RNZ: Checkpoint

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about the process to replace a missing Olympic medal.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about how it's been revealed the former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson failed vetting but was given the job anyway and how Britain is preparing for a worst case scenario should the Iran war continue. She also spoke about how passengers on an EasyJet flight from London thought the pilot was joking when he asked for volunteers to disembark before take-off, but he wasn't.

Another bumper round of Super Rugby kicks off on Friday evening. Two blockbuster kiwi derbies headline the weekend, with the return of some big names to action. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

RNZ understands National's Stuart Smith had tried but failed get a meeting with Christopher Luxon to warn him about flagging caucus support before Easter. Three polls have National hovering on or just under 30 percent. Ministers Todd McClay and Mark Mitchell have rubbished claims of leadership rumbles. Paul Goldsmith said any nervous backbenchers need to hold their nerve. Former National MP Maurice Williamson spoke to Lisa Owen.

The political leadership rumours have been swirling again today, with fresh reports of a National party mutiny. But Christopher Luxon is digging in - amid the questions about his leadership - insisting he still has the full support of his caucus. Political editor Craig McCulloch has more.

The conviction of serial rapist Malcolm Rewa for another rape almost four decades after he committed the crime has triggered a review of unsolved rape cases. Rewa was senteced at the High Court in Auckland today to ten years in jail for a rape committed in the 1980s. He was already serving a life sentence and preventive detention for the murder of Susan Burdett in 1992 and sexual attacks on 25 women. Detective Inspector Scott Beard spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown says transport companies wanting to keep fuel costs down should be moving goods overnight when there's no traffic on the roads. But the New Zealand Trucking Association says it's not that simple, with many warehouses and businesses unable to open at those hours. Trucking Association chief executive Dave Boyce spoke to Lisa Owen.

Residents of the Waitaki District in the South Island may face a 19 percent hike in rates. Officials say the proposed increase will costs ratepayers an average of about 13 dollars a week. Rachel Graham report.

Sports funding has been in the spotlight this week with reports that Saudia Arabia's Public Investment Fund is slowing down their spending in the sector. Over the last five years the kingdom has outlayed more than 10 billion dollars to prop up traditional sports and launch new events. LIV Golf is facing funding concerns for next season and two New Zealand players could find their careers in limbo. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Researchers from New Zealand, Australia and China are designing a chatbot they hope will make life online safer and more welcoming to seniors and non-digital natives. The research team has been speaking to senior citizens about challenges navagating tech and they're also working with a major charity that can't be named yet. University of Auckland researcher Dr Jade Brooks spoke to Lisa Owen.

Cuba's president said his country is "ready" for a potential attack by the United States. It comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations and repeated comments from Donald Trump that he'll turn his attention to Cuba after the Iran war. Americas correspondent, Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen.

In the year to the end of March, petrol prices went up almost 14 percent, diesel increased almost 37 percent. At the same time, fruit and vege is up almost 6.5 percent. Meat, poultry and fish is up 7.3 percent. Electricity is up about 13 percent. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

In Australia -- fuel supply problems caused by the war in the Middle East suddenly got a whole lot worse today as a result of an overnight fire at one of the country's two oil refineries. Our Australia correspondent Nick Grimm joins Lisa Owen on Checkpoint.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Football Ferns have qualified for 2027's World Cup with a far from convincing victory over Papua New Guinea in Auckland. There is now 14 months until the tournament kicks off in Brazil. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Two Waikato scientists, turned modern day pied pipers have been playing rodent chatter through speakers in the forest to lure rats into traps. If it works, it could cut pest erradication costs and be more efficient than waiting for rats to wander into traps. Speakers mounted on trees played the rat sound track on a loop day and night in forest at Tuateawa on the Coromandel Peninsula and Te Hoe near Hamilton. Wintec lecturer and researcher Dr Rhys Jones spoke to Lisa Owen.

Businesses in a south Auckland's suburb say they're sick of 18-wheeler commercial trucks blocking their access paths, doing roadside repairs and leaving oil on the streets. Last month, the Wiri Business Association asked Parliament's regulation review committee to look at how Auckland Council is enforcing the new Vehicle Use and Parking Bylaw, that came into effect in July 2025. The bylaw gives Auckland Transport the power to fine vehicles parking on roads and public places if they're causing obstruction or pose a safety risk. But local businesses say instead they've seen little change as Wiri's still an unregulated dumping and parkports.

A new government agency set up to wind down greyhound racing and help with rehoming of more than 1500 dogs has been meeting with industry leaders. Greyhound Racing Transition Agency Heather Simpson spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland's Sky Tower and Harbour Bridge lights are not shining quite so bright at the moment to help fledgling Cook's petrels. Light pollution has been disorientating juvenile seabirds, especially since the number of lights on the Sky Tower doubled in 2019 when SkyCity switched to LED lighting. Jessica Hopkins reports.

A man released from jail on special conditions for trying to snatch a toddler for sex was at a playground just two days later. Two days after that, he was at a school. John Tekuru's case has raised the ire of the Sensible Sentencing Trust which said he should face stricter monitoring. On Thursday in court, he's admitted to breaching his conditions. Reporter Kim Baker Wilson spoke to Lisa Owen. Warning: Some listeners may find the details confronting.

Stewart Island locals are fundraising to build new housing for seniors, so they don't have to choose between living in unsuitable housing or moving to rest homes on the mainland. Otago Southland Reporter Katie Todd has the story.

New Zealand meet World Cup finalists Canada in Kansas, with one of their strike weapons cleared to play. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Napier Hairdesssing tutor has set up the classes to help fathers with the practical stuff but also to give them quality time with their daughters. The first workshop is already booked out. Eastern Institue of Technology Hairdressing tutor and mum Courtney Cook is running the workshops and spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Trump administration said it's optimistic a deal to end the US-Israeli war with Iran could soon be reached. Meanwhile, the deadline for the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire is less than a week away with no confirmation of further negotiations between the US and Iran. United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.

It turns out artificial intelligence might not be that intelligent when it comes to making complaints according to a consumer watchdog. The Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman is warning people to beware of AI tools hallucinating and gving bad or incorrect advice. It said artifical intelligence can make the process frustrating for people when the reality doesn't match up to the expectations that AI has raised. Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman Karen Stevens spoke to Lisa Owen.

UK correspondent Lucy Thomson talks to Lisa Own over concerns raised by a former NATO chief on the UK's national security. She also delves into a report highlighting further economic fallout for the country in the wake of the Iran War.

A long-standing, but newly expanded Maori relationships committee is proving controversial in the Far North. It's seen locals turn out in support of the change but there is backlash, too, despite the committee being advisory only. Council decisions are still made by elected members. Reporter Peter de Graaf headed to Wednesday's meeting to find out what the fuss is about.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Auckland FC coach Steve Corica will be forced to watch his side's crucial A-League clash from the sidelines this weekend. Corica copped a one-match ban after being issued a red card in Saturday's draw with the Melbourne Victory. It was the first red card of his career. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

If you shopped at a Waikato Bunnings store today, you probably had your face scanned. The hardware giant switched on its new technology at its Hamilton South and Te Rapa stores this week. The AI technology is targeting repeat shoplifters and offenders and is is due to be implemented at all Bunnings stores around New Zealand in a phased rollout. Bunnings New Zealand general manager Melissa Haines spoke to Lisa Owen.

"Do nothing ..do nothing...do nothing ..and then oh F**k." That's how a leading economist has charactersied the Government's four-part fuel plan. New Zealand's currently in phase one of the plan which means there's enough fuel but prices are rising. Formal rationing would kick in at phase four. Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub spoke to Lisa Owen.

There's cautious support being shown for a crack down on black market tobacco, but also warnings the tobacco industry itself could be stoking fears. A report into the illicit tobacco trade, released by Retail NZ, pushed for the formation of a unified response from Customs, Police, Health NZ and Inland Revenue. It's chief executive said we need to act quickly, but the Prime Minister isn't convinced. Finn Blackwell reports.

People may soon be able to bypass the GP and head to the pharmacist for a wider ranges of medicines, at a cheaper price. The government proposal would allow pharmacists to assess a patient, provide a consultation, and supply a treatment, similar to a GP visit. It would also mean patients get treatments at a lower cost, rather than paying full over-the-counter prices. Treatments for scabies, headlice, and conjunctivitis would be covered, as well as emergency contraception pill. Lanny Wong, a pharmacist, director of Mangawhai Pharmacy and a member of the national executive of the Pharmaceutical Society spoke to Lisa Owen.

Iwi volunteers are desperately working to save as many eels as they can from a dried-up lake bed on coastal Manawatu. The rescue operation at Pukepuke Lagoon began late last week, and since then an estimated 3,000 eels have since been moved into waterways elsewhere. Meanwhile, there's calls for an investigation into how this has happened. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham visited the lake.

Moana Pasifika announced that after five years, it is no longer financially sustainable, and will fold at the end of the current season. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Fuel stocks are down for the second time in a row, and with one small shipment delayed from Singapore the government is warning New Zealanders should expect more of the same. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is offering assurances it's all within normal fluctuations and the country is staying at phase 1 of the fuel plan - at least for now. Political reporter Russell Palmer spoke to Lisa Owen.

At the top of the South Island, in the heart of New Zealand's aquaculture and fishing industries, artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to provide better information about what's going on underwater. Scientists and engineers are working together to develop new tools that give marine farmers better metrics, in a bid to push growth in the sector. Samantha Gee has the story.

Americas correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen about how Mexico's president has launched more criticism towards the US over the death of Mexicans in ICE custody. He also spoke about how Peru is set to elect its ninth president in a decade and how a retrial over the death of one of football's greatest ever players, Diego Maradona, has just started.

ANZ reported a sharp fall in retail activity last month, March card data shows a more than 4 percent drop in spending at general clothing stores and a 6 percent drop at shoe stores, compared to last year. Overseas, France is bringing in an enviromental fee on fast fashion brands; it will rise to 10 euros an item by 2030. Retail New Zealand said local business have compliance costs and health and safety standards that off shore operators are not held to and it's time to look at a level on overseas retailers. CEO Carolyn Young spoke to Lisa Owen.

Immigration is shaping as a key battleground political issue in Australia, with the federal opposition on Tuesday unveiling the policy it plans to take to Australian voters. Part of Liberal Party Leader Angus Taylor's pitch takes a page out of America's playbook when it comes to visa applicants. Australia Correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.