Checkpoint

Residents in the Wellington suburb of Miramar are disturbed after sewage exploded out of their toilets. Work being done by Wellington Water contractors apparently caused the sewage to back up. It comes after a major failure at the nearby Moa Point water treatment plant earlier this month which has discharged millions of litres of raw sewage into the Cook Strait every day. Kaya Selby reports.

When is a rivalry no longer a rivalry? Tomorrow night the Wellington Phoenix host Auckland FC in the sixth edition of the New Zealand derby in the A-League. Auckland have dominanted these one-sided match-ups over two seasons but all involved are still trying to sell this as a grudge match. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Research shows penguins are more likely to eat discarded tops made from white or clear plastic, than any other colour. The study involving almost 70 King and Gentoo penguins from Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium in Auckland show they gravitate to white bottle tops even when faced with a rainbow of colour choices. University of Auckland's Dr Ariel Heswall spoke to Lisa Owen.

Donald Trump has warned that "bad things" could happen if Iran doesn't reach a nuclear deal with his administration and that the US could decide whether it will strike the country in the next ten days. Americas correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen.

A consumer advocacy group is urging the government to stay the course and ban card surcharges. Surcharges on credit card and contactless payments are estimated to cost New Zealand shoppers up to 65 million dollars a year. The government had pledged to scrap them, but the proposed law is stalled. Consumer NZ's campaign manager Jessica Walker spoke to Lisa Owen.

A father of four says words cannot describe the relief he felt having a stable roof for his family after they spent a month living in a van before moving to emergency housing. His family is among those who have moved into 41 new homes at a Salvation Army social housing development in south Auckland. Amy Williams went along to the opening and filed this report.

A jerry-rigged backyard invention has turned into sizzling hot property for a retired farmer turned entrepreneur. Alan Dyer created the Sossbosser to stop his sausages from rolling around on the BBQ, and ensure they're evenly cooked all over. The first iteration was made from number eight wire. Now the invention is attracting international attention. Alan Dyer spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the Australian Prime Minister vowing to do nothing to help the plight of so-called "ISIS brides" and their children stuck inside Syria and attempting to return to Australia. It comes amid a divisive debate targeting the country's Muslim's, and threats of violence as the community observes the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The New Zealand Breakers' first Australian NBL season under new owners comes to an end this weekend. The front office of the basketball club has plenty to ponder in the off-season as they once again missed the play-offs and one of their stars leaves for the NBA. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

For the second day in a row, Parliament has been consumed by claims of racism - owing to Winston Peters' targetting of a Green MP with Cook Islands heritage. Labour MP Kieran McAnulty was ordered to leave the house after accusing the speaker of double-standards. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

Residents of the storm smashed southern Wairarapa are assessing the damage after their homes and properties were inundated with floodwater. Torrential rain earlier this week caused widespread havoc across the lower North Island, knocking out power and cutting off access to rural and coastal settlements. Hundreds in the south of Wairarapa have been isolated after raging floodwaters took out two bridges, but one reopened last night, and the other just an hour ago. Mary Argue was there.

Plans to ramp up citizen's arrest powers are a minefield of potential dangers, including death, according to the Police Association. It is strongly opposed to some of the changes being suggested in the Crimes Amendment Bill. Among them, allowing ordinary citizens to use reasonable force and mechanical restraint during an arrest. Police Association president Senior Sergeant Steve Watt spoke to Lisa Owen.

A red herring that transformed into a lightning rod is how the Housing Minister has described the angst and unease in Auckland over plans for two million home, which the government has now done a u-turn on. It has whittled down the number after a public backlash, something the opposition has called an embarrassing u-turn. Kim Baker Wilson reports.

The clean up is under way in parts of flood-ravaged Banks Peninsula after a severe storm battered the region. A local state of emergency remains in place for the peninsula, although State Highway 75 has reopened and telecommunications have been restored. Some properties remain cut off with multiple local roads still blocked. One community has taken it upon themselves to keep communication flowing through the crisis. Adam Burns reports.

A humble stripey fish could be key to treating a chronic & painful swelling condition that's a common side effect of some breast cancer treatment. Lymphoedema usually affects the arms or legs and can be caused by cancer treatments that remove or damage the lymph nodes. Auckland University scientists have discovered a molecule in Zebrafish larva that offers hope of a treatment. Lead researcher, Dr Jonathan Astin spoke to Lisa Owen.

There's further calls for more to be done about dangerous dogs, in the wake of Tuesday's fatal dog attack in Northland. 62-year-old Mihiata Te Rore was killed by a pack of three dogs at a property in the small town of Kaihu on Tuesday. It's prompted calls for change from as high up as the Prime Minister, while RNZ has been contacted by multiple dog attack victims who've shared their frustration at what they say is a lack of action by authorities. Finn Blackwell reports.

An Irish rugby star had his international debut overshadowed by an ugly racist response online. Edwin Edogbo was born and raised in Ireland, but due to his Nigerian heritage, has not been welcomed by certain corners of the Irish rugby fan base. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A team made up of veterans, former emergency service personal and other volunteers are travelling the country helping communities hit hard in recent extreme weather. The Northland coastal settlement of Oakura is one of them. While communities further down the motu have been hammered this week, Oakura was swamped in floodwaters and silt at the end of January and is still mopping up. Taskforce Kiwi volunteer Jenny Calder spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about several skiers who have died following an avalanche in California, as well Mark Zuckerberg who testified in the landmark social media addiction trial being held in Los Angeles.

The government has unveiled a major refurb of Auckland's controversial housing intensification plans. It has slashed the minimum number homes the city must plan for, from over two million down to 1.6 million. The original proposal caused an uproar, with some critics concerned about the preservation of heritage homes and intensification ruining the character of some suburbs. Auckland's Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about British Police assessing private jet travel information to and from a London airport over links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well Metropolitan Police turning to technology in an attempt to crackdown on London phone snatchers.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The drive by shooting which hospitalised a former New Zealand rugby league star may have been retaliation as part of a reported gang war. Matt Utai was shot multiple times outside his home in Western Sydney, though it is now thought he was not the intended target of the attack. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

There could soon be a ban on amateur climbers attempting to scale Mount Everest in a bid to ease congestion and discourage extreme selfie hunters with little or no experience taking on the challenge. Nepal's government is looking at new rules that would require climbers to have previously summited a seven-thousand-metre-high mountain before attempting Everest. Wanaka based Adventure Consultants takes climbers up Everest, and General manager Caroline Ogle spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Kaihu local says complaints have previously been made about the same dogs that killed a woman yesterday. 62-year-old Mihiata Te Rore was visiting a person she knew at a property in the small Northland town when she was attacked and killed. Police say the three dogs involved lived at the property. She is the third person to be killed by dogs in Northland in the last four years, sparking calls for more to be done by local and central government to deal with the growing number of dog attacks occurring in the region and further afield. Finn Blackwell has more.

The Health Minister won't say if the government has met its promise to blood cancer patients in New Zealand - that is that they have not been forgotten. Pharmac has proposed to fund two new combination medicines to treat a type of blood cancer - chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or CLL. The drugs can help those with CLL achieve longer lasting remission and avoid the need for traditional chemotherapy. Patients and advocates are celebrating, but Blood Cancer NZ and the Ministers acknowledge more work needs to be done. Lillian Hanly reports.

A massive clean-up is underway on Canterbury's Banks Peninsula, which remains in a state of emergency after a wild storm. The main highway from Christchurch to Akaroa has reopened, but people are still dealing with power and telecommunications outages. Anna Sargent reports from Little River.

More changes have been seen at the top levels of Netball New Zealand after a disastrous 2025. Its Chair and three Board Members have made the decision to step down. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

A company has been fined $60,000 after it repeatedly sold electronics, including Bluetooth speakers and a tablet to an elderly woman even though they knew she was suffering from dementia and could not use the goods. The company, Tech Vault Enterprizes trading as House Smile, is said to have put unfair pressure on the woman and used methods to upsell to her. Commerce Commission Deputy Chair Anne Callinan spoke to Lisa Owen.

America's correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen about Peru's eighth leader in almost a decade being ousted, as well as an ongoing fuel crisis in Cuba which has caused trouble for waste collection, with rubbish piling up on streets in the capital Havana.

There are calls for a crackdown on alcohol advertising that can be seen by children and young people, including a black out zone around schools, kura and playgrounds. A group of Waikato University health researchers said the evidence is clear; children's attitudes to alcohol are influenced by adverting exposure. Lead researcher Doctor Victoria Egli spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Australia appointing a new federal opposition leader as the Liberal Party seeks to draw a line under disastrous polling showing its headed towards political annihilation if it can't turn its fortunes around.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

A former Kiwi rugby league star is fighting for his life after being shot in a drive-by. NRL premiership winner Matt Utai is believed to have been gunned down on a street in West Sydney. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Westport dental clinic is struggling as it faces a major shortage. Wait times at the town's only adult dental practice are weeks long as the hunt for a second full time dentist drags on. Kawatiri Health's been trying to fill the hole since August 2024. It means some people are being forced to travel out of town. Kawatiri Health general manager Pauline Ansley spoke to Lisa Owen.

The country's first National Infrastructure Plan has been revealed, detailing an 'affordable' plan to tackle the country's infrastructure woes. It said building and maintaining infrastructure was becoming more expensive as climate change was making the natural hazard risks more severe. Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop spoke to Lisa Owen.

Canterbury has been hammered by heavy rain as the storm that caused havoc in the north swept along the South Island's east coast today, with more than 300 millimetres falling in some areas. A local state of emergency has now been declared for Banks Peninsula and State Highway 75 between Christchurch and Akaroa is still closed. People have been asked to conserve water on the peninsula and boil water notices are in place for Little River and Wainui. Samantha Gee reports.

Hundreds of Auckland construction projects are in limbo after changes to residential building standards. Under the old medium density residential standards houses could go up three stories or eleven metres high without having to get a resource consent. But those rules were canned in October last year after a deal was struck between the council and the government. Now some developers are left with projects that do not meet the new rules and will not get council sign off. Auckland Councillor Richard Hills spoke to Lisa Owen.

A woman accused defrauding a man out of more than half a million-dollars in an alleged 18-year romance scam has appeared in court for the first time today. The Auckland woman, who has interim name suppression, was arrested last week after an investigation involving the Auckland City Police Financial Crimes Unit. Finn Blackwell reports.

Residents of an affluent east Auckland suburb fear their quiet lifestyle will be shattered by a three-storey development in the middle of their neighbourhood. The controversial development in Farm Cove was consented shortly before Auckland's planning rules changed in October last year. One resident sought legal advice, maintaining the development should no longer be allowed, and says there's been mixed messages from Council about it going ahead. Felix Walton has more.

Some isolated Wairarapa residents are gutted they're cut off from their livelihoods and emergency services after a destructive storm ripped through the region on Sunday and Monday. Torrential rain and widespread flooding has washed out the Lake Ferry Road bridge over the Turangaui River - cutting off settlements in Ngawi, Lake Ferry and Cape Palliser. Meanwhile, thousands of homes are still without power across the Wairarapa region, as well as in Wellington. Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

Former champions are teetering on the edge of an early exit and minnow nations are making history at the T20 Cricket World Cup. Amongst the upsets and surprises in the tournament hosted in India and Sri Lanka, the Black Caps can secure their place in the next stage of the competition with victory tonight. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A woman has been killed in a dog attack in the small Northland settlement of Kaihu. Police were called to a property about 11.30 this morning along with ambulance, the fire service and the Northland rescue helicopter. The woman, whose name hasn't been released, was dead when police arrived. Reporter Teuila Fuatai spoke to Lisa Owen about what a local resident had to say.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the US increasing military presence near Iran ahead of a high stakes meeting between the two nations, as well as the search continuing for Nancy Guthrie as authorities ruled out family members as suspects.

A local state emergency is in place for Banks Peninsula. The town of Akaroa is completely cut off. Most of the Christchurch Akaroa Road is closed due to flooding and slips. A Boil Water Notice is now in place for Wainui and Little River on Banks Peninsula due to flood damage. Residents across the area are being asked to conserve water. Little River just outside of Christchurch has been hit hard, reporter Anna Sargent was there and spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about health officials in the UK dealing with a growing measles outbreak in north-east London, as well as new analysis into the gender pay gap in the UK.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Winter Olympics has been hit with more controversy, as cheating allegations were thrown around across Curling teams. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

The mother of a man who still has nerve damage more than a year after being hospitalised for huffing nitrous oxide and is unable to work in construction anymore is calling for tougher regulation around so called nangs. A mother, who doesn't want to be named, said her son was buying large quantities of Nitrous Oxide and thought he could manage his doses, but things got serious when he started losing his balance. She spoke to Lisa Owen.