Checkpoint

Forty percent of young people don't see buy now pay later services as debt, and that's a problem according to a finance expert. A survey of more than 700 people aged 18 to 34 found just 60 percent recognised the service as a debt. AUT professor of Finance Aaron Gilbert's been researching the issue and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about Turkey's LGBTQ+ crackdown which has seen dozens more arrested following a protest, as well as continued fallout from Ed Sheeran's America tour after supporting artist, Macklemore was dropped for his pro-Palestine comments on stage.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the nation's cyber intelligence chief calling for an "early warning system" as a frontline defence against artificial intelligence going rogue.

The ACT party wants to freeze the minimum wage for three years - and slash the training wage for under-20 year olds to about $14 - touting it as a win for struggling small businesses, and youngsters struggling to find work. Its policy was announced as political leaders spent the day selling their parties to the business worlds as they get set to step on the election campaign trail. Political reporter Lauren Crimp has more.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The hottest tickets in town have been snapped up in a matter of minutes. It may be a bigger venue, but it was the same scramble to secure seats to the Warriors vs Knights at Eden Park on Sunday. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Raglan is back on The World Surf League championship tour for next year. There were doubts the seaside town could cope with the swell of crowds when it hosted the world's best surfers for the first time in May, but it impressed the League with its deep surfing heritage, world class waves and passionate locals. Chair of Surfing NZ Jimi Higgins spoke to Lisa Owen.

A public inquiry has found authorities could have prevented Tom Phillips from disappearing with his children - or brought them home sooner. The report, by former High Court judge Simon Moore, says agencies missed crucial chances to protect the children and repeatedly downplayed or overlooked the harm they faced. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch reports, and Police Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers spoke to Lisa Owen. 

A business owner on the South Island's West Coast says State Highway 6 closures are costing him thousands of dollars a day as tourists cancel, turn around or avoid the area. The highway was closed late last month, when heavy rain caused slips, washouts and rockfalls. A few days later it partially opened, for three daily escorted convoys. Haast locals are questioning why it's taking so long to restore the route, while the Transport Agency says the scale of the clean up is unprecedented and there's no quick fix. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton has more.

As many of us enjoyed the final days of summer, communities on Tairawhiti's East Cape were inundated with torrential rain, causing widespread flooding. The destructive storm triggered more than 11,000 landslips, blocking the coastal road at several places and blocking off residents. Seven months on, the road is still getting fixed as the clean up continues, and locals are dealing with multiple other problems, leaving them wondering about their futures on the land. Teuila Fuatai reports.

The first All Whites squad since their Football World Cup exit in June has been named for an expanded FIFA international window. This year September and October international windows have been combined, meaning more matches than ever before. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Amateur bird-watchers are being called on to help with the great Bittern bird count. The Bittern Matuku-hurepo lives in wetlands around the motu and is one of New Zealand's most endangered birds. Every year there is a head count to see how the Bittern is tracking. The Love Bittern project co-ordinates the great Matuku-Hurepo muster to avoid the birds being double counted. Project founder, Wendy Ambury spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the president's son, Donald Trump Jr, confirming part of his wedding celebrations were paid for by a Russian oligarch with ties to Vladimir Putin.

A public inquiry into the handling of the Tom Phillips case says the harm he caused in isolating the children as well as concerns from the maternal whānau were "minimised or overlooked by agencies for significant periods". Concerns raised by the children's adult sisters were effectively ignored despite their repeated attempts to alert Oranga Tamariki. Chief Executive Amanda Malu spoke to Lisa Owen. 

Sports reporter Bridget Tunicliffe talked Lisa Owen through the Silver Ferns squad heading to next year's World Cup.

The environmental cost of a new pair of jeans could be enough to make a shopper blue. Brand new jeans can have an environmental footprint that is 180 times higher than pre-loved ones.That's according to new research from Planetary Accounting Network which uses a sophisticated dashboard to calculate the environmental costs of everyday purchases. Community recycling group Wanaka Wastebusters commissioned the research. Its general manager Gina Gempster spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about the price of oil rising as hostilities ramp up between the Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia, as well as an important summit between Iran and several Gulf nations being postponed.

So far so good for Auckland's City Rail Link, which had its first full weekday in operation today. Auckland Transport says trains ran smoothly and that by 9am about 24,000 people were travelling on the network. Reporter Matthew Theunissen was riding the rails and filed this report.

New Zealanders travelling to Fiji are being warned of an increased risk of HIV transmission, with the Fiji government declaring the epidemic a national crisis. The New Zealand government website Safetravel says travellers should avoid acitivities that may increase their risk of infection. With the school holidays approaching, the Ministry of Foreign affairs has encouraged all New Zealanders heading overseas to get comprehensive travel insurance. At least 9000 Fijians were living with HIV according to March figures and officials have said high risk drug use is contributing to the rapid rise. Victoria University senior health researcher Sharon McLennan spoke to Lisa Owen.

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about a largely forgotten story about a yacht grounding which happened almost five decades ago at the bottom of the South Island and how it connects two women that live 15,000km apart.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the future of assisted dying legislation in England and Wales hanging in the balance, with MPs preparing for a crucial vote, as well as two people being arrested in London on suspicion of helping Iran's intelligence service.

An Otago university researcher has landed what could be a significant scientific catch using a 2km line and a blob of marmite. What's believe to be a new species of fish was lured from the depths of Lake Manapouri and Lake Te Anau last month. The fish is being DNA tested, and if confirmed as a new species it could reveal the secrets of a whole new eco-system. University of Otago Zoology researcher Doctor Roe Stuart discovered the fish and spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Warriors kick of their NRL finals series at a sold-out Mt Smart stadium tomorrow. While the home side have the upper hand in finals experience the visiting Dolphins are shaping up to be one of the Warriors' most formidable rivals. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The road cones are gone, the sculptures unveiled and 23 new trains are set to start carrying commuters on Auckland's very own City Rail Link. Although trains won't run until Sunday, the CRL was officially opened by the Prime Minister and Auckland Mayor at a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning. But as dignitaries congratulate one another on the completion of New Zealand's biggest-ever infrastructure project, Auckland businesses continue to suffer due to the years of disruption it caused. Matthew Theunissne reports.

Government agencies that haven't beefed up email security could be leaving the door open to hackers, according to an international cyber security company. It follows revelations data may have been stolen form Dunedin-based company ZenTech and published online. International Cyber Security company, Proofpoint claims 50 percent of NZ Government agencies are exposed when it comes to email security. Senior Director of Asia Pacific and Japan, Steve Moros spoke to Lisa Owen.

Warriors fans are furious that some tickets snapped up for tomorrow's sell-out playoff against the Dolphins at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium are now selling online at inflated prices. On Trade Me and other marketplaces some sellers are asking hundreds of dollars more than what they paid for the tickets. Rachel Moore reports.

One of Labour's most senior MPs has tied himself up in knots trying to explain the party's Capital Gains Tax policy. Willie Jackson seemed unaware whether the proposed CGT will affect small businesses, if they own the property they operate out of. Now, National's piling on the pressure. Political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Lisa Owen.

A 50-year-old Christchurch zoo is in financial crisis. There's a $4 million hole in its budget for this year and cash reserves will dry up by March. That is the sober assessment offered by Orana Wildlife Park's own board and leaders. Timothy Brown has more.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about major developments involving the Iran-backed Houthi militant group in Yemen, as well Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahi taking legal action against a newspaper that reported he was warned about a Hamas operation ahead of October 7th.

Is sport the answer to cutting youth crime and re-offending by tamariki? This week the government announced it is giving almost $2.5 million to six community sport and outdoor programmes. It is all part of the government's wider goal to reduce serious and persistent youth offending by 15 percent by 2030. Whenua Iti Outdoors in Tasman is getting $450,000 of funding over two years. CEO Mark Bruce-Miller spoke to Lisa Owen.

Almost a year on from the previous Canterbury Regional Council declaring a 'nitrate emergency', a new report pointing to high nitrate levels across the region has been presented to councillors. The council also heard from Greenpeace, Health New Zealand and the water regulator, Taumata Arowai, who have proposed an additional limit on nitrate to protect people from possible long-term health effects. Keiller MacDuff reports.

Some of America's leading athletes will be testing jet lag, customs processes and the appetite for the NFL in this part of the world when they start the season in Melbourne this week. The San Francisco 49ers and LA Rams have taken different approaches to coming Down Under as part of the sport's international games - and fans have been willing to shell out big amounts to witness history. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Food for thought is what's on offer at a not so ordinary lecture series. Raising the Bar is twenty free talks across ten pubs on one night, in Canterbury this time. The event is now in its 10th year. University of Canterbury Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, David Denkenberger spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about conflicts between the US and Iran continuing, and now the Houthis have upped attacks against Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Israel has hit out at the UK over its move to sanction illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Waikato University is asking for millions of dollars in ratepayer subsidies for its new medical school. It wants Hamilton Council to waive more than $5 million in development contributions which help pay for infrastructure. On top of that it's asked the council to pitch in $250,000 a year for five years. Hamilton Councillor, Sue Moroney spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tickets for Saturday's Warriors-Dolphins NRL qualifying final have sold out within minutes of going on sale to the general public. The sell out sets the scene for the boisterous reception for the Warriors as they open their play-offs campaign. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

A man has appeared in court this afternoon after a woman and two children were killed in Rotorua. Police earlier said they arrived at a property in the suburb of Glenholme on Monday night, where they found two dead children and a woman with life-threatening injuries. The woman later died at the scene. Waikato-Bay of Plenty reporter Rachel Moore spoke to Lisa Owen.

A bed tax alternative that would see councils get millions of dollars to spend on strained infrastructure is a "good start" according to one mayor. If re-elected, National is promising to give regions a share of the International Visitor Levy. That's the $100 fee many overseas tourist pay to enter Aotearoa. Queenstown Lakes District Mayor John Glover spoke to Lisa Owen.

The National Party is trying to patch things up with councils after dumping plans for a bed tax. Its alternative would give towns and cities a bigger cut of the money already collected from international tourists. But will it be enough to heal the rift? Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

Economic abuse is family violence and people using money to trap or control others need to be held accountable through tougher laws, according to a collective of social services and financial groups. The groups are calling for economic abuse to be recognised as a distinct form of family violence in law. Good Shepherd is one of the groups leading the campaign, and policy lead Brittany Goodwin spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about more detail emerging about the fatal Amazon cargo plane crash at Miami international aiport, as well as Canada's retaliatory tariffs against the US taking effect.

Is it time to ditch postal voting? It's a question prompted by allegations of wide spread ballot paper theft and fraudulent voting in the South Auckland suburb of Manurewa. It alleged bundles of voting papers were stolen from letter boxes during last years local body elections, and the votes cast by someone else. University of Otago Professor of Law, Andrew Geddis spoke to Lisa Owen.

Home favourite Coco Gauff and world number two Elena Rybakina have sailed into the US Open quarter-finals, while an underdog has pulled off another huge upset in the women's draw. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

Teenagers are leading the pack when it comes to sports related ACC concussion claims. The sports that feature most prominently are rugby, cycling and soccer. Last month ACC launched an online course to help adults recognise and respond to concussion. Otago University's Professor Gisela Sole researches concussion within schools and spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Guyon Espiner about UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham hosting his first foreign leader at Downing Street, as well as the British Army being under strict instruction to cut back on training exercises in an attempt to save money.

Rugby League has been on the agenda as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with leaders in Papua New Guinea. In two years time PNG will join the NRL and Luxon expects Warriors fans will add Port Moresby to the away game destinations. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Guyon Espiner.

A dedicated crew of volunteers who have spent thousands of hours helping families in need by mending curtains are now turning to the public in an appeal for help. With their shelves looking bare, the Rotorua Curtainbank's are calling for donations to replace their dwindling supply of curtains. Co-ordinator Judy Gregor spoke to Guyon Espiner.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster has lashed out at internet trolls attacking his players. Webster said the online abuse bears almost on resemblance to the support they encounter in the real world. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A state of the art nurse training suite has opened in Hawke's Bay, three years after the building was destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle. In February 2023, nurse teaching staff at the Eastern Institute of Technology faced a devastating scene after floodwaters and mud swept through their Taradale campus. Acting Head of EIT's School of Nursing, Katie Rongonui spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.