Checkpoint

A public inquiry into the handling of the Tom Phillips case says the harm he caused in isolating the children as well as concerns from the maternal whānau were "minimised or overlooked by agencies for significant periods". Concerns raised by the children's adult sisters were effectively ignored despite their repeated attempts to alert Oranga Tamariki. Chief Executive Amanda Malu spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland meeting in Cardiff as calls for the break up of the UK gather momentum, as well new fast-track legislation could see Nigle Farage's Reform UK party facing action over its recent donations.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The side were stunned at the weekend by a loss to the Dolphins, leaving them needing to win three in a row to clinch a maiden title. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's been almost three weeks since a devastating flash flood ripped through villages on the Nepal-Tibet border. Approximately 1,300 people are known to have died in the disaster, with thousands more still feeling the affects. Veteran-led group Taskforce Kiwi has sent three volunteers to central Nepal's Nuwakot region which suffered catastrophic damage in the flooding. Taskforce Kiwi's team lead Steph Rotarangi spoke to Lisa Owen.

The family of a Christchurch woman murdered by a patient who absconded from a psychiatric hospital have asked why it took their mother's death for changes to be made at Hillmorton.Laisa Waka Tunidau was stabbed to death by Zakariye Mohamed Hussein outside her Sockburn home in June 2022, after he left Hillmorton Hospital on unescorted community leave. An inquest into her death began in Christchurch today. Timothy Brown was in the Coroner's Court and filed this report.

A coroner's described the death of an Otago University student as "senseless" and a "woeful illustration" of the country's youth drinking culture. The 20 year old student died after choking on his own vomit at a flat party in 2023.

The capital city's annual literary festival is back, bigger than ever, after last year's hiatus. Verb Wellington is active again, much to the delight of authors and booklovers. Anya Fielding reports.

Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen about the latest news from the Beehive.

A spike in thefts of copper and other recyclable metals is causing millions of dollars of damage to important infrastructure. The risk of having high-voltage wires exposed is also endangering thieves and the public. Police say the thefts - which often occur at night and in remote locations - can be hard to detect. Bill Hickman has more.