Checkpoint

The government is proposing to raise the penalty for power companies if they come up short in supply, from $2 million to $10 million. It is also investigating a new Winter Energy Reliability Obligation, meaning large electricity buyers have to lock in back up supply well ahead of forecast dry winters. Chair of the Major Electricity Users Group, John Harbord spoke to Lisa Owen.

A former Warrior has opened up about his off-field struggles with depression and substance abuse as he battled with his sexual identity. Kane Evans has become just the second NRL player in history to publicly come out as gay. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Wānaka GP fears the community could lose its after-hours service within weeks if proposed changes to rural healthcare funding are introduced. Under changes, which would see Wānaka reclassified due to its growing population, the rural funding for local general practices there could be slashed. Otago-Southland reporter Tess Brunton has more.

An advocacy group is hoping to swamp the Disability Minister's electorate office with complaints about cuts to a transport subsidy. The Total Mobility Scheme provides subsidies for taxis for people with disabilities who are unable to use public transport, but the government's fare subsidy is being reduced from 75 percent to 65 percent next month. Blind Low Vision NZ's head of policy and advocacy Bronwyn Larkins spoke to Lisa Owen.

Living in poor conditions shouldn't be seen as a rite of passage for university students, according to the boss of MBIE's tenancy investigations team. The team inspected 14 rentals in North Dunedin last month and found several breaches of healthy homes standards. National Manager of MBIE's tenancy and compliance team, Brett Wilson spoke to Lisa Owen.

A crocodile hunter in Papua New Guinea has described masses of pumice arriving on the shores of Manus Island as a "disaster". The huge rafts of pumice were created by an erupting undersea volcano in the Bismarck Sea. RNZ Pacific's Johnny Blades reports.

Hundreds of residents on Wellington's south coast are being warned to stay away from their homes until tomorrow morning, with the area under a state of emergency. Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for a number of waterfront properties. Waves of up to 11 meters have been battering the Capital's coastline. Alexa Cook reports.

A cup of coffee and a chat at a local cafe could be the key to combatting loneliness. The Chatty Cafe scheme aims to reduce social isolation but creating spaces in local cafes where strangers can come together for a conversation. The concept, which is already popular in the US and UK, is now making its way to NZ. Jo Hayes from Chatty Cafes NZ spoke to Lisa Owen.

Former world number one doubles player Erin Routliffe will face off against tennis royalty in the early hours of tomorrow morning. The New Zealander and her new American doubles partner will be Serena William's first opponent on her return to tennis at the Queens Club Championships in London. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

US Correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about a dramatic six-figure price jump on a popular work visa which has been blocked. Last year Donald Trump signed an executive order raising the fee for an H1-B visa, designed for high-skilled foreign workers - from a few thousand to over $17,000. Today a federal judge ruled that fee increase unlawful