their products; including conditions like obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease & cancer. 10 companies including Nestle, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Kraft Heinz and Mondelez are targeted in the legal action. Professor Boyd Swinburn from the University of Auckland's school of population health spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent, Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the release of a landmark report into one of the most tragic events in British sporting history, as well as an update on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince and Duke of York.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Things are well balanced in the first test between the Black Caps and West Indies. After being bowled out for just 231 at Hagley Oval, the Kiwis have taken six wickets on day two with the visitors still 74 runs behind. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche says Andrew Coster's resignation from his high paying government job was the right thing to do. The former Police Commissioner has quit as head of the social investment agency. It follows a highly critical investigation into the police response to allegations of sexual offending against a woman by former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Public Service Commissioner, Sir Brian Roche spoke to Lisa Owen.

The North Island has been hit by rolling storms this afternoon as thunderstorms and lightning darken early summer skies. The Sky Tower took a hit from a lightning strike, while severe thunderstorm watches remain in place for northern areas and strong winds are expected. In rural Manawatu a campground was hit by a tornado that left a trail of destruction in its wake. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham spoke to Lisa Owen.

A kindergarten operator says it will cost hundreds of thousands dollars to decontaminate several Wellington sites that have tested positive for asbestos in the wake of the kid's-coloured sand recall. Whanau Manaaki has tested 13 kindergartens around the motu that had been using the coloured sand that could be laced with asbestos. Three in Wellington have come back positive and need significant cleanup work. Whanau Manaaki CEO, Amanda Coulston spoke to Lisa Owen.

A coroner wants the public banned from a deadly but popular rock fishing spot in Waikato, after two more people are believed to have drowned there. Flatmates Olson Canatoy and Eric Dabalos failed to return from a days fishing at Papanui point in October 2021. Since 1980 20 people have died within one kilometre of the point. Open Spaces manager at the Waikato District Council, Glyn Morgan spoke to Lisa Owen.

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello is back in the firing line over Big Tobacco's influence, with heated debate during a health select committee today on Government plans to roll out oral tobacco and nicotine products. Last year Cabinet agreed in principal to allow the sale of smokeless products, such as Swedish snus and nicotine pouches, subject to the products meeting safety requirements and regulatory controls to prevent youth access. Ruth Hill reports from the special hearing for Parliament's Scrutiny Week.

A smart watch that doubles as an alarm for women at risk of family violence is helping to reduce police callouts. The social service Help at Hand has provided 1200 of the violence prevention watches to organisations including some women's refuges and data shows it's making a difference. Amy Williams reports.

Football fans will get the chance to farewell the All Whites on home soil before next year's world cup. The team will play two games in March in New Zealand before they leave for North America. These games will be part of the first FIFA Series to be held in Aotearoa. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

IKEA is opening the doors of it's first New Zealand store in Auckland tomorrow. Up to 20,000 shoppers are predicted to visit on the first day, along with traffic jams of up to 40 minutes just to get off the motorway. AUT macromarketing professor Ben Wooliscroft spoke to Lisa Owen with some tips about how to make the most of your shopping experience.

Asia correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen about the Indonesian island of Sumatra dealing with the devastation caused by flooding and landslides which has killed hundreds, as well as the Indian government facing pushback over a state-run app that it wants preinstalled on all mobile phones in the country.

Among everyday vehicles, nearly half are overdue for either their Warrant of Fitness (WOF) or their registration, according to a vehicle management app. Bonnet, an app that links to NZTA data crunched the numbers for 21,500 vehicles, privately owned and fleet operated. The Bonnet data shows in Northland, 66% of warrants are overdue, in Auckland around 16% have expired, but it's just 8% in Otago. AA's principal policy advisor, Terry Collins spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the Albanese Government rolling out its new "National Artificial Intelligence Plan" in a bid to encourage innovation and investment in the digital sector while also implementing safeguards for threats posed by the rapidly advancing technology.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Tall Blacks have started their world cup qualification campaign with back-to-back losses to the Australian Boomers. Both games were decided within the last minute of play, but fans missed the crucial moments in last night's nailbiter when the TV feed suddenly switched to different programming. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A suite of decision-makers have been put through their paces at Parliament today - facing questions as part of a jam-packed Scrutiny Week. In the last half hour, a hearing with the Police Commissioner Richard Chambers just wrapped up - in which he defended police culture in the wake of the Jevon McSkimming scandal. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

Food safety officers have today been at the Christchurch school which yesterday was delivered rotten and stinky meals as part of the Government's school lunch programme. Haeata Community Campus, which covers from year one to 13, received dozens of meals which staff say were covered in mould and smelt rancid. A number of investigations are underway into what went wrong, including by MPI and the supplier Compass. Rachel Graham has more.

A Lower Hutt mum whose kids' Kmart play sand tested positive for asbestos says she's stressed out and worried about whether she's done enough to make sure her kids and house are safe. Several coloured sand products have been recalled over the contamination scare. Kmart is the main retailer involved and has sold 67,000 units of the potentially asbestos laced sand play sand. Keren Lee, who's sand has tested positive for asbestos, spoke to Lisa Owen.

A new weapon that aims to destroy invasive yellow hornets and their nests is about to be introduced in Auckland. Advanced tracking technology from the Netherlands has arrived to help Biosecurity New Zealand ramp up its eradication project. It comes as national experts are coming together to try and figure out what kind of threat the hornet poses to the rest of the country. Victor Waters explains.

There is a renewed call for the Minister responsible for animal welfare to be stripped of his portfolio over allegations of an "egregious conflict of interest". Animal rights organisation SAFE believes the Associate Minister for Agriculture, Andrew Hoggard's close personal ties to farming significantly compromise his decision making when it comes to the welfare of animals. The Minister has ditched the previous government's committment to ban farrowing crates for sows from this month. SAFE's Debra Ashton spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Black Caps' Test Championship campiagn has kicked off in Christchurch, with the first of three test matches against the West Indies getting underway this morning. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The boss of a Southland RSA is not pulling his punches after thieves pinched burial plaques off soldiers graves at an Invercargill cemetery. Police believe they were stolen from the St Johns Cemetery sometime between the 28th of October and November 22nd. The brass plates marked the graves of World War I and World War II veterans and those who served in the Korean war. President of the Awarua RSA, Ian Becker spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about tensions betwene Venezuela and America ramping up along with concerns over US air strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats, as well as Luigi Mangione appearing in court today.

Small busineses are being advised not to panic over the arrival of retail giant IKEA. The 34,000 square metre store is stocked with 7,500 unique products, with forecasts suggesting up to 20,000 shoppers will visit on opening day. Global IKEA sales topped $90 billion New Zealand dollars in 2024. So is this whale of a brand going to consume some smaller businesses? Managing director of business consultants First Retail Group, Chris Wilkinson spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Chancellor Rachel Reeves rejecting claims that she lied about the UK's finances ahead of the budget announcement, as well as a long-lost painting with an incredible story that has sold at auction in Versailles.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

After nearly 20 years at the top, Football Fern Annalie Longo is hanging up her boots after tomorrow's game against Australia. Longo made her senior debut as a 15-year-old and has played more than 140 times for the Football Ferns including at five World Cups and four Olympic Games. The timing of the midfielder's decision to retire was part of New Zealand Football's planning towards the 2027 Football World Cup. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A spate of youth crime in Christchurch has police urging parents to get in touch if their child is missing in action, so they can avoid becoming a statistic. It peaked in May with 162 young offenders dealt with in just one month in the city. It's remained high since, with police dealing with about a hundred youth offenders a month. Canterbury Police District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill spoke to Lisa Owen.

Councils are once again being told to start living within their means and focus on the basics, with the government releasing details of its long-awaited rates cap. Instead of a fixed cap, the government has opted to go with a target band between two and four percent, to be enforced by a regulator. Councils can appeal to go higher, but the government's already warning that would only be for the most exceptional of circumstances. Political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Lisa Owen.