Checkpoint

Professor Zachariah Q Wigglebottom is Aoteaoa's only certified hedgehog pest detection dog and its a busy time of year for him right now. They might look cute but DOC says hedgehogs hoover up the eggs of native birds, lizards, the rare giant native centipeded, weta and other rare insects. Wigglebottom's handler, Adriana Theobald spoke to Lisa Owen about the work they do.

The Ashes are attracting as many headlines off the field, as on it. England coach Brendon McCullum is defending his team's time-out at the beach, as they prepare for the third Test against Australia. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the death of legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner, as well as the hunt continuing for a suspect on the deadly Brown University shooting.

2.5 million passengers will travel through Auckland Airport in its busiest five weeks of the year. Travel can be a great joy but also a legal minefield; who covers costs with a cancellation, what if you get bumped from a flight that is over booked, and what's the deal if the replacement flight is more expensive. Jessica Walker from Consumer NZ spoke to Lisa Owen with tips for travellers.

Among those killed in the Bondi terror attack was a British-born rabbi. Joining us now with reaction from the UK is our correspondent in London Lucy Thomson.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Kiwi boxer David Nyika has had plenty to fight through this year, both in and out of the ring. After suffering his first career loss by brutal knockout, Nyika's fiancée, Australian influencer Lexy Thornberry, was given some devastating health news. Sports reporter Jonty Dine has the details.

The terror attack in Sydney has left New Zealand's Jewish community on edge. Some security measures have been ramped up. In the Auckland suburb of Remuera, police were patrolling outside a Jewish school and associated deli cafe. Phillippa Yasbek from New Zealand Jews against Occupation spoke to Lisa Owen.

A New Zealander caught up in the mass shooting at Sydney's bondi beach says dozens of people rushed into the restaurant where her family was dining and started diving under tables; too shocked to explain what was happening. Donna Corbel spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Northshore woman's at risk of losing her guide dog after several encounters with out of control dogs have left her working dog fearful and potentially unable to do its job properly.

A much loved Wellington cafe - famous for Island inspired pies with fillings from creamed paua to boiled brisket Povi Masima - is closing it's doors at the end of the week. The owners say - after a booming start in 2024 - rising costs and dwindling customers have forced them to make the call. Bill Hickman has more.

Sport reporter Jamie Wall tells Lisa about quarterback Philip Rivers who has come out of retirement at age 44 to start an NFL game for the Indianapolis Colts, playing his first game in five years.

Security measures have been increased for the Jewish community across New Zealand after the harrowing Bondi Beach terror attack.

A terror attack at Sydney's Bondi beach has killed 16 people, including a 10-year-old girl. It's the worst mass shooting in Australia in three decades - and brought renewed focus on Australia's gun laws. Let's get the latest from our correspondent in Sydney, Nick Grimm who joins us live.

Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown talks to Lisa Owen about the reaction in Israel to the fatal terror attack on the Jewish community at Bondi Beach.

NZ Post chief operating officer Brendon Main talks to Lisa Owen about the 10 million parcels being delivered in the two weeks leading up to Christmas Eve.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about NATO's Chief issuing a stark warning for the west, as well as outrage over how much it is going to cost to support England at the World Cup.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

A late kiwi sporting legend has had his burial site repeatedly desecrated. The graves of Bruce McLaren and his wife, Patricia were vandalised in Glen Eden yesterday, just three months after they were first targeted. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Three companies have been fined a total of $345,000 for their part in a landslip that swamped a Queenstown cemetery and forced dozens of nearby residents to evacuate their homes during the region's wettest day in decades. Skyline Enterprises, which owns the gondola, along with contractors Naylor Love Central Otago and Wilsons Contractors, were charged with breaching the Resource Management Act by Queenstown-Lakes District Council. Reporter Adam Burns was at the sentencing and spoke to Lisa Owen.

The disgraced former leader of Gloriavale is appealing his imprisonment for abusing girls and young women at the community. 85-year-old Howard Temple was this afternoon jailed for more than two years for sexually assaulting six girls and young women at the West Coast Christian community over 20 years up to 2022. However, his lawyer Michael Vesty has confirmed Temple is appealing his sentence and Temple has been granted bail while awaiting the appeal. Timothy Brown reports.

Parents caught up in the play sand asbestos contamination scare are increasingly frustrated with retailer Kmart refusing to cover their testing and clean up costs. Several of the coloured play sands have been voluntarily recalled after some of them tested positive for asbestos. Some parents have paid for the play sand to be tested and results have come back positive. But Kmart is refusing to reimburse for the costs of that and any clean up. Lecturer in Law at Auckland University of Technology, Christopher Whitehead spoke to Lisa Owen.

Excitement is bubbling ahead of the New Zealand premiere of the Avatar franchise's third film this weekend. Avatar: Fire and Ash screens at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington tomorrow night, with stars at a red carpet event predicted to draw thousands. Mary Argue has more.

There is a renewed call for universal free cervical cancer screening in a bid to eradicate the disease. The State of Cancer report released yesterday shows Aotearoa has not meet its cervical screening target. Currently the cervical cancer screening programme, including self testing for the HPV is not free for everyone. The National Centre For Women's Health Research says that needs to change if we are to eliminate the disease. Centre Founder Professor Bev Lawton spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Black Caps have taken a one-nil lead in the three-match test series against the West Indies after a nine wicket win in Wellington. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe was at the Basin Reserve and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Many parts of the country have been hitting temperatures in the high 20s - and even well into the 30s. So what's the best way to cool your house down without seeing your power bill soar? Is a heat pump the way to go? Or should you just make do with a good old rotating fan? Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about the Australian Olympic Committee announcing new funding that allows athletes, who have given birth, to access a several thousand-dollar bonus - as long as they return to high performance sport.

Last month Air New Zealand flight 946 from Auckland to Rarotonga got all the way to its island destination but could not land despite best efforts because of strong cross winds. Instead it had to head back to Auckland. Passengers on board got an email that the flight was being diverted due to weather, outlining compensation for some transit customers for accommodation and meals. British-American traveller Karen Chapman was on the flight but says Air New Zealand declined to reimburse her costs. Karen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a legal case that's underway that could have far-reaching implications for the gaming industry across the Tasman - with a jailed problem gambler who stole to finance his addiction suing three of the country's biggest online betting agencies.

The debate over a debate between Finance Ministers - past and present - has descended into farce - with both sides now accusing the other of chickening out. Nicola Willis had challenged Ruth Richardson - who chairs the Taxpayers' Union - to a public debate over the government's fiscal strategy. But they can't seem to agree on a location. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The second test between the Black Caps and West Indies is finely poised in Wellington. After rolling the visitors late yesterday evening, the Kiwis have lost eight wickets today with just the bowlers left to try and build a big lead. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Athletes have been put through their paces today at the Special Olympics National Summer Games on in Christchurch. It's the first day of competition - over the next four days, more than 1200 competitors will take part in 10 different sports. Cameron Easton was just eight when he participated at the special Olympic games as a swimmer. But he has since turned his hand to Bocce, the Italian lawn bowling game. His mum Vivian is the coach of the Horowhenua Bocce team and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Behind a sea of road cones, diggers and traffic chaos businesses on a busy Auckland road are crying out for help. Shop owners in the suburb of Grey Lynn say they've been struggling to stay afloat since a year long roadwork project began on Great North Road. With access often cut off and shops hidden from view one business is surviving off loans while another says times are the toughest it's been in 23 years including during Covid. They keep being told the work is about to wrap up but with multiple delays already some fear the end could be a long way off. Evie Richardson reports.

Public health experts are calling for children to be regularly checked into adulthood for any symptoms of illnesses linked to asbestos exposure. It comes after a number of children's play sands were found to be contaminated with asbestos. One mother had to pay to have her home tested after her three year old twin's sand tested positive for asbestos. Elle Chrisp spoke to Lisa Owen.

New Zealand has the chance to virtually eliminate cervical cancer but the uptake of a vaccination that prevents it remains incredibly low. The latest State of Cancer report released today says half of all cancers are preventable. The Human Papilloma viruses or HPVs are the main causes of several cancers including cervical, mouth and throat cancer. But the HPV vaccine can prevent the virus. Head of Advocacy and Public Affairs at the Cancer Society, Rachael Neumann spoke to Lisa Owen.

Donald Trump's push to strengthen US borders could get tougher on Kiwi travellers, who might have to hand over years of social media posts if they want to enter America. The Trump administration wants to make visitors that don't need a visa to disclose five years' worth of social media history before they're allowed in. New Zealand is among dozens of countries that'll could be affected if proposed changes go through and one former diplomat is worried he won't make the cut. Kim Baker Wilson reports.

The government is pushing ahead with plans to loosen regulations for the hemp industry, which it says has been hamstrung by outdated rules. The changes mean hemp growers will no longer require a licence if the plants contain less than one-percent THC which is the main psychoactive compound that can make people high. The Regulation Minister David Seymour, who made the announcement in Ashburton today, says the changes could generate more than $7 million of economic benefit over the next ten years. Adam Burns reports.

Sevu Reece has announced he is leaving the All Blacks after next season to take up a contract in France. He is currently Super Rugby's all time leading try scorer and has played 37 tests for the All Blacks, but the writing may well have been on the wall for Reece given his age. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

Two years on from setting up it's own security service a popular Auckland shopping precinct says its slashed crime in its area, but it is appealing to the government for help with some people who are still falling through the cracks. In the past year the Newmarket security team has recovered more than $170,000 of stolen product, dealt with 88 breaches of trespass orders and 416 repeated offenders. Newmarket Business Association chief executive Mark Knoff Thomas spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the US seizing an oil tanker of the coast of Venezuela - further escalating tensions between the two nations, as well as tourists - including kiwis - potentially having to expose more of their digital life if they want to travel to the US.

NZTA is reducing speed limits on several sections of a popular holiday route in time for Christmas. Four sections of State Highway 25 will drop to 50 kilometres from 80 or 70 kilometres. Waka Kotahi says there were 982 submissions on the speed review in the Coromandel region and the majority saw benefits in lowering the speed limits. Linda Davidson owns a bed and breakfast on one stretch of road where the speed limit is reducing and spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about school's in the UK reintroducing Covid measures to combat this season's flu outbreak, as well as the owner of a controversial nude gladiator statue preparing for a legal fight.

Special Olympics fever has touched down in Christchurch with the national summer games getting under way. The pinnacle event for athletes with intellectual disabilities has returned to the Garden City for the first time in 20 years. Teams began pouring into Otautahi yesterday ahead of today's opening ceremony which started this afternoon. Adam Burns reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Black Caps and West Indies continue their tight test tussle. The West Indies pulled off a miraculous, record setting draw in Christchurch, but the Black Caps have the ascendency in the capital after day one. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The food safety watchdog is recommending better traceability of delivered meals and better management of left over food following an investigation into how mouldy rancid lunches were served to students at a Christchurch school. A report by New Zealand Food safety has found there is no wider food safety issue with the provider, the School Lunch Collective, and that the meals had likely been left at the school the week prior and mistakenly given to students. Food Safety Deputy Director-General Vincent Arbuckle spoke to Lisa Owen.

Locals in the Auckland suburb of Glen Innes say they're too scared to use the bus after two unprovoked attacks on Monday night left one man dead and another seriously injured. Both men were passengers on the same 76 bus with the first victim being stabbed in Glen Innes before getting off, and the second then being attacked later in Orakei. A 36-year-old man has appeared in the Auckland District Court today charged with murder and grievous bodily harm. Felix Walton has more.

As Australia's ban on social media for under 16 year olds comes into force, MPs are drumming up support for similar online protectsions here. Both Labour and National party MPs today co-hosted an event at Parliament which illustrated some of the damaging things young people can see online. Nick James went along for a look.

The lawyer for man who was allegedly killed by his prison cellmate claims the death was entirely preventable. A homicide investigation in underway following the death of Jon Trubuhuovic who was 69 years old. He died ten days after being assaulted, alleged by the man he was sharing a cell with. Trubuhuovic's lawyer James McGilvary spoke to Lisa Owen.