Checkpoint

President Donald Trump has faced backlash for posting, then deleting, an AI-image depicting him as a Jesus-like figure. The move has been condemned by world and religious leaders with some labelling the post blasphemous. Meanwhile, Mr Trump has become embroiled in a verbal feud with Pope Leo, the tit for tat sparked by the pontiff's vocal opposition to the war in the Middle East. United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government is keeping New Zealanders in the dark during an oil crisis, publishing week-old data on fuel stocks. That's the claim from the Tax Payers union which said there should daily fuel data updates. At the moment, MBIE releases information about the country's fuel stocks twice a week. Taxpayers union spokesperson Tory Relf spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about how the UK is responding to President Donald Trump's latest claims that the US would be blockading the Strait of Hormuz with the assistance of NATO allies. She also spoke about how  police officers in Ireland have had their work cut out for them over the past week following protests over the rising cost of fuel and a  school choir from Cardiff has receiving the surprise of a lifetime.

A former Boxing New Zealand board member said the organisation has been marred for too long by bullying and inappropriate behaviour. Ken Clearwater has written to the Sports Integrity Commission and the Sports Minister about behaviour that he says he witnessed during his time at Boxing NZ. It comes amid an ongoing investigation into the national body and its head coach following a string of complaints from athletes. Adam Burns reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy has won golf's Masters to collect his sixth major and become the fourth repeat winner at Augusta National. It ended up being a one shot win for the Northern Irishman but it was closer than it could have been. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Christchurch Airport has landed a bumper summer, with international visitor numbers 22 percent on last year, pumping an estimated $860 million into the South Island economy. Between November 2025 and March 2026, 287,000 international visitors passed through the airport. Aussies were top of the arrivals list, followed by visitors from China; those numbers increased more than 100 percent on last season. Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson spoke to Lisa Owen.

More cancer patients will get treatment closer to home with the expansion of infusion centres, according to the government. But the plan could take two and a half years to roll out. The governments opening 14 new infusion centres around the country, where patients can get chemo and other targeted therapies that are given intravenously or through drips into the vein. One west Auckland clinic opens later this week. It's also expanding 14 existing infusion centres. Nicola Coom, chief executive of the Cancer Society spoke to Lisa Owen.

Over 2000 homes are still without power after Cyclone Vaianu swept across the country. All evacuation orders have now been lifted and many communities feel they dodged a bullet with the storm. The wet weather isn't over yet though - with heavy rain watches still in place for Northern Taranaki, Waitomo, Taumarunui, and Taupō west of the lake. Alexa Cook reports.

More transparency is needed around the government's multi million dollar events attraction package, including how events are being chosen, according to the country's largest venue and event management company. The 40 million dollar government fund is not contestable. Selection is by invitation only. But fund details say events are considered for their capacity to attract large audiences and international visitors. Christchurch City Council controlled, Venues Otautahi boss Caroline Harvie-Teare spoke to Lisa Owen.