Checkpoint

IKEA New Zealand's CEO says there will be no chaos as the Swedish retailer opens its first 34,000 square metre store in Auckland this week. In 2024 the Ikea was operating in 60 markets, with annual sales of about $90 billion; raising questions about the impact of the mega retailer will have on smaller buinesses and communities. Already traffic agencies are warning Auckland drivers to expect long waits. Mirja Viinanen, IKEA's Australia & NZ CEO spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's only the first day of summer - but already a code brown is casting an unwanted shadow over Auckland's beaches. Sewage overflows from the weekend's thunderstorms have impacted water quality at beaches across the central city, with swimmers being warned to stay out of the Waitemata or risk a nasty bug. As climate change intensifies and our water infrastructure ages, one ecologist reckons it is only going to get worse. Felix Walton has more.

A Christchurch school says it has been provided with what it believes are contaminated school lunches in a significant health and safety breach. In a social media post Haeata Community Campus said it had recalled all lunches, but some had already been eaten by students. It also asked parents to watch for symptoms of food poisoning. Principal Peggy Burrows spoke to Lisa Owen.

Young people are living on the streets and sleeping in cars, and an Auckland support service says it's getting worse. Kick Back has put out its first State of the Street report and says it's an SOS to the government and the community. Kim Baker Wilson reports.

New Zealand's first ever IKEA is set to open in Auckland's Mount Wellington this week, with 15 to 20 thousand people expected to roll through the doors. Staff say the stores are packed with 7,500 products and there's traffic management to help with the busy crowds. But traffic agencies have warned Aucklanders to expect long delays, and the presence of the store has raised questions about the impacts on smaller nearby businesses. Reporter Bella Craig managed to get a sneak peek.

Rugby's ongoing drama with a breakaway competition took another twist over the weekend. R360 had been touted as a 'major disrupter', promising huge salaries and a new franchise-model playing around the world. But details have been scarce on exactly how it would work and when it would even start. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Northland leader is calling for the popular Kai Iwi lakes to be closed to boaties in the lead up to Christmas because of the threat of a highly invasive pest. The freshwater gold clam, which can clog water ways and compete with native species for food, was found in the Waikato river two years ago. But earlier this month the clams were discovered in New Plymouth's Rotomanu Lake - the first time they've been confirmed outside of the Waikato River. Ric Parore who is from Te Kuihi and Te Roroa is calling for the lake to be closed to boats and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen about Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu asking for a presidential pardon in the numerous corruption cases against him, as well as Syria witnessing its most deadly attack by a foreign nation since its former President was ousted last year.

Has flexible or remote work made work more fun and has the freedom made us happier? The nine to five has changed a lot of recent years; covid forced some business to adapt with working from a home a major shift. But it's not without its challenges, as the lines between work and home have blurred. Auckland University Social Scientist, Barbara Plester has been exploring these questions and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland Spoke to Lisa Owen about one Kiwi business that doesn't hop on the Black Friday sale bandwagon.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about two prisoners in France escaping by using bed sheets, as well as the UK's Labour government reversing a key promise on workers rights.

The road to the 2027 Basketball World Cup starts for the Tall Blacks against their closest rivals in Hobart tonight. Home and away games against the Australian Boomers begin a qualification process that will stretch 16 months with the end goal being the Tall Blacks attending the World Cup for the eighth time. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Another day, another public service strike, with 2000 firefighters and 17,000 health workers walking off the job nationwide. For both members of the Professional Firefighters Union and the PSA, it was their second strike action in a month, as battlelines with their employers harden. Industrial conflict over deadlocked contract negotiations in health, education and emergency services has the public sector in limbo, with more than 100,000 people taking action in the last month. Ruth Hill reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The New Zealand Transport Agency has doubled down on its stance that a braking system linked to six deaths is not inherently unsafe. The Coroner determined that these brakes, found in about 70,000 vehicles in New Zealand, could not be relied upon as a sole braking system, because even a well-maintained brake can fail without warning. Despite this, the Transport Agency told Transport Minister Chris Bishop it doesn't accept the coroner's views about the breaks being inherently unsafe. It comes as RNZ can reveal another instance of a cardan shaft brake failing. And further investigations by Louisa Cleave and Jimmy Ellingham have found trucking firms that have long since stopped importing vehicles with cardan shaft parking brakes.

Police say they've busted up a major international crime syndicate trafficking massive amounts of drugs through Auckland Airport. They have arrested eight members of the Brotherhood 28 MC gang, including its president; they face 170 separate offences. Detective Inspector Tom Gollan spoke to Lisa Owen.

The gigantic home retail store IKEA throws open its door next week in Mount Wellington, just off the city's southern motorway and a stone's throw from the Sylvia Park Mall. It's anticipated there will be a stampede of eager shoppers. So much so, Auckland Transport and NZTA are warning there could be 40-minute queues just to exit the motorway at Mount Wellington. Auckland Transport Operation Centre Manager Claire Howard spoke to Lisa Owen.

Riddled with anxiety, no sleep and no answers, some parents are still waiting to hear back from retailers about asbestos-contaminated children's coloured play sand. During the past two weeks there's been rolling recalls of the magic sand used by children and schools across the country, raising concerns about imported children's products. Parents say they're worried about the long-term impacts of exposure and the costs of testing and removal. Bella Craig reports.

It would appear a cost of living crisis could be the perfect time to consider getting a tattoo. That's likely to be on the minds of the between four and six thousand people expected to cram into the TSB Stadium in New Plymouth over the weekend for the New Zealand Tattoo & Art Festival. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin buzzed along to check out the preparations.

Two of the biggest names in the Black Caps have backed a proposed T20 franchise competition in New Zealand. A bid by a private consortium to establish a new T20 competition has led to a power struggle over the future shape of the domestic game. But it seems the players are clear where they stand. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

There's been a bit of good news for tenants lately, with more listings to choose from and rents softening. But while they might be more in the driver's seat, there are still rules they have to comply with. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds went through Tenancy Tribunal cases to work out where they're going wrong and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Asia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about the death toll continuing to rise from the devastating apartment fires in Hong Kong, as well severe weather and flooding across Southeast Asia that has killed dozens.

E-scooters could be on the move into the bike lane if the government has its way. At the moment low powered e-scooters can be ridden on the footpath and also on the road, but not in dedicated cycle lanes. ACC figures show claims for e-scooter injuries have almost doubled in five years. National MP Catherine Wedd, who believes the rules are outdated and dangerous, spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen about officials actively working towards the second phase of the Gaza Ceasefire deal, as well as Pope Leo who is due to visit the Middle East on his first trip out of Italy since taking over.

Millions of dollars have been spent on a new speedway track at Auckland's Waikaraka Park and drivers say it's a win for the racing community. It comes after Auckland Council's controversial decision to end nearly 100 years of speedway racing at Western Springs and move all speedway to Onehunga. Construction has finished up just in time for the first Auckland race of the 2025-2026 speedway season this Saturday. Jessica Hopkins spoke to drivers after they tested out the track for the first time this morning.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

NZ Cricket boss Scott Weenink is said to be fighting for his job amid an increasingly bitter power struggle over a the future of the domestic game. RNZ understands the NZ Cricket board has signalled Weenink's position may now be untenable. The dispute centres around a proposed new twenty-twenty franchise league, backed by a private consortium. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Retailers who have sold children's coloured play sand potentially laced with asbestos need to be held to account, according to Labour's consumer Affairs spokesperson. The contamination scare has prompted a recall of several brands, including another one just this afternoon. It's illegal to import any products with asbestos and its up to sellers to make sure any toys are up to safety standard. Labour Consumer Affairs spokesperson Arena Williams spoke to Lisa Owen.

A proposed 66 house subdivision near the shores of Lake Whakamaru in Waikato has sparked a land occupation by a local hapu. But the issues Ngati Te Kohera are fighting for go much deeper than the one development; and they might not be easy to solve. Libby Kirkby-McLeod reports.

Christchurch has been revealed as the city that will be home to a national memorial to the Erebus crash victims. It comes after a wait of more than four and half decades and push back from other communties that didn't want it in their backyards. David Allan, who's parents and sister died in the Erebus crash, spoke to Lisa Owen.