Checkpoint

There is an operation underway to help the critically endangered Kākāriki Karaka, or orange fronted parakeet. In February Kākāriki Karaka eggs were scooped from nests high in the treetops of a Nelson predator free sanctuary and flown to Christchurch to hopefully be hatched by surrogate birds at the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust. It is estimated there are only about 450 of the birds left in the wild. DOC Ranger Megan Farley spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about reports that a strike which killed dozens of Iranian school children may have been the result of a targeting mistake by the US military, meanwhile, figures have come to light about the financial cost of the war to the US.

The primary teacher's union is accusing the government of divide and conquer tactics in their stalled pay negotiations. The Public Service Commission has decided to extend a pay offer to about 10,000 teachers who are not bound by the NZEI collective agreement ahead of settling with unionised teachers. NZEI claims it is a deliberate and serious breach of good faith and would undermine teachers collective bargaining. It is now threatening legal action. NZEI's lead negotiator for the primary teachers collective, Liam Rutherford spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the HMS dragon departing the UK for the Mediterranean to join the UK's defensive operations, as well as some significant developments around travel to and from Britain.

The plight of a New Zealand blood cancer patient forced to leave his four children behind and make a last chance dash to Australia for treatment has prompted dozens of doctors to write an open letter to the Prime Minister pleading for change. Tawhai Reti, who diagnosed with myeloma in 2019, exhausted all funded treatment options here and after being told he had weeks to live, was forced to most to Australia for funded treatment. His wife Lani Reti spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown wants to push ahead with intensification in inner-city suburbs, whether residents like it or not. Last month, the government agreed to reduce Auckland's minimum housing capacity from roughly two million to 1.6 million. That's still 400,000 more than the 1.2 million under its current Unitary Plan. The council will ask the government to enable more housing density within 10 kilometres of the CBD, to make room for population growth in the coming decades. But Aucklanders' reactions to the decision are mixed. Jessica Hopkins reports.

The Warriors aren't buying into their own hype, even after opening their NRL season with a stunning upset win over the Roosters. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A prestigious classical music competition could be sounding its last note after almost 60 years if it can't find sponsors. The annual National Concerto Competition honours outstanding classical instrumentalists or pianists under the age of 25. But the competition is costly to run and relies entirely on donations, and there's still a big bill to cover for this year event raising question marks about its future. National Concerto Competition Trust chair Tim Andrews spoke to Lisa Owen.

A group of blood cancer specialists are expressing their alarm at the unnecessary loss of kiwi lives due to treatment in New Zealand lagging behind international standards. Dozens of doctors, nurses and clinician reseachers have written an open letter to the Prime Minister pleading for improvements in blood cancer care. They say New Zealanders are dying because they cant get drugs that are funded overseas and they're also being cut out of clinicial trials. Auckland haematologist Doctor Rory Bennett signed the letter spoke to Lisa Owen.