RNZ: Checkpoint

The government plans to tweak liquor laws so pubs can stay open during Rugby World Cup games that are played outside of normal trading hours. Justice Minister Kiri Allan says the amendment to the Act will ensure a much needed boost for hospitality during the tournament that kicks off in France in September - meaning its played in a different time zone. The changes will only be temporary and eligible licenced premises will have to let police and local councils know if they plan to show matches outside of normal trading hours. Alcohol Healthwatch acting executive director Rebecca Wiliams talks to Lisa Owen.  

The tourism industry wants to rebuild better than ever, saying a new era is ahead. More than 1500 travel delegates are in Otautahi for the country's biggest tourism business event, TRENZ, this week. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton is at the conference.

To the Coromandel Peninsula where they've had their fourth major storm in five months. Businesses and locals are feeling the effects of their fragile roading network - and the lashing of severe weather. After years without their usual bustling summer period and now winter on the way, they're desperate for some normality. Checkpoint reporter Louise Ternouth and camera operator Marika Khabazi have the story.

News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6327127083112

National's leader Christopher Luxon has unequivocally ruled out working with Te Pāti Māori to form a government after the election. It follows a turbulent period for the parties on the left - with Meka Whaitiri defecting from Labour and pledging allegiance instead to the Māori Party. Here's our deputy political editor Craig McCulloch.

In a world first, bunk beds could offer Air New Zealand travellers some respite from the torture of sleepless long haul flights. From next year the national carrier's offering so called Skynest rest pods on its New York and Chicago route. Passengers will be able to book a spot for a four-hour snooze. Its part of a three and half billion dollar spend on upgrading its fleet and buying new planes over the next five years. Air NZ boss Greg Foran talks to Lisa Owen. 

New Zealand Rugby have announced a hook up with the Japan Rugby Union with the promise of more matches between the countries in Japan over the next four years. The agreement will see the two unions explore strategic and commercial opportunities to grow the game across the Asia Pacific region. We're joined by sports reporter Felicity Reid.  

West Auckland residents are dealing with an all too familiar reality, after being hit yet again by severe weather. Fast and ferocious flooding swamped the area yesterday.. in the space of a few hours, roads were inundated again. Many have experienced multiple bouts of flooding in the last two years, and some are continuing to call for managed retreat from at risk areas. Our reporter Luka Forman and cameraman Nick Monro have the story.

'A much loved son and brother' who died on a school caving trip. There's been an outpouring of grief in Whangārei, where the 15-year-old was a student at Whangārei Boys High. The caves that claimed his life are just a 10 minute drive from the school. The whānau of the young man has thanked people for their love and support, and rescuers for bringing back his body. Fifteen students, a teacher and an instructor were on the trip when the tragedy struck. Multiple investigations are underway into how it happened and parents and locals want answers. The principal of Whangārei Boys' High School says she is not in a position to provide answers about the caving tragedy out of respect for the whānau of the boy who died. Ashleigh McCaull and cameraman Angus Dreaver are in Whangārei. And as Checkpoint reporter Tom Taylor explains, WorkSafe has visited Whangārei Boys High School following another serious accident. The incident was recorded in the school's Board of Trustee minutes on Tuesday March 28. Checkpoint has spoken to Principal Karen Gilbert Smith about the accident but she has declined to comment. The board also approved other EOTC (education outside the classroom) trips but there was no record of an upcoming visit to Abbey Caves. The board did not meet in April but is meeting tonight following yesterday's caving tragedy. Its next scheduled board meeting is Tuesday May 22.

Another state of emergency was issued for Auckland, following severe flash flooding on Tuesday. Torrential rain forced several Auckland schools, the Museum and Zoo to close early and has put already traumatised and displaced residents on edge again. There were major delays for people trying to use public transport. Auckland Councillor has been urging better communication from Auckland Transport. He talks to Lisa Owen.

In Whangārei police have announced they have suspended the search for a Whangārei Boys High school student still unaccounted for after a school excursion to nearby Abbey Caves. Seventeen people were on the trip, including a teacher, a guide and 15 year eleven students on an outdoor education trip. Our reporter Tom Taylor is there. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6327070756112

Secondary teachers across the South Island walked off the job today, calling for salary increases that match inflation. It's the first of three regional strikes across the country planned for this week. Our reporter Anna Sargent was at one of the protests near Christchurch's central city.

West Auckland residents are dealing with yet another severe event, with some residents forced to leave their homes again, because of flooding. Our reporter Louise Ternouth is there and joins us now.  

In a grab for rural votes, ACT is standing former Federated Farmer president Andrew Hoggard is the normally blue set of Rangitikei. Mr Hoggard, a Manawatu farmer, quit the presidency early to end speculation about his next move. The newly minted ACT candidate talks to Lisa Owen.  

Ex-Minister Meka Whaitiri has made a dramatic Parliamentary debut as an independent MP - her first time coming face-to-face with her former Labour colleagues. Her entrance saw the leaders of Te Pāti Māori booted from the debating chamber for conducting a pōwhiri without permission. Here's our deputy political editor Craig McCulloch.

"We are back here again Auckland". The words of MetService meteorologist Georgina Griffiths as she started her briefing to the city earlier this afternoon. Auckland has had 90 percent of its annual rain fall in the first third of the year. And still more is on the way. Georgina joins Lisa Owen with the latest.

News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6327072588112

Amrita Aujla's house was inundated in the Auckland Anniverary weekend floods and her west Auckland neghbourhood has been hit again today. She's also part of the advocay group for affect residents - West Auckland is flooding. She talks to Lisa Owen.  

Police have cordoned off the road near the Abbey Caves in Whangārei. Checkpoint reporter Tom Taylor is there with the details.

One student remains missing tonight after an outdoor education class from Whangārei Boys High school became trapped in nearby Abbey Caves during an excursion this morning. A Whangārei resident lives near the Abbey Caves. She said it had been raining since Monday night.

Auckland remains under a state of emergency following flash flooding. Mayor Wayne Brown is in Sydney. He made the declaration remotely and has delegated his powers to Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson. She joins Lisa Owen.  

Muriwai resident Pete Clouston's home was red stickered Cyclone Gaberielle. He joins Lisa Owen after another day of devastating rain.  

Auckland is in a state of emergency. A Civil Defence Centre has been opened at Te Manawa Library in Massey, and Auckland Emergency Civil Defence says the centre can provide beds, blankets, food, water, and welfare and support.  

The Minister for Auckland has made his way to west Auckland, where he's meeting with residents affected again by the severe weather. Our reporter Louise Ternouth is there and joins us now.  

By 2pm Fire and Emergency had responded to 200 hundred calls for help around Auckland today - most of those came in a two hour period, as the city was hit by torrential burst of rain. Brad Mosby from FENZ talks to Lisa Owen.  

Returning to the story of the cave rescue still underway near Whangārei. One student is unaccounted for after Whangārei Boy's High School trip to the Abbey Caves was hit by severe weather. Most of Year 11 students have been reunited with their whānau and the school says it plans to open tomorrow so they can maintain some routine for staff and students. Peter Crossley is a caver who did the original survey of the Abbey Caves. He talks to Lisa Owen.  

West Harbour School was among several schools that had to put the call out for sandbags as heavy rain hit. Principal Vicki Hitchcock talks to Lisa Owen.  

Our reporter Finn Blackwell is on Dominion Road in Auckland with the latest details.

Parts of Wairau Valley on Auckland's North Shore have again been flooding. Our reporter Luka Forman is there and joins Lisa Owen with the latest.  

A rescue operation is still underway at Abbey caves near Whangārei after a group of students got into trouble in the bad weather. Emergency services were called there at about 10:30am. The group from Whangārei High School included 15 Year 11 students and along with the teacher and instructor. The school says most of the students have been reunited with their whānau, but one teenager is still unaccounted for. Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo joins Lisa Owen.  

It has been a rough ride for Auckland commuters today with torrential rain and flash flooding disrupting services and it is not over yet. All trains out of the Britomart transport hub in the central city were cancelled earlier today. Surface flooding caused disruption to some bus routes too. Darek Koper from Auckland Transport talks to Lisa Owen.  

With the heavy rain it has been gridlock in central Auckland. Commuters trying to leave the central city early have been waiting hours for buses. Many are driving past bus stops, already full, as the rain continues. Reporter Lucy Xia has the details.  

The wild weather is now bearing down on the Coromandel. The area's still has major damage and closed roads from the last bout of severe weather. Civil Defence Controller Gary Towler talks to Lisa Owen.  

Auckland's in a state of Emergency again, as the city is hammered by torrential rain and flash flooding. It's put already anxious and displaced residents on edge once more. MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm and heavy rain warning for Auckland and Aotea Great Barrier Island through until 7pm. Emergency Management Duty controller Parul Sood joins Lisa Owen.  

MetService has issued 15 weather warnings and watches across New Zealand on Tuesday. It's a familiar scene again in Auckland with flooding across the city. Checkpoint reporter Louise Ternouth is in Don Buck Road, Massey with the latest details.  

Defence Force personnel are in line for a pay bump as part of a major Budget boost unveiled by the government.

In Auckland alone we send 100,000 tonnes of food waste to landfill every year. Now food scrap bins are being rolled out across the city to help use that food for fuel, at the country's first large-scale "waste to bio energy" processing facility. Checkpoint reporter Louise Ternouth and camera operator Nick Monro went to Reporoa in the central North Island to check it out.

After two months of using a dinghy, a husband and wife stranded by Cyclone Gabrielle can now leave home on a slightly less precarious river crossing. The storm's heavy rain swelled the Manawatū River's northern reaches and the water's power, plus a huge build-up of logs, swept away the bridge to their property. Now, Charlie and Hamish Menzies are waiting for a permanent fix. Checkpoint's Jimmy Ellingham reports.

Nelson has long been known for its "Sunshine Wages" but a new report shows they have fallen to 14 percent below the national average. At just over $60,000 dollars a year - they are the lowest average wages in New Zealand. So what does that mean for those on the breadline? Samantha Gee has more.

News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6327008687112

The boss of the Warriors major sponsor has called out the NRL referees after what he says is "cheating of the highest order". One New Zealand chief executive Jason Paris vented on social media following the Warriors latest loss, saying the Warriors haven't been given a fair go by officials this season. We're joined by sports reporter Felicity Reid.  

A Christchurch trust working with at-risk youth is one of more than 130 to have their funding cut by Oranga Tamariki. The Youth Alive Trust has been around for more than three decades and runs holiday programmes for young people from low income families - who might otherwise miss out. Oranga Tamariki says the funding decision is based on a need to focus investment on the higher needs of tamariki and whanau it supports. But the trust believes that is short sighted. Youth Alive Trust Manager James Ridpath talks to Lisa Owen.