Checkpoint

The delayed Rugby League World Cup is seven months away and a new face is vying for a place in the Kiwis squad. Kalyn Ponga has been given the green light to switch allegiances and potentially suit up in a blockbuster opening game against the Kangaroos in Sydney. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A consumer watchdog is warning passengers to know their rights as Air New Zealand slashes hundreds of flights across the country in the wake of the global fuel crisis. The airline is cutting 11,000 mostly domestic flights between now and early May. That will affect about 44,000 passengers. Air New Zealand says the cuts are necessary to help keep flying affordable as the war in the Middle East forces jet fuel prices up. Consumer New Zealand chief executive Jon Duffy spoke to Lisa Owen.

Ministers are reassuring Kiwis the country is well-placed to deal with any threat to fuel supply driven by the war in Iran - saying there's no need to panic. The possibility of fuel rationing or even car-less days does remain open - but the government says that is not on the table right now. Petrol and diesel prices have been climbing quickly with the conflict putting a strain on shipping and fuel exports from the Middle East. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

Residents have been evacuated from a suburb near Christchurch Airport after a "high-risk explosive" was found. Cordons are in place around Sheffield Crescent in Burnside after police were alerted to the substance shortly before 2:30pm this afternoon. Police sent an emergency mobile alert to people nearby. Reporter Anna Sargent spoke to Lisa Owen.

Fallout from war in the Middle East is hitting kiwi farmers from multiple directions, including a massive jump in the price of fertiliser. Rising fuel prices means gassing up machinery like harvesters is costing thousands of dollars more. About 40 percent of the world's fertiliser is produced in the Middle East using natural gas. The farmer owned co-operative Ballance Agri nutrients is a fertiliser importer, but also a manufacturer. Ballance Agri nutrients CEO Kelvin Wickham spoke to Lisa Owen.

Heritage advocates are warning shifting Dunedin to a higher seismic zone will damage the city's economy and put its iconic buildings at risk. Under a new earthquake-prone buildings bill, Coastal Otago - including Dunedin - will shift from a low to a medium seismic risk area. But a select committee was today warned of the harm this could do to a city known for its historical architecture. Tess Brunton has more.

Increased fuel costs could drive some trucking business under according to an industry association. War in the Middle East has effectively closed the Hormuz strait, a vital shipping lane, meaning oil prices are volatile. A barrel of Brent Crude is just over $100 US dollars. The New Zealand Trucking Association says fuel has now overtaken labour as the biggest cost for trucking companies. CEO David Boyce spoke to Lisa Owen.

Heinz Wattie's growers and staff are reeling following the company's proposed closure of three factories in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. The move would see 350 workers made redundant, 220 suppliers affected and the end of Wattie's frozen vegetables, Gregg's coffee and other household names. Keiller MacDuff has more.

A licence to assault that could result in deaths. That stark warning to the Justice Select Committee today as it considers amendments to the Crimes Act, including breeding the circumstances under which retailers and others can carry out citizens arrests. The Police Association and Retail NZ say that as well as potentially ending in tragedy, this could see retailers in the dock charged with manslaughter. It's one of the proposals from the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime, whose chairman Sunny Kaushal today gave a robust plea for tougher laws. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

The All Blacks rumour mill has continued to churn away. The latest speculation surrounds Tana Umaga, who has been touted to join Dave Rennie's coaching team. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.