RNZ: Checkpoint

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about migrant crossings to the UK reaching a new high, as well as millions of dollars worth of luxury cars being seized in central London.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Black Ferns side has just departed for their Rugby World Cup defence in England. Sports reporter Jonty Dine was there, and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Education Minister Erica Stanford has been accused of overstepping the mark by excluding most Māori words from future books in a series for five year olds. An Education Ministry document shows Stanford made the decision in October last year because she was worried Māori words, apart from characters' names, would confuse learner readers using the ministry's Ready to Read Phonics Plus series. Schools did not know about the edict until RNZ broke the news today. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has been 'named' by the Speaker, one of the most serious punishments Parliament can hand out. Swarbrick returned defiantly to Parliament today, refusing to apologise for her comments yesterday suggesting coalition MPs grow a spine and sanction Israel. It was all part of what turned into a tense afternoon at parliament, with the Prime Minister dishing out some tough words about his Israeli counterpart, saying Benjamin Netanyahu has lost the plot. Giles Dexter reports.

New documents have shed more light on who knew what about a police complaint laid against the disgraced Beehive press secretary Michael Forbes last year. Mr Forbes quit his job in the Prime Minister's office in June, after revelations he had covertly recorded audio of multiple sessions with sex workers. Correspondence released to RNZ today shows an email was sent to police bosses on the day of the complaint - but then quickly recalled. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Kiwi woman and her six year old son could soon be released from a Texas immigration detention centre after being locked up there for weeks. Sarah Shaw and her son Isaac were detained three weeks ago, when she re-entered the States from Canada without a fully renewed visa. Sarah's friend Victoria Besancon has been campaigning for her release and raising money cover her expenses. Victoria Besancon spoke to Lisa Owen.

Residential building consents are still heading south with 11 out of 16 regions around the country rubber stamping fewer builds compared to last year. Labour has accused the government of effectively hammering a nail in the coffin of building industry by slashing the number of state houses Kainga Ora is building, contributing to a "huge slow down in construction". The Building Minister has said their maths is all wrong. Building industry analyst Mike Blackburn spoke to Lisa Owen.

Supporters of a New Zealand woman and her young son being held in a US immigration centre are pinning their hopes on a second attempt to be released on compassionate grounds. Sarah Shaw and six-year-old Isaac were detained by the United State immigration authority - known as ICE - nearly three weeks ago after she tried to re-enter her home state of Washington from Canada without the correct documents. The mother and son have been shipped the length of the country to a facility in Texas and have been unable to be released since. Rowan Quinn reports.

A patient at an Auckland mental health programme that will close its doors next month says she's feeling anxious about the future. Rauaroha Segar House, a publicly funded intensive service for people who have long-standing or chronic problems, stops its services on September the 19th. Heloise Cantin-Gilmore told Checkpoint her time there's been life-changing and there are no other realistic treatment options available to her. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

The expected exodus of New Zealand's top netballers has begun. Silver Ferns star Kelly Jackson has announced she's headed to Australia next season, signing with the Queensland Firebirds. There's speculation several other of her national teammates could be about to follow her across the ditch. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

A nine year old has become Waikato's youngest indoor bowls champ, as part of a trio. Pixie Blake's team mates are a few decades older than she is. The trio took out the title at the Champion of Champions tournament in Hamilton at the weekend. Pixie Blake spoke to Lisa Owen.

Asia correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen about the wife of South Korea's jailed former president being arrested, as well as Nepal opening up Himalayan mountins for free to clear congestion on Mt Everest.

Secondary school teachers around the motu have announced they will strike for the day next Wednesday, after pay talk with the govenrment stalled. They will double down in September if there's no progress with negotiations. The union said its members have overwhelmingly voted in favour of rostering students home, and not teaching certain year levels on specific days, in the week beginning September 15. Post Primary Teachers' Association president Chris Abercrombie spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the country announcing it will join the 147 out of 193 UN member states who will recognise a Palestinian state in September. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the move calling it "shameful" while Australia's opposition leader said her coalition will revoke recognition if it wins the next election. Foreign minister Winston Peters said New Zealand will decide whether to follow suit in the next month.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Major changes are coming for the future of the America's Cup on and off the water. After months of toing and froing the protocol for the next event, to be held in Naples in mid-2027, has finally been signed by the defender Team New Zealand and the challenger of record Athena Racing. The changes are being promoted as being "more inclusive, compelling, and financially sustainable". Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Critical staff shortages, an unsafe work environment and failures of leadership are among the findings of a review into Canterbury's mental health service. Director of Mental Health, Doctor John Crawshaw carried out the investigation and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Critical staff shortages, an unsafe work environment and failures of leadership are among the findings of a review into Canterbury's mental health service. Mental health director, Dr John Crawshaw, began his report after Hillmorton patient Zakariye Hussein murdered Laisa Waka Tu-ni-dau in 2022 as she walked home from work in Christchurch. In October last year - while the review was underway - another Hillmorton mental health patient, Elliott Cameron, murdered 83-year-old Faye Phelps at her home. Rachel Graham reports.

Intravenous drug users are demanding a say in the future of the South Island's needle exchange services, warning health leaders are gambling with their lives. In seven weeks, needle exchange programme DISC Trust will hand over its long-standing contract, which provides sterile drug injecting equipment at six sites around the South Island. Health NZ's chosen new provider still hasn't revealed how or where it plans to run the service. Katie Todd reports.

Over 100,000 people around the country are on the radiology wait list, in the queue in the public health system for MRIs, X-rays, CT scans and other diagnostic tests.  APEX, the union representing  medical imaging technologists and sonographers, said radiology services are unravelling. Meanwhile, 45% of the health workers who answered the APEX survey said they are working with broken, outdated or unsafe equipment. APEX Advocate, Omar Hamed spoke to Lisa Owen. 

South Auckland pre-schoolers are learning the value of getting their hands dirty to grow fresh fruit and veggies, and the awesome power of the humble earthworm to get it to go absolutely gangbusters. Kids at the Barnardos Early Learning Centre in Otara are stuck in to school's veggie garden and worm farm, learning how to transform food waste into healthy vegetables. Felix Walton reports.

A cardio test that heart patients in some regions can wait up to six months for can be delivered in days, according to a private provider. Half of all heart attack patients are not being treated within accepted timeframes in New Zealand according to a new Otago University report. CardioScan Aotearoa is contracted by Tairawhiti and Taranaki hospitals to offer cardiac tests and it said more people are paying out of their own pockets rather than waiting. Jez Morris from CardioScan Aotearoa spoke to Lisa Owen.

Online behaviour experts have said the sudden growth and equally swift decline of ram raids in recent years shows a fading online craze, made harder by measures such as bollards and fog cannons. But police have said there are a range of factors at play and the offences have seen them change their response practises and speed up their engagement with young offenders and other social agencies. Bill Hickman reports.

Some mixed news on the injury front for the All Blacks ahead of their Rugby Championship opener. A couple of key forwards remain sidelined for the first test in Argentina, however all three Barrett brothers are back. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Kaipara motorists are demanding compensation after their car tyres were ripped up by razor sharp road metal. They said the metal was wrongly laid and has left them with big bills. Since fresh metal was laid on Arapaoa, Hamlin and Neems Road south of Dargaville last month a number of residents have had punctures, some suffering multiple flat tyres and wheel damage. Local resident Rachael Gedye spoke to Lisa Owen.

Washington DC correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about Donald Trump ordering hundreds of National Guard troops into Washington DC to tackle what he called a 'public safety emergency'. The president said crime is 'out of control' and that 'violent gangs' have taken over the capital. But the stats on crime rates show quite a different story.

What makes you happy and rich in life? Is it more money and stuff, or the complete opposite; consumming less and embracing a simplier existence. Researchers from the University of Otago have been studying exactly that, and the study found less might be more when comes to happiness. Lead researcher and Associate Professor at the University of Otago, Leah Watkins spoke to Lisa Owen.

Christchurch's brand-spanking new central city stadium has been given hosting rights to Super Ruby's Super Round next Anzac weekend - the arena's debut major sporting event. The long-awaited $680 million stadium is set to open in April, with the defending champion Crusaders playing the first competitive match. It'll be the first time the Super Round is held in New Zealand. Anna Sargent reports.

United Kingdom correspondent, Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about dozens of London Underground staff facing deportation, as well as a heatwave that's set to hit the UK.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

It is the news netball fans have been waiting for, star shooter Grace Nweke has been given an exemption to play for the Silver Ferns, despite playing in Australia. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

An "unprecedented" spate of violent crimes coupled with a significant police shortage in Northland means dozens of officers are being sent to the region on rotations to help out. The special staff operation has been running for three months, with about 30 police from other districts being re-deployed to Northland for five weeks at a time to plug the gaps, with no end date in sight. District Commander for Northland, Superintendent Matt Srjoj spoke to Lisa Owen.

Heart disease is costing the country nearly $14 billion a year in direct costs to the health system and early deaths of one in five New Zealanders. That was the stark analysis from Otago University research, which shows chronic under-resourcing of cardiac care is costing lives. Ruth Hill reports. And for more, Health New Zealand's Chief Clinical Officer, Richard Sullivan spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government has announced it is 'considering' recognising Palestinian statehood, and will deliberate over the next month before taking its decision to the United Nations General Assembly. Australia has gone a step further, at almost exactly the same time Winston Peters set out New Zealand's intentions, Anthony Albanese held a press conference, confirming Australia will recognise Palestine at UNGA. Political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Lisa Owen.

A sense of betrayal and an under-valuing of women's work. That was the resounding message at the first day of the People's Select Committee hearings, formed in response to the Equal Pay Amendment Act. The changes, announced in May by Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden, halted 33 claims from female-dominated workforces which sought to prove they were underpaid in comparison to similar male-dominated industries. It also raised the threshold for future claims to be successful. Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

Middle East correspondent Perry Wilton spoke to Lisa Owen about Israel's controversial plans to seize Gaza City triggering an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting. It comes as a growing list of countries, including the UK, France, and now Australia intend to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September. Our foreign minister Winston Peters is considering whether to follow suit.

Christchurch's Te Kaha stadium is set to revive Super Rugby's 'Super Round'. The 'Super Round' - last held in 2024 - will be the first major sporting event hosted at Te Kaha which is scheduled to open next April. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

A heartless and disturbing trend is how an animal welfare trust is describing the killings of three more sealions. Oamaru police are investigating after three endangered sea lions were shot at the mouth of the Waitaki River on Saturday. Two were found dead and the third had to be euthanised because of its injuries. Waitaki Police Sergeant Tony Woodbridge spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's the kind of price tag that might even make strongman Popeye cry. A 300g bag of spinach was $8.29 at one Auckland supermarket last week; or more than $27 per kg. This week it's worse with some packaged spinach is going for more than $33 a kilo. The Infometrics-Foodstuffs New Zealand Grocery Supplier Cost Index indicates there was an average 2.2% increase in what suppliers charged grocers in July, over the year earlier. United Fresh President, Jerry Prendergast spoke to Lisa Owen .

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the homelessness minister quitting, after she was accused of dodgy rent dealings, as well as UK Police turning to the public for information about a $1 million jewellery heist.

The Labour leader Chris Hipkins has rebuked his education spokesperson after finding out she ignored, then rejected offers to work with the government on NCEA reforms. ACT's David Seymour said if she was one of his MPs, he would have fired her. But Labour is pushing, and said there still needs to be more consultation on the NCEA changes. Russell Palmer reports.