Checkpoint

A four-year-old Timaru girl is taking her love of all things stones and bones to the next level after her mum stumbled across the remains of a big bird. Earlier this week Pippa Yates, found what she suspected were bones of the now extinct moa, while on her daily walk at Saint Andrews beach south of Timaru. The South Canterbury Museum confirmed the find, and now the family are carefully cleaning up the bones. Pippa Yates spoke to Lisa Owen.

A major Auckland property developer says a government proposal to remove building height restrictions in the CBD is just politics and he doesn't believe there will be a single new apartment built in the short term because of the change. Under current rules, parts of the Auckland CBD have building height limits of 72.5m, in other areas the limit is 35m. The proposal would remove these caps for the majority of the central city and scrap other rules about how big and far apart buildings have to be. Matthew Theunissen reports.

The government's plan for a nine-month repayments deadline for Retirement Villages was leaked this morning. Operators are outraged, residents have their eyes on Labour's three-month proposal, the minister claims they've found a middle ground. Political reporter Russell Palmer filed this report.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Patients will die if changes aren't made quickly, according to a nurse working at a Tararua medical centre. All the staff at the Pahiatua Medical centre are threatening to walk off the job en masse over work loads and serious concerns about patient safety. The PHO manages the contract for the Pahiatua Medical Centre. CEO Tony Wai, spoke to Lisa Owen.

Patients will die if changes aren't made quickly, according to a nurse working at a Tararua medical centre. All the staff at the Pahiatua Medical centre are threatening to walk off the job en masse over work loads and serious concerns about patient safety. The PHO manages the contract for the Pahiatua Medical Centre. CEO Tony Wai, spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland's not about to rise up, unless there's an incentive, according to the boss of Auckland apartment company, Okham Residential. The Government wants taller and bigger towers in the city's centre, so it's looking to remove height and other restrictions. Modelling suggests that changes could make way for an extra 20 million square metres of floor space - which could support about 31,500 residents. But Okham Residential CEO Mark Todd says the numbers don't add up. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's a scenario critics of citizens arrests say they've feared all along - untrained members of the public detaining people. Now, a 19-year-old has appeared in court after an alleged arrest in Hamilton went too far. This, just weeks after new laws came into effect allowing anyone to use reasonable force to hold someone they suspect has committed a crime. Waikato Bay of Plenty reporter Rachel Moore has more.

Waiheke Island's only respite care house for kids with disabilities will be sold on the open market, ending a crucial 30-year service for parents who booked their children in for school holiday programmes and overnight stays. It's been closed and vacant for a year, after Spectrum Care said the service at Melanna House was running at a loss, and they made the difficult decision to pull out. Amy Williams reports.

Ben Sawyer has been dropped as White Ferns coach. Sawyer's contract was set to conclude in December, but New Zealand Cricket says it hasn't been renewed following a comprehensive review process. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.