RNZ: Checkpoint

Australian correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about the death of the man convicted of the outback murder of British tourist Peter Falconio 24 years ago which has not brought an end to hopes that the dead man's missing remains could still be located. 

An Auckland mental health facility catering for people with long-standing or chronic problems will shut down. Health NZ has been consulting on its proposal to close Rauaroha Segar House, and this afternoon told patients and staff the service will close its doors. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Warriors star and former All Black Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is being linked to a Saudi Arabia-backed rebel rugby competition. The 32-year-old still has one year to run on his Warriors NRL contract but is open to switching codes again on a deal that could get him around $1 million a year. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A man who lost his parents and sister in the Erebus disaster supports a new proposal to build the long awaited national monument in Christchurch David Allan told Checkpoint in 2023 he was optimistic a memorial would be finished by the end of last year, 45 years since the tragedy. But more than two years on there's not even a decision on the location, let alone construction of the monument. There was pushback on locations in Auckland and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage has now proposed three potenital sites in Christchurch and asked families for feedback. David Allan spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The system for certifying the new Health Homes Standards has been described as being like drivers issuing their own warrants of fitness. Since July 1st, all rental properties across the motu have been required to comply with the standards, which set minimum requirements for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage. Currently there is no certification required in order to complete an assessment, meaning nearly anyone can. It has prompted calls for an independent certification system, to ensure rentals are indeed healthy homes. Bella Craig reports.

Do you know how much your work colleagues earn? A new bill that looks set to pass into law, may mean you can find out. The bill, from Labour MP Camilla Belich, would mean employers can't enforce gag orders if staff want to talk about their salaries, even if they have a pay secrecy clause in their contract. So far it has had the support of the National party and passed its second reading last night, meaning it's a step closer to becoming law. Employment lawyer Steph Dhyrberg spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The amount spent by a group set up to look at retail crime continues to come under scrutiny. It's been revealed that the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime set up amid a worrying spike in retail crime, has cost around $500,000 over three and a half months. That includes nearly $330,000 on personnel costs; admin of $65,000; travel and accommodation of nearly $10,000; and $102,000 pay for group members fees, with most of that going to chairperson Sunny Kaushal's $95,000 paycheque. Mr Kaushal has defended the cost, saying that with $1.8 million available to the group, they're actually under-budget. Retail NZ chief executive and member of the Ministerial Advisory Group Carolyn Young spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

University students have been warned about promoting overseas gambling websites on social media for financial gain. Internal Affairs has contacted 10 students who appeared to be promoting gambling websites such as Rainbet and SpinBet. The department has been cracking down on social media influencers promoting online gambling, resulting in a recent fine for internet personality Millie Elder-Holmes. Joe Shaw reports.

A group of NZ researchers want a formal inquiry into the rates of Campylobacter infection. In a just-released study, hospitalisation rates for Campylobacter infection have increased by almost 70 percent in 17 years. Most of the time, the source of the illness is contaminated fresh chicken meat. The group of prominent public health researchers behind the research say rising hospitalisation rates are a serious concern and want urgent action from the government. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Do you earn the same amount as your co-workers? It is a question we all know doubt often wonder about, but many of us are too scared to ask. Currently employers can put pay secrecy clauses in workers' contracts to stop them discussing their salaries. But a Labour party bill that would stop employers enforcing these gag orders has just passed its second reading, with support from National, meaning it may soon be law. Reporter Evie Richardson took to the streets of downtown Auckland to ask workers their thoughts.

Scott Robertson has kept his promise to give everyone in the All Blacks squad a go for this Saturday's third and final test against France in Hamilton. The All Blacks coach has made a raft of changes to the side after a dominant victory to clinch the series last weekend. He has handed Chiefs hooker Brodie McAlister the chance to debut from the bench and has made 10 changes to the starting XV. Rugby reporter Joe Porter spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Two Kiwi Olympians are taking on a herculean challenge - cycling 4500kms through East Africa for charity. Cyclist and Paris 2024 Olympic Silver medalist Nicole Shields came up with the idea and has managed to convince her friend, Olympic kayaker Hamish Legarth, to come with her. But unlike the high performance sports world they're used to, there will be no support crew in tow - with the pair carrying everything they need for the at least two-month adventure on them. Nicole and Hamish spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

US Correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about the so-called Epstein list driving a wedge through Donald Trump's MAGA support base. Things hit boiling point today with the President lashing out at his own supporters who are calling for the government to release all classified documents about convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Much of Donald Trump's voter base has been highly critical of the administration's handling of the issue.

A turn off or offally good? A once forgotten food could be on the cusp of a comeback. Offal is now on the menu for some school lunches with the company behind the programme now using a mince that is a blend with beef and trim heart. The food code means that if you are using a blend it must be disclosed - either as offal or the specific names - like liver and kidney. While most of New Zealand's offal is exported, there's a growing number of people who advocate for greater use - including the organisers of the 'offaly good' festival coming up in Auckland. Hannah Miller, a chef turned butcher who runs 'A Lady Butcher' is also a huge fan of using a 'nose to tail' approach and spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

United Kingdom correspodent Edward O'Driscoll spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about a second host on the popular cooking show MasterChef UK being sacked, as well as customers at a London fish and chip shop who were met with a slithery surprise.

The government has drawn a line under one of education's most contentious issues - today it announced a halt to building what everyone except for teachers call open-plan classrooms. Modern learning environments, flexible learning environments, and innovative learning environments, whatever name you give them, their day is done. The government says evidence backs the move, though surveys show most teachers who work in the buildings like them. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

A new era beckons for the Black Caps. The side is set to kick off a new season, with a new coach, against an old foe. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A nurse trainer has thrown her support behind student nurse and midwives calling for a law change so they are paid for placements. Australia has just introduced such a change there. Students have said it is not fair that they are doing the same amount of work as qualified staff in order to fill workforce shortage. Tina Smith has over 30 years experience training nurses and has said we risk losing large numbers of talented nurses if something's not done. She spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Locals in the town of Waiuku are sounding the alarm over a narrow, bumpy road that claimed the lives of a woman and two children yesterday afternoon. Concerned residents have said Masters Road is too dangerous and will continue causing accidents until speed limits are enforced. A warning, this report by journalist Felix Walton contains distressing details.

A Rotorua organisation providing sleeping pods for the city's homeless says they're being held back by council insisting that they get consents. The Village of Hope has been set up in a secret location by the group Love Soup, which says it's an effort to give the city's homeless somewhere safe to sleep and to move them away from CBD shop fronts. Rotorua has been grappling with a large homeless population in recent years, and last month a large number of homeless people were trespassed from a makeshift camp in the CBD. It also comes as a controversial programme that uses the city's motels as emergency housing is phased out. Julie King from Love Soup spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Senior Cabinet Minister Chris Bishop has launched a broadside at local government at a conference in Otautahi-Christchurch.The RMA Reform and Infrastructure Minister has said councils are crying out for more from central government, but have stood in the way of growth and been unwilling to cut their own cloth, and New Zealanders are noticing. At the Local Government New Zealand opening day, Chris Bishop also announced the government is halting what it says is pointless council planning work ahead of its major shake-up of resource management laws. Otautahi reporter Timothy Brown was at the conference spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry has announced a half a million dollar support package from government and industry for flood-affected farmers, growers and foresters in the Tasman region. It comes as the district-wide clean up continues, with Mayor Tim King estimating the total repair bill has already exceeded $100 million, alongside a warning more heavy rain is expected in the coming months. Samantha Gee reports.

The naming of a development team to play South Africa later this month has sparked a frenzy of speculation of who's in and who's out of the Black Ferns World Cup squad. Black Ferns XV coach Willie Walker today announced a 28-strong squad for the two game series in Cape Town. But it's the names that are missing that are generating the most discussion. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A spike in the number of bikes and cars illegally ripping up parks is being reported across the country. Tauranga, Rotorua and Auckland councils are among those who have said thousands of ratepayer dollars is having to be used to fix sports field and public reserves. The fine for driving on a reserve without permission depends on individual bylaws but is usually up to $800. Police could also charge for dangerous driving, which could be up to $4,500. Auckland Council's General Manager of Parks and Community Facilities Taryn Crewe spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.    

Asia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about a big day for trade deals in the region, as well as the man believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner who has died in a hit-and-run, aged 114.

The Government has announced an end to open plan classrooms. The initial concept began in 2011 under National's then Education Minister Hekia Parata. For a period, every new classroom had to be built open plan, so up to 100 students could learn in one space with 3 teachers collaboratively. Many schools still have them, but Education Minister Erica Stanford says the barn-like designs "aren't meeting the needs of students". Instead, there will be a range of designs schools can choose from that are flexible, but not open plan. Principal of Albany Senior High School and the President of the Auckland Secondary Schools Principals Association Claire Amos spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

In Australia there's relief following the discovery of a young German traveller who was lost in the outback for 12 days. Our correspondent Nick Grimm can bring us more.

The Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has agreed to withdraw a scathing letter he wrote to the United Nations - after being hauled into line by his coalition partners and the Prime Minister. But he's refusing to accept he did anything wrong. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Significant pressure at Auckland's major hospitals this winter is being felt across almost all the different parts of the health system, including at general practice, private urgent care and in the community. The pressure is becoming so great GPs have said they are overwhelmed by the sheer number of people with winter sicknesses. One nurse said the system is so stretched she is seeing sick patients discharged into the community before they're ready. Today Health NZ said the city's public hospitals are at their "upper limit", with many turning up at emergency departments with repiratory illnesses, but said it is not turning patients away in Auckland and Northland. Lucy Xia reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Baby Blacks are back on the big stage. The New Zealand under 20 rugby side are through to the final of the World Championships in Italy after a dramatic win over France. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

New Zealand Police is tackling the challenge of officers going to Australia head on. Yesterday Checkpoint heard from a recruitment officer for Northern Territory Police who had no qualms about luring kiwi cops over, and said they would be coming here on a roadshow this month to talk about the higher salaries and housing allowances on offer. First year constables in the Northern Territory earn a salary of $111,000 compared to $83,000 here - the salary quoted on the new cops website in New Zealand. After five years in the force an officer would get $121,000 in Northern Territory compared to $91,000 here.

Holiday-makers in the Far North are counting their lucky stars after what locals are describing as a twister ripped through their campground, damaging campervans and destroying a caravan. A 79-year-old man was injured when his campervan tipped onto its side and witnesses say if the caravan's occupant had been in at the time we'd likely be dealing with a tragedy. Peter de Graaf reports from a shaken but relieved Tauranga Bay.

The team trying to tame Auckland's problem with roaming dogs is calling for an overhaul of national dog control laws. Auckland Council suggests tools like fencing requirements for dog owners and greater powers to detain dogs. In the last year there have been nearly 17,000 reports of roaming dogs in Auckland. There have been reports of 1,500 attacks on other dogs and 1,300 attacks on people - although that could be much higher according to ACC claim data. Auckland Council's General Manager of Licensing and Compliance Robert Irvine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Auckland's business leaders and key decision makers have been warned the city risks being cast into obscurity as "a global city" according to a report released today. The State of the City report makes for tough reading, saying the city is falling behind other global cities due to poor planning, lack of innovation and a weak economy. Victor Waters reports.

The most unwanted record in test cricket history remains New Zealand's, thanks to a fielding fumble by a young Australian. For the past 70 years, New Zealand has held the record for the the lowest total, having been dismissed for 26 against England in 1955. Today the West Indies were close to taking the record, but they survived to be dismissed for just 27 runs by Australia in the third test in Jamaica. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The huge task of moving millions of New Zealand's most precious documents to their new home begins in Wellington this week. Archives New Zealand is moving just across the road from its current location in Mulgrave street to Heke Rua, which is linked to the national library. It's a building which cost $290 million and has been eight years in the making. Chief archivist Anahere Morehu spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about how the prized pieces of history will be transported safely.

Washington DC correspondent Zach Montellaro spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about. US president Donald Trump threatenin Russia with massive tariffs if an imminent end to the war in Ukraine isn't achieved. Trump has also announced increased support for Ukraine with a supply of American weapons heading its way.

Wellington Pools is looking for a lifeguard over 50 years old according to an advertisement, which told applicants "forget your preconceptions of what lifeguard looks like...we want people from all stages of life." But a job site for older workers looking for jobs said with 7000 registered jobseekers over the age of 50, they need more opportunities like this to match the spike in people looking. The team behind the seniors at work website say they have noticed more and more older workers have been struggling over the last nine months and a slow down in recruitment generally especially impacts them. Seniors at Work Founder Ian Fraser spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

United Kingdom correspondent Edward O'Driscoll spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about an unprecedent move, Donald Trump is set to join the royals for a second state visit later this year, as well as senior aids to the King and Prince Harry who have been pictured holding secret talks in London.