Checkpoint

Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about evacuations being paused in the Strait of Hormuz after a ship attack, as well as US secretary of state Marco Rubio who has been in the region.

There's a tough lesson in store for New Zealanders who have gone offshore and ignored their student loan debts. Last month a doctor was arrested at Wellington airport before he could fly home to Australia where he now lives. The crime - defaulting on a decades old student loan, that with penalties has grown to about $180,000. Former IRD prosecuter turned student loan lawyer and tax negotiator, Dave Ananth spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Nine Television network reportedly negotiating terms with one of its major stars to leave the network over a chummy interview with a controversial British anti-immigration activist.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

It is set to be one of the biggest nights of boxing in Aotearoa. Last month it was announced that David Nyika would fight in a world title eliminator in Auckland in August, with the rest of the card now confirmed. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tama Potaka has been forced to do a complete u-turn and ditch a controversial clause in the Conservation Amendment bill that would have allowed the sale of some conservation land. Last week Forest and Bird released a series of maps that suggest up to 60 percent of the DOC estate could be sold or exchanged under the proposed law. Now the Conservation Minister has announced he is axing the clause, saying he hadn't been clear enough. Tama Potaka spoke to Lisa Owen.

Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Oamaru today, in protest against a double-digit rates hike. Waitaki ratepayers rallied against the 17 percent increase, why they say could force some people to choose between paying their bill or necessities like food and power. Tess Brunton reports from Oamaru.

National is promising to power up New Zealand homes if re-elected, with a loan scheme to encourage households to convert to solar and make energy efficiency improvements. The Home Energy fund would offer long term loans, at below market interest rates, so people can invest in the likes of solar, battery storage and insulation. The idea is a version of a scheme proposed by LGNZ and renewable energy advocates Rewiring Aotearoa. Mike Casey from Rewiring Aotearoa spoke to Lisa Owen.

Lego and Star Wars fans are about to be transported to a galaxy far far away - in a new exhibition at Wellington's Takina featuring more than $8 million Lego bricks. Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition opens to the public this weekend - Wellington the first international stop on the exhibition's global tour, and only New Zealand stop. Krystal Gibbens went down ahead of the opening to take a look.

An anti-sunscreen trend of social media has experts calling for better education of sun protection in schools before the summer season comes back. In videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram wellness influencers are trying to turn people off using commercial sunscreens, making spurious claims it is toxic and harmful. Bella Craig reports.