RNZ: Checkpoint

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness resigning over a Donald Trump documentary edit.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

A group of Wellington students have turned a page on history today, moving some of the last books into the capital's redeveloped central Library. Te Matapihi was forced to close its doors in 2019 when it was deemed earthquake prone but is set to reopen next year, after a spend of $216 million. Nick James reports.

The Black Caps went into the penultimate T20 against the West Indies in Nelson this afternoon with the upper-hand in the five match series. The first three games were all decided in the final over of the game. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

"Dinner or debt"; that's the choice some people receiving the pension say they're forced to make after taking on student loans later in life. One Taupo woman says she's still got a $58,000 student loan, from a business degree two decades ago. Her super's now being docked to pay the debt and she says she's sacrificing the basics just so she can pay for rent and power. It's prompted calls for better guidelines on student loan eligibility and better communication between Inland Revenue and older students. Bella Craig reports.

Te Pāti Māori has severed ties with estranged MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris, after a torrid period of internal conflict. Its national council voted to expel the pair at a hui on Sunday night for what it says are "serious breaches" of its constitution. It's another extraordinary chapter in a conflict that doesn't appear to be over - with the ousted MPs vowing to fight their expulsions. Political reporter Anneke Smith has more. 

Crews fighting the fire at Tongariro National Park are reinforcing containment lines after the blaze burned through more than 2800 hectares. Rain has helped their efforts, along with helicopters and planes water bombing the area. FENZ says the focus is now on hard physical work on the ground. Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Nigel Dravitzki spoke to Lisa Owen. 

A tourist helicoptered out of the Tongariro National Park to avoid the fire burning through the region has described the dramatic moments he realised there was danger in the air. Matthias Gerold was evacuated to Whakapapa village, and was then evacuated from there as the blaze continued. Wet weather has provided hope today for business owners nearby, who worry a long-term closure of the Tongariro Crossing could prove catastrophic for the region. This afternoon emergency services delivered good news, saying there's a significant improvement in conditions and residents are allowed to return to Whakapapa. Jimmy Ellingham filed this report from Waimarino.

A second-half slump wasn't enough to break the All Black's century-long unbeaten streak against Scotland. Despite a strong start, several yellow cards and a Scottish comeback threatened the All Blacks who scraped their way to victory thanks to a match-winning try from super-sub Damian McKenzie. With Scotland in the rear-view, the team's focus turns to this weekend's test against England in Twickenham. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

Blanket bans on pets in rental properties won't be allowed from next month, but there are concerns that landlords will find a work around. Tenants will still need to get their landlords consent to keep a pet at the property, but new rental rules mean from December there has to be a reasonable justification to say no. Andrew Nicol from property investment firm Opes Partners spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen about more information emerging on the atrocities unfolding in Sudan, as well as the fragile ceasfire largely holding in Gaza, bringing more signs of a return to normality.

Traffic control and a shortage of volunteers have officially grounded Santa's sleigh in the small town of Piopio in the Waitomo District. At the Christmas eve parade Santa would normally float in via SH3, however the rising cost of closing the highway and managing traffic means Santa will instead park-up on a side street near the village with other floats. Chair of the Project Pio Pio Trust Melanie Simpson spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Andrew Mountbatten Windsor being summoned by US Congress over the Jeffrey Epstein case, as well as the manhunt continuing for one of the two prisoners accidentally released from Wandsworth Prison over a week ago.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The second season of the New Zealand derby in the A-League kicks off tomorrow night in Wellington. Auckland FC and the Wellington Phoenix will again play three times this season - with the Phoenix still chasing their first victory against the northern neighbours. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The opening of a $56 million Taranaki Cancer Centre in New Plymouth is being described as life changing for people living with the disease in the region, and for the professionals who care for them. About 300 patients a year have had to make the three-hour trek to Palmerston North for radiation treatment - lasting sometimes just minutes - but now 80 percent of radiation treatment will be done locally. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin was at the opening.

Efforts are underway to save the last five big cats from a Whangarei Wildlife park. The lions are effectively on death row after the Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary closed its gates to the public last weekend and is up for sale. Two were euthanised on Wednesday. Animal rescue HUHA is now involved and its founder Carolyn Press-McKenzie spoke to Lisa Owen.

Alan Nichol, Brian Edwards, Mark Lee, Phillip Loving, Graeme Rabbits and Allan Ranapia. These six men have died in incidents involving cardan shaft parking brakes since 2010. A coroner investigating Graeme Rabbits' death has declared the brakes inherently unsafe. It's an assessment the N-Z Transport Agency doesn't agree with. But key transport industry figures are backing the coroner, and Graeme Rabbits' father Selwyn is campaigning for change so no one else is killed. Checkpoint's Louisa Cleave and Jimmy Ellingham report.

There should be a criminal investigation into police officers fraudulently recording alcohol breath tests that didn't happen, according to the Defence Lawyers Association. About a 120 officers are the subject of employment investigations relating to about 30,000 alcohol breath tests in total. None of the officers have been stood down. Co-chair of Te Matakahi, the Defence Lawyers Association, Elizabeth Hall spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government is no longer soley focued on attracting Blockbuster films like the Lord of the Rings and Avatar to these shores, it's now hoping to give the industry a boost by offering incentives to smaller productions, too. Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today it's expanding eligibility for the International Screen Production Rebate scheme to allow smaller budget productions and digital effects only projects to benefit from the rebate. One actor says the changes couldn't comes soon enough. Kim Baker Wilson reports.

A person who witnessed a fatal bus crash in Rotorua last night says the car involved appeared to cross the centre line. A passenger in the car was killed and the driver and another passenger were critically injured after it collided with a bus full of school children.

Another horror story has emerged of an overseas weight-loss operation gone wrong. Manawatu woman Helen Watson's spent six weeks in hospital since returning from Turkey, unable to eat, drink or walk. She's endured a further six operations and more could be on the cards. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns will play in their respective finals of the Pacific Championships in Sydney on Sunday. A year ago the Kiwis were on the verge of being relegated from the top competition and having avoided demotion they could now win it all. For the Kiwi Ferns it's another year trying to get one over the Australians to lift the silverware. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Some shoppers have been surprised in recent weeks to find items from the women's fashion label Augustine for sale at discount website The Outlet at a fraction of their normal price. So what's going on, and what does it mean for shoppers - and the brand itself? Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Lisa Owen.

Asia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about a deadly typhoon which killed more than 100 people in the Philippines that has now made its way to Vietnam, as well as a search continuing for several climbers killed in an avalanche in the Himalayas.

It can be an awkward situation, when a flatmate's partner, who was only staying a night or two, suddenly becomes a regular fixture, without paying rent. It has prompted an economist to create a tool to help people figure out just how much their flatmate's love life is costing them. Krystal Gibbens reports.

Some restaurateurs are starry-eyed at the prospect of the prestigious Michelin Guide setting its sights on eateries across the country. For the first time in 125 years the Michelin guide will include restaurants from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown in an inaugural New Zealand edition to be released next year. But not everyone in the industry is fizzing, with one leading chef warning that there is a dark side to the star. Finn Blackwell dishes the details.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a major survey of young people finding that many teenage boys feel pressure to conform to toxic notions of masculinity.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The uneasy truce between Netball New Zealand and Dame Noeline Taurua already appears under strain. RNZ understands the board of the national body have "started a process" to talk to Taurua about comments made during a media blitz earlier this week. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

There are no new cases of measles today, but 16 cases are showing symptoms of the highly contagious disease, and health officials say there will be more cases. Health Minister Simeon Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tens of thousands of trucks in New Zealand are fitted with unsafe brakes that could fail at anytime. That is according to a damning coroners report into the death of an Auckland worker nearly eight years ago. Graeme Rabbits was crushed to death in 2018 when the brakes failed on a telehandler and it rolled down the slope it was parked on and pinned him against a concrete mixer. His death is one of six known fatalities caused by vehicles with cardan shaft brakes since 2010. There are up to 70,000 vehicles with the same brakes in New Zealand. Now a Coroner is urging NZTA to do more to warn people about the inherent danger these brakes pose. Checkpoint's Louisa Cleave and Jimmy Ellingham filed this report.

Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming has pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material. The 52-year-old appeared in the Wellington District Court on Thursday before Judge Tim Black. National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood was there and spoke to Lisa Owen.

A mental health helpline is calling on the government for financial support as it plans to cut back its services. Lifeline Aotearoa says its facing a funding shortfall, which means it will have to stop running as a 24 hour, seven day a week operation. It comes a day after a depression treatment centre in Wellington says it will be forced to close. Nick James reports.

Firefighters say they no longer have confidence in their ageing vehicle fleet, and fear they could let them down in life or death situations. They say they have learned to get by, but worry they won't be able to continue plugging the gaps. Fire and Emergency New Zealand says new trucks are on the way, and insists the current trucks are being well maintained. Despite this, the firefighters' union is planning further industrial action, saying FENZ needs to do more. On what's typically one of the busiest nights of the year for firefighters, Guy Fawke's, Checkpoint's Evie Richardson tagged along with one of the country's largest fire crews to see what they're up against.

The All Blacks are gearing up for the second test of their end of year tour. After a nervy win over Ireland last weekend in Chicago, this week they're in Edinburgh to face Scotland. The All Blacks have never lost to the Scots and look to continue that streak when they kick-off at Murrayfield this Sunday. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland Transport wants to extend parking charges in the popular Ponsonby dinning district to end the current "free for all". It is looking to extend paid street parking out to 9pm on Thursdays to Saturdays in busy streets around Ponsonby. Auckland Transport network planning group manager Andrew McGill spoke to Lisa Owen.

US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the death toll from a cargo plane crash in Kentucky rising, as well as Supreme Court hearing on whether Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs were justified.

Michelin stars could apparently guide more tourists to Aotearoa. The prestigious stars are awarded to restaurants offering quote " outstanding cooking" and the guide of the same name reviews and recommends restaurants. Tourism Minister Louise Upston has revealed $6.3 million from the tourism levy is being spent on getting Michelin into New Zealand. Tourism NZ CEO René de Monchy spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about British Police linking the train-attack accused to multiple incidents, as well as a debate among rsidents of "Prince Andrew Road" about whether the street needs a name change.

Wellington's Depression Recovery Centre is now almost certain to close after it received news this afternoon that Health NZ won't save it. ACC recently stopped funding clients to use Whakamatutu's services and the centre hoped Health NZ could cover the shortfall. But in an email this afternoon Health NZ told the centre it didn't have any discretionary funds available. Depression Recovery Trust's Wellington Board chair Dame Diana Crossan spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.