Checkpoint

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is heading home with fuel security for New Zealand intact and some of the country's biggest businesses better connected to help weather the economic storm. RNZ political editor Jo Moir spoke to Melissa Chan-Green from Singapore.

There's been trouble at sea following Donald Trump's plan to help stranded ships sail out of the Strait of Hormuz. The operation dubbed "Project Freedom" started on Tuesday and saw tensions in the region quickly explode with reports of the US and Iran trading attacks in the vital shipping route. The US President ramped up warnings against Iran saying its forces will be "blown off the face of the earth," if American ships are attacked. Washington DC correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

One of New Zealand's most polluted waterways could lose its title thanks to a milestone reached in a years-long clean up. The first phase of a new wetland to help turnaround Lake Horowhenua's water quality is just weeks away from completion. For years, Levin's sewage was pumped into the lake. That stopped decades ago but the effects from that are still felt, as are the effects of excess nitrogen flowing into the lake, making its water harmful to humans. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

It might have been a hot buttery topic of debate around the water cooler as to whether people are a fan of the beige butter from the U.S or the golden variety of New Zealand. But the "which butter's best" debate has now taken a bit more of a serious turn, with complaints now reported to Consumer NZ. Some customers have reported concerns through their "play fair" line, saying they were mislead by the packaging of the imported butter because it looked similar to local brands. Dr Milind Mandlik, a senior lecturer in Marketing at AUT spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

United Kingdom correspondent Diane To spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about how the UK government has said it might ban pro-Palestinian demonstrations as a move to tackle antisemitism and how a new report is sparking dystopian fears with facial recognition. She also spoke about King Charles' royal visit to Bermuda.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Wellington Phoenix women have returned home ahead of their biggest week so far in the A-League. On Sunday, they lost the first leg of the semi-finals to Brisbane Roar in Queensland and need to turn it around for game two at Porirua Park this Sunday. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A New Zealand microbiologist says the death of three people from a rare virus while on a cruise ship is concerning. The passengers died after what is thought to be an outbreak of hantavirus on a ship that's anchored off the coast of west Africa. Another passenger, a 69 year-old British man, is also in intensive care and the company operating the cruise ship says it's confirmed he has the virus. Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

People in the settlement of Clarkville north of Christchurch are worried someone could be seriously hurt or killed by gravel trucks pounding their narrow residential roads. Gravel is being extracted from the Waimakariri River in preparation for the new $1 billion Woodend Bypass motorway. When locals heard that extraction work, which began in summer, was set to resume again today, they blocked the road. Anna Sargent reports.

A court has heard a man was drunk, annoyed and motivated by anger towards police before he drove into two Nelson officers, killing one and seriously injuring another. 33-year-old Hayden Tasker is on trial for the murder of senior sergeant Lyn Fleming in the early hours of New Year's Day last year, at the High Court at Christchurch. The Crown argues Mr Tasker had murderous intent, while his defence said the tragedy was a result of an attempt to take his own life. Reporter Samantha Gee spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.