Checkpoint

Some residents in the Far North town of Kaikohe say a dire jobs shortage means they have no choice but to leave to find work or else languish on the benefit. About 6000 people in the Far North region are on the job seeker benefit, and a local employment adviser says she's snowed under with people desperate for work but nowhere near enough jobs available. On the day Checkpoint visited Kaikohe, all of 15 jobs were being advertised. Teuila Fuatai has more.

Asia correspondent Chris Gilbert spoke to Lisa Owen about how despite recent news of a tentative ceasefire in the Middle East, relations between the US and some Asian allies have cooled and how Thailand is weighing up changes to petrol station operating hours in response to the war. He also spoke about a deer that went walkabout from its famous, tourist attraction home only to be disowned by the city it fled.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

A small South Island football club is taking legal action against its local federation, alleging it is being charged excessive fees. But Mainland Football dispute Oxford FC's claims of price gouging, and the two parties will meet for a mediation. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Winston Peters has welcomed a ceasefire between the US, Israel, and Iran, but is warning people not to get ahead of themselves. Donald Trump had imposed a deadline on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, and then went further with threats of attacking infrastructure, and warning a "whole civilisation will die" Winston Peters was in Washington D.C meeting with the U.S Secretary of State as that deadline loomed. Political reporter Lillian Hanly has more.

MetService is warning of a cyclone heading our way from the tropics. This one, forecasters say, could get wild, with the possibility of winds like New Zealanders haven't experienced before. The Prime Minister too warned people to prepare for Cyclone Vaianu's impact, which he said is shaping up to be a "significant and damaging weather event." Peter de Graaf has more.

Air Chathams is reviewing its schedule. It's the only airline flying to its name sake Chatham Islands, providing a vital freight link and connection to the mainland and medical appointments. In March, Air Chathams added a $20 surcharge on all its tickets due to the rising cost of aviation fuel. Air Chathams boss, Duane Emeny spoke to Lisa Owen.

If you ever dream of running off to the circus but worry you've left it too late - never fear. In Christchurch there is a now a Circus Arts class specifically for those aged over 60. Rachel Graham swung on by to see what it was all about.

In March, Nicola Willis said treasury was forecasting a peak of 3.7 percent. The Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee left the official cash rate unchanged at 2.25 percent. But it's warning near term inflation is expected to increase considerably and the economic recovery to weaken. The Middle East conflict is the culprit. Economist Cameron Bagrie spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Coroner says 14 people died in suspected suicides after their release from prison over the last three years. Parolees have described being thrown into the outside world without support, and say more psychological support is needed. The Corrections Department told RNZ it does not record the number of suicides. Parolees say Corrections doesn't record the data because it would only make them look bad. Finn Blackwell has more.