United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about how more information has come to light about the man accused of setting fire to a group of pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado and how the emergency management agency head said he didn't know the US has a hurricane season.

Whakatane is getting a three strikes policy for rubbish recyclers, that's people who are rubbish at sorting their kerbside recycling and greenwaste bins. Anyone caught three times with contaminated bins, will lose them for three months. Whakatane District Council said at its worst, up to 65 percent of recycling going from Whakatane to the Material Recovery Facility in Tauranga are rogue items. Whakatane District Council solid waste manager, Nigel Clark spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Alice Wilkins spoke to Lisa Owen about how the man arrested over the Liverpool parade crash is due to appear in court, how packets of Haribo lollies are being recalled in the Netherlands after traces of cannabis were found and how a Welsh woman is offering a $1000 reward for the safe return of her pet tortoise.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Rail services in the capital and Auckland are grinding to a halt this long weekend for maintenance, disrupting travel for tens thousand of people, including rugby fans. In Auckland services are off from today. Buses will replace trains allow for ongoing up-graded need for the City Rail Link Project's that already caused significant upheaval. In Wellington he rail shut down is from tomorrow, which could prove challenging for the tens of thousands of people trying to get to the Sky Stadium for the big game between Moana Pasifika and the Hurricanes. Kiwi Rail's chief metro and capital programme officer Dave Gorden spoke to Lisa Owen.

Kiwi MMA fighter Dan Hooker has vowed to stage more backyard fights in future. The UFC lightweight last weekend hosted 32 men in a 'one minute scrap' tournament for a 50,000 dollar prize. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

After one of the most respected child advocacy agencies in the world ranked New Zealand the lowest out of 36 countries for youth mental health, the appalling figure was widely quoted. The report on global child wellbeing also highlights New Zealand as having the worst rate of youth suicide. But two Auckland University researchers are disputing that figure, and now a former UNICEF Aotearoa employee is backing their claims. Davina Zimmer reports.

Pushing to prosecute parents of chronically truant kids is a pointless exercise according to one school principal. Associate Education Minister David Seymour is leading the government charge to get more kids back in class. He's announced the Education Ministry is proactively contacting schools and attendance officers to make sure parents of chronically absent students are referred to them for possible prosecution. Rangiora High School Principal Bruce Kearney spoke to Lisa Owen.

Dargaville residents are being asked to conserve water after maintenance teams have worked for hours to patch major breaks in the system. At one point the towns reservoir was down to 10 percent full. Water trucks from Whangarei, Maungaturoto and Ruawai have been pumping water back into the town supply, but have been struggling to keep pace. Kaipara District Council CEO Jason Marris spoke to Lisa Owen.

Driving schools that offer lessons in high-tech car simulators are at odds with the transport agency over safety risks they could pose for learner drivers once they hit the road. The NZTA argues simulators could encourage over-confidence, putting new drivers at greater risk of crashing, but instructors insist they aren't dangerous. Joe Shaw reports.