Checkpoint

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about Lucas Gill, an 18-year-old from Winton who was accepted by five Ivy League universities.

Thousands of police officers are being deployed to central London at the weekends ahead of two protests. Meanwhile, the political drama continues at Downing Street. UK correspondent Grace Thomas spoke with Lisa Owen.

Businesses are becoming more cautious about investment while The Warehouse has reported flat third-quarter sales as consumers grapple with the high cost of living. Business reporter Nona Pelletier spoke with Lisa Owen.

The two sides meet in a crucial Super Rugby clash in Auckland this weekend. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke with Lisa Owen.

Runners know where they must finish but are blind-folded and dropped at a mystery start point. From there teams of two must find a way to their way to the finish line more than 20km away without any technology. Lisa Owen spoke with John Moore, the organiser of Christchurch's new Find Your Way Home adventure challenge, due to take place in July.

The former partner of a woman whose baby died in Canterbury has denied responsibility for killing her son. Soul Turany was less than four months old when he died from catastrophic head injuries in 2014. Police say only the boy's mother, Storme Turany, or her then-partner, Tony Farmer, could have killed the child. Reporter Timothy Brown has more.

A New Zealander and five Australian residents caught up in a deadly cruise ship hantavirus outbreak have touched down in Perth. The group landed at an airforce base and were bussed to a quarantine centre where they must stay for at least three weeks. The group was on the MV Hondius when the rat-borne virus broke out. Three people from the ship have died and a further 11 are either confirmed or suspected to have the virus. Lisa Owen spoke to ABC Perth reporter Cason Ho.

Melodious singing is filling a Palmerston North theatre as 400 women take part in the annual Sweet Adelines competition. It comes with a top prize, the chance to represent New Zealand on the world stage. The Manawatu Overtones are hosting the Harmony Manawatu Convention. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham caught up with chorus members as they put the finishing touches on their preparation.

Government plans to amend references to the Treaty of Waitangi across a raft of legislation is being compared to ACT's Treaty Principles Bill by critics. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the amendments will ensure references to the principles of the Treaty are clear and consistent, however the Waitangi Tribunal says it will weaken the Treaty in the law. Maori news journalist Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira reports.

The Woolworths in the Hastings suburb of Flaxmere, has applied for a licence to sell alcohol seven days a week from 9am to 9pm. In its submission Health New Zealand say Flaxmere is a vulnerable community with high levels of deprivation and it's opposed the licence. Submissions on the application by Woolworths have been heard this week, Lawyer Grant Hewison, who is a member of Communities against Alcohol Harm spoke on behalf of a concerned resident. Hewison spoke to Lisa Owen.