Checkpoint

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the rise of black market tobacco consumption across the Tasman and the Finke Desert Race revving up for it's 50th anniversary.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

He may be a controversial choice for All Blacks fans, but the team's coaches clearly rate him. Former Wallaby Quade Cooper has been hired as an expert analyst for the upcoming All Blacks tests. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke with Lisa Owen.

Four Dunedin students from Taieri College have the answer to those hideously cold mornings where your car windscreen is frosted over. The group of year 13 students have invented a potato-based anti-frost spray 'Winter Warrior' for the Young Enterprise competition. Ollie Mcfelin is one of the Winter Warrior architects and spoke with Lisa Owen.

Sixty countries - including Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand - now face a new 12.5 percent tariff on goods exports to the United States.

The United States Trade Representative has called out 54 countries including New Zealand for failing to impose and effectively enforce a ban on imports made with forced labour. It claims US workers are competing globally on an unlevel playing field as a consequence. To address it, the US Trade representative is proposing an additional tariff of 12.5 percent on most New Zealand goods. Meanwhile a Modern Slavery Bill with cross-party support is already making its way through New Zealand's parliament. Sarah Cotgreave is on the board of Transparency International NZ, which has made a submission on the proposed law. She spoke with Lisa Owen.

From South Auckland to the world stage, the Royal Family Dance Crew says its success is proof that Maori and Pasifika creatives can have big dreams. Founded by Parris Goebel, they have choreographed and performed alongside global superstars like Rihanna, Justin Beiber, Lady Gaga and most recently, Karol G, who was a headliner at Coachella. They are now touring Australia and will be performing at Melbourne's Rising Festival. Reporter Tiana Haxton has more.

Fuel watchers would've noticed a drop in the cost of diesel. According to Gapsy, it's now an average of $3.04 a litre, down about 15.5 cents over last four weeks. 91 though is $3.20 a litre, up 23 cents over the same period. But Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold warns the crisis is not over yet. He spoke with Lisa Owen

Armani is five and suffers paralyitic fits. His mother Nesa Morey has recently returned from Turkiye where he was treated as a unique, so-called zebra case by doctors who strongly suspect he has a rare genetic condition. The family say they were forced to go overseas after New Zealand doctors dismissed their son's symptoms as autism.Amy Williams reports.

The $7.2 million complex is made of 19 modules that were constructed in Wellington and trucked to the site. It took eight months to construct and replaces the old Taradale station. Hawke's Bay Tairawhiti reporter Alexa Cook has more.