Checkpoint

A Canterbury food producer believes the war in the Middle East is yet another blow to grain farmers who may already be considering bailing out after a few years of bad harvests. The conflict and the effective closure of the vital shipping lane through the Hormuz Strait are pushing energy prices. Farmer David Birkett grows grains including wheats, barley and cereals on his Leeston property south of Christchurch. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

The centre of New Plymouth has been taken over by street artists, musicians, and a whole lot of spray paint this week. The Get Up Festival is back in town for the first time in more than a decade and 26 graffiti artists are transforming the CBD into a living gallery. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin went to take a look.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer holding a press conference on the situation in the Middle East, as well the world's most famous dog show, which is officially underway in Birmingham.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

A New Zealand alpine skiing duo will be flying the flag in Italy when the Winter Paralympics start this weekend. The highly experienced Adam Hall and Corey Peters are the only New Zealanders involved in the 50th edition of the Games. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Prime Minister says he is not considering stepping down after a sobering poll result that has the National party dropping into the twenties. Senior national ministers defended Christopher Luxon as news of the Taxpayers Unions Curia poll landed today. Labour says it shows the Prime Minister is out of touch, but the Deputy Prime Minister says the coalition has a plan to fix the economy. Political reporter Lillian Hanly has more.

A New Zealand logistics company estimates war surcharges could add up to ten million US dollars to its monthly freight costs. The Hormuz strait a vital shipping lane between Iran and Oman is current closed. Iran's threatening to bomb any ships trying to pass through the narrow strip of water. Kotahi co-ordinates the ships various New Zealand exports including dairy and meat to the region. It has thousands of containers literally at sea and it say freight companies are charging a per container premium for delivery. Kotahi chief executive Emma Parsons spoke to Lisa Owen.

As Wellington grapples with a wastewater disaster that's pushing 70 million litres of untreated sewage into the sea each day, Christchurch's proposal to pump semi-treated sewage into the ocean for the next two years has not gone down well with one government minister. The city's mayor, Phil Mauger, put forward the idea to mitigate the putrid stench coming from Bromley's damaged treatment plant. The plan has raised the ire of Shane Jones, who has put the council on notice. Keiller MacDuff reports.

The US Defense Secretary has said that fire power over Iran is about to surge dramatically. Pete Hegseth was speaking at a joint press conference with the head US Central Command, as Operation Epic Fury heads into its seventh day. Admiral Brad Cooper said US combat power is building. Its bomber force has struck nearly 200 targets, including ballistic missile launchers deep inside of Iran. Dr John Battersby, a Senior Fellow at Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies spoke to Lisa Owen.

A new election is confirmed for the Papatoetoe subdivision of the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board, after a High Court judge upheld an earlier ruling that voided the outcome of the 2025 local body election. The District Court ruled in December that voting irregularities had materially affected the result and declared the election invalid. RNZ Asia's Blessen Tom reports.