Checkpoint

The Tall Ferns' Basketball World Cup dream is over. A loss to Puerto Rico this afternoon sent the hosts to September's world cup and means the New Zealanders will be waiting four more years to get back to the global showpiece event. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Hopes of retaining an 18 hole golf course are sunk, but 12 could still be on the cards for the Takapuna Golf course. Auckland Council is turning half of the existing 18-hole golf course at A. F Thomas park into a floodwater catchment to mitigate the city's increasing flood risks. Thousands of people signed a petition to keep the course, but last year the Council decided to push ahead with plans to reduce the course to nine holes. But Takapuna Golf Course is taking another swing at the proposal. Head Greens Keeper Steven Dowd spoke to Lisa Owen.

After a spate of attacks the government is directing hundreds of thousands of lottery dollars for de-sexing unregistered and roaming dogs. The SPCA is stumping up with more for the pilot programme. It is welcoming the money that is coming, but says de-sexing alone won't be enough without the law changes it's long called for. Kim Baker Wilson reports.

The government says there's no need to stress about fuel, but at the petrol pump, the situation is the complete opposite. Businesses are also feeling the pinch. The construction industry has been looking forward to a healthy 2026, after several tough years, but now things have taken a turn. Auckland builder Nick Farrelly spoke to Lisa Owen.

A New Zealand born man who has lived in America for more than half his life and even served in the US Marine Corps now faces deportation from the country. Paul Canton was a Marine for seven years and has built a life for himself in Florida, where his children have grown up. But a judge has denied his bid to stay, and he was born in a decade that automatically means he has birthright citizenship here. Amy Williams filed this report.

Rural families worried about whether their children are still eligible for government-funded buses to school can for now breathe a sigh of relief. The Ministry of Education has confirmed it's pushed pause on reviews into compliance with rules such as attending the closest high school. It's a welcome decision for regions where changes were due to soon take hold but has left those already affected feeling frustrated. Jimmy Ellingham reports

The long-anticipated decision on the future of Twenty20 cricket in New Zealand still appears to be a way off. Speculation had been mounting that Monday was "D-Day" for New Zealand Cricket. The board had been expected to decide whether to back the proposed NZ-20 franchise competition, or pursue a plan to enter a New Zealand team in Australia's Big Bash League. However it appears the decision has been deferred - extending a process that has already exposed deep divisions within the sport. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Nelson Rugby football club is scrapping registration fees for under 18's in a bid to entice more young players into the game. Subs are normally $100 for the young players adding up to $8000 a year. But the club was able to convert the fees free idea into reality thanks to a sponsor. Nelson Rugby Football Club committee and life member, Quentin Harwood spoke to Lisa Owen.

Americas correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about US President Donald Trump levelling threats at Cuba. Secretary of state Marco Rubio says the Cuban economy "doesn't work" and has called for a change of leadership. All of this comes as the country grapples with a deepening fuel and energy crisis, made worse by a US oil blockade.

Is the price of beer too much to bear? The Brewers Guild and Hospitality New Zealand reckons so; they're calling on the government to halve the tax on draught beer to encourage people back into pubs and keep struggling businesses going. Breweries say they're under pressure from rising production, and compliance costs and excise tax is adding to the burden. Brian Watson, Chair of the Brewers Guild, and owner of Good George Brewing spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Australians being warned to expect tough times ahead as a result of the economic impact of the war in the Middle East -- and the prospect of interest rates being on their way up.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen about the latest in T20 cricket double header between New Zealand and South Africa in Hamilton.

A petrol bill that's tripled to over $300 a week, and that's before the latest price hikes at the pumps. That's the reality for a mother who has to make an hour-long trip twice a day to drop her teen at school, because he's no longer eligible for a government-funded bus. The Ministry of Education says it's reviewing routes around the country to make sure they comply with its rules, such as students going to their nearest school. But Checkpoint has learned that changes due to begin in the Gisborne area at the start of Term 2 next month will no longer happen. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

Labour's leader Chris Hipkins has flatly denied claims made by his ex-wife on social media - but says he's not going to get into a back-and-forth through the media. Mr Hipkins made the comments to reporters at Parliament in his first media conference since the claims were published. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

Food prices have gone up 4.5 percent in the year to February, with beef mince up a whopping 23.2 percent to $24.46 per kilogram. Fruit and vegetables also shot up by 9.4 percent, and meat, poultry and fish were up 7.5 percent annually. Checkpoint has also been monitoring the cost of everyday groceries across the different supermarket chains for the past four years, we did the same today. Bella Craig reports.

Cancer exacts a high price at the best of times but it's gettting more costly for hundreds of patients due to war in the Middle East. Many people with cancer are forced to drive hundreds of kilometres to main centres for treatment and specialist appointments. The conflict in the Middle East has seen petrol prices jump, costing an extra $23 to fill an average petrol tank. Under the National Travel Assistance scheme patients needing to travel frequently to see specialists can apply for a mileage reinbursement. But the payment is only 34 cents a kilometre and has strict criteria. The Cancer Society's southern head of cancer services Craig Watson spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Canterbury lines company is offering a $5000 reward in a bid stop to thieves pinching copper wire from their power poles. Mainpower says its already had more thefts this year than in the whole of last year. Mainpower chief executive Sean Horgan spoke to Lisa Owen.

A $25 million injection to add more health workers and create extra space during the busiest time of year for illness has been greeted with caution by those on the frontlines. The funding will see more than 300 extra staff, and 71 beds added to hospitals ahead of the colder months - which the government says will increase patient flow and reduce wait times. Health correspondent Kate Green has more.

A Bay of Plenty health team is making big gains in childhood vaccination rates - bucking a national trend. Over about 18 months, the immunisation rate for Māori under twos in its care has jumped from 58 to 70 percent. The team at the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation says the secret is taking a personal approach. Rowan Quinn reports.

The T20 cricket double header between New Zealand and South Africa has started in Hamilton. In a quick turnaround from the opening game of the series the White Ferns are looking to make it two from two. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Prime Minister has described the Pacific as a super highway for drugs, during a visit to Samoa. The two counties have signed a co-operation agreement, where customs and police will share information and work together. Several New Zealand Officers will be embedded in Samoa. Earlier this year a ship intercepted in international waters near French Polynesia was found to be carrying about five tonnes of cocaine. Police Commissoner Richard Chambers is on the Prime Minister's trip to islands and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Donald Trump has said he is "not happy" with the UK and blasted several other nations after his calls for help went unanswered. As the Iran war heads into its 18th day attacks haven't let up in the region; US Central Command says it's struck 7,000 Iranian targets and damaged more than 100 ships. Iran has continued retaliatory attacks against Israel and across the Middle East. Washington DC correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.

A leading economist is warning New Zealand to brace for two weeks time - which they say could be when the country experiences a real fuel choke point. Petrol has gone up about 50 cents per litre since the beginning of the war in the Middle East. The Hormuz Strait, a major shipping route for crude oil remains closed, but the government says New Zealand doesnt have a supply problem. Cameron Bagrie from Bagrie Economics spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK assessing its options to secure the Strait of Hormuz, as well as an activist group in the UK which has admitted to a "mass shoplifting campaign" to supply local food banks.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Black Ferns Sevens have secured the World Series title for another year with a fight-back win over Australia in New York today. The victory in the gold medal game extended their winning record this year to 20 games. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

As Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is bestowed with a chiefly title in the Pacific, back home his ministers continue to grapple with New Zealand's response to the war in the Middle East and a potential fuel crisis. Nicola Willis called a media conference to deliver an update this afternoon - and hinted at potential government support should fuel prices continue their climb. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

Farmers say the skyrocketing price of fuel couldn't have come at a worse possible time. The end of summer marks the beginning of harvest season for arable farmers, a time when they can burn more than double the amount of fuel than any other time of year. The price of brent crude oil is currently around $104 US dollars a barrel, up from around $70 prior to the US and Israel's attacks on Iran. With no way of knowing how long prices will stay so high, or even rise higher, farmers are facing an uncertain future. Evie Richardson reports.

A group of big energy consumers says power prices need to hold steady this winter with businesses already shouldering cost increases driven by war in the Middle East. The Major Electricity Users Group includes Fonterra and meat exporter ANZCO, Woolworths and Datagrid. Together the members account for more than a quarter of New Zealand's energy use. Chair of the Major Electricity Users group, John Harbord spoke to Lisa Owen.

A prolonged war in the Middle East could see inflation in New Zealand hit 3.7 percent in a worse case scenario. The Finance Minister says the government is focused on mitigating the impact of the war on critical supply chains and the New Zealand economy. Nicola Willis said the government was aware the pressure fuel price increases are putting on households, but warned if there was to be any assistance it would be very specific. So should the government step in and help low income families? Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Auckland, Susan St John spoke to Lisa Owen.

A man who has twice been ruled insane after committing two separate killings can now be named. RNZ can reveal the man is Leslie Raymond Parr who killed two people more than two decades apart - beheading his partner Fiona Maulolo in 1997, and then in 2024 fatally stabbing his mother Heather Condon. National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood spoke to Lisa Owen.

New Zealand Customs is warning tobacco smuggling is becoming more organised, large scale and sophisticated. Seizures have been trending upwards over the past decade, and officials say they're concerned about a violent black market across the ditch. Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

It was a heated weekend of Super Rugby as new and old rivals went to battle. After three weeks at the top, the Brumbies have slipped to second, usurped by the Hurricanes, while Moana Pasifika languish at the bottom of the ladder. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A whopping 7.5kg fish has landed one lucky angler more than $30,000 in prizes at this year's Ninety Mile Beach Snapper Bonanza. Harley Ra, who was raised in Kaitaia but works in Perth, hooked the 7.66-kilogram winner. He landed the mighty snapper on the final day of the surfcasting tournament dashing the hopes of the last year's winner who was hoping for back-to-back wins. Harley Ra spoke to Lisa Owen.

Waiheke Island's only respite care house for kids with disabilities has closed, leaving parents who booked their children in for school holiday programmes and overnight stays in the lurch. Spectrum Care says the service at Melanna House in Ostend was running at a loss and they made the difficult decision to close it last September. So far no other provider has filled the gap. Amy Williams has the story.

Lowering speed limits will save petrol during a time of global fuel insecurity and lives too according to the Global Road Safety Partnership. It is calling on the government to immediately reduce speed limits from100 kilometres an hour to 80 on rural highways. It says that alone would deliver meaningful reductions in fuel use across the country. Former science adviser to the Ministry of Transport and University of Canterbury Professor, Simon Kingham spoke to Lisa Owen.

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about "Waxlo 1383".

Correspondent Lucy Thomson joins Lisa Owen with the latest news from the UK.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Former White Ferns captain Sophie Devine is back with the team for the first time since October and will need to take a bit of a backseat in the upcoming series against South Africa. Devine has handed over the captaincy duties and is learning where she'll fit in in this new era of her career. We're joined by sports reporter Felicity Reid.

The daily reported figure has gone from 40 in late January to 86 a day - for the week ending March 8, according to waste water analysis released today. But scientists at PHF Science, formerly ESR, say the figures could be more than 10 times higher. Dr Susan Jack is National Clinical Director of the Public Health Service spoke to Lisa Owen.

Stressed out students are struggling to pay rent, buy food and take the bus to class because their student loan applications are still not processed, weeks after courses began. But Studylink says nearly all the applications made before the cut off date have been approved - and it's tracking better than last year. Lauren Crimp reports.

The Health Minister has agreed to meet with a group of blood cancer specialists who wrote an open letter expressing their alarm at Kiwi patients dying unecessarily because Aotearoa is lagging behind with treatments. The dozens of doctors, nurses and clinician reseachers say New Zealand blood cancer patients are being deprived of modern, targetted, funded, go to treatments, that are available globally; including the myeloma drug, Daratumumab. Professor Judith Trotman is the Chair of the Australasian Leukaemia Lymphoma Research Group and an expat Kiwi-Australian haematolgist in Sydney she spoke to Lisa Owen.

This week's been one of despair for New Zealand cricket lovers, after the Black Caps were outclassed in the twenty-20 world cup final. But, today is a special anniversary in cricket history - it's 70 years since New Zealand won its first test match, after 26 years of trying.The win over the West Indies at Auckland's Eden Park came in our 45th attempt. None of the New Zealand players from that match survive, but our reporter Jimmy Ellingham has tracked down a couple of supporters who saw the historic occasion firsthand.

DOC could be on the fast track to court over allegations it's illegally closing iconic walks due to maintenance issues. The Department has permanently shut the track to Harwood's Hole ..which is the country's deepest natural sinkhole and part of a cave system in the Abel Tasman National Park. It says its closed for safey reasons due to an unacceptable risk. But a collective of recreational groups claims shutting the track is illegal and there's a wider pattern of unacceptable closures across the conservation estate. The Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand is threatening legal action if DOC does not take down any material sayng the track is shut. Club President, Megan Dimo-zantos spoke with Lisa Owen.

New Zealand's first full rubber road has been laid in the Selwyn district.The local council is trialling the surface in Glentunnel with the hope of rolling it out to other parts of the district. Timothy Brown went along to see if it gets the rubber stamp.

Claws are out over a directive to restrict the movements of two popular moggies at Taranaki Base Hospital. Mr Pip and more recent arrival - Pablo - are a common sight at the hospital, but staff have been told the animals are not permitted in hospital buildings - citing infection prevention and clinical safety standards. Taranaki Base says only approved service animals are allowed in hospital buildings. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

Lisa Owen is joined by sports reporter Jonty Dine to discuss the burgeoning beef between the Blues and Moana as the teams prepare for battle in Auckland on Sunday.

Christchurch's Court Theatre is selling off a collection of oddities including props, costumes and even a fake horse? The theatre lost its home at the Art Centre after the 2011 earthquake and moved to a shed in Addington. They're now back in the central city and having a bit of clean out..with a public garage sale tomorrow. Court Theatre operations and facilities manager Flore Charbonnier spoke with LIsa Owen.