Checkpoint

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about how former senior Foreign Office official Olly Robbins has been giving evidence about his role in Lord Mandelson's appointment and about how a major shift in public health policy is on the way in the UK.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

New Zealand Formula One driver Liam Lawson is likely to avoid the ire of Italian tax authorities but some of the sport's biggest names could get caught up in a tax evasion investigation. Italy's financial police are reportedly looking into every current and recent Formula One driver and the income earned by foreign drivers from races held on Italian soil. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Annual deaths from blood cancer have increased almost 40 percent in the past two decades, according to a new report that paints a grim picture of how the disease is being managed in Aotearoa. The State of Blood Cancer said it's one of the fastest growing contributors to cancer mortality and treatment here is not keeping pace with comparable countries. About 27,000 people in New Zealand are living with blood cancer and 3000 are diagnosed each year. Blood Cancer New Zealand's head of advocacy Rosie Shaw spoke to Lisa Owen.

Christopher Luxon's handling of disunity within his own party's ranks has begun exposing rifts in the coalition. Now he and deputy Nicola Willis have both publicly retaliated against coalition partner Winston Peters, saying he's scaremongering, anti-immigrant and making mischief. Mr Peters' complaint: no heads up from the PM about a potential leadership spill he initiated on himself. Political reporter Russell Palmer has the story.

Corrections did not call police for hours after losing track of a high risk would be sex offender when his GPS monitor went dead and they failed to confirm his whereabouts. John Tekuru, who was jailed for trying to snatch a toddler for sex, was released from prison on March 10. Just days later, he was back in jail after admitting he breached his release by hanging around a playground and school. Since then, he's been living at an external residence on Corrections land. Tekuru is supposed to be GPS monitored. But RNZ can reveal on Monday night there were problems with his tracker. Corrections Chief Probation Officer Toni Stewart spoke to Lisa Owen.

People power, or should that be Putiki power, is being credited for the creation of a new bus route in Whanganui. Championed by the kaumatua and kuia of Putiki Marae, it's the first time the riverside area of the city's had a public bus service in living memory. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin went along for a ride.

A would be sex offender who's supposed to be GPS tracked was unmonitored for several hours after his tracker went flat and Corrections failed to verify where he was. John Tekuru, who was jailed for trying to snatch a toddler for sex, was released from prison on March 10. Just days after his release Tekuru went to a playground, and was also found near a childhood centre. He's banned from being near under 16 year olds. He pleaded guilty and was released after a short custodial sentence. He's since been living at an external residence on Corrections prison land. Tekuru is supposed to be GPS monitored. But RNZ can reveal at 6pm on Monday, staff on site where Tekuru is living were warned his GPS tracker was going flat. They tried to contact him through an intercom but got no response. The government's chief victims advisor Ruth Money spoke to Lisa Owen.

Christchurch police are scouring the city's Red Zone in search of a woman who's been missing for eight months. Police have grave concerns for 39-year-old Rowena Walker and say her kids are desperate for their mum to come home. Anna Sargent reports.

As the country battles a budding blackmarket of illicit tobacco, concerns are being raised the issue is being overblown by interest groups. RNZ has been investigating black market cigarettes and tobacco being sold over the counter, without any of the mandated health warnings and for a fraction of the cost of retail brands. Authorities are calling for a crack down on those selling the smokes illegally, but say they still don't know how big the market is. Meanwhile, those with ties to the tobacco industry say the warnings must be heeded. Finn Blackwell has more.