Checkpoint

Attacks have continued to escalate on both sides of the Middle East conflict. The U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh has been hit by two drones. President Trump says people will soon find out how America will retaliate. It comes as Iran continues to strike Gulf states that host U.S. military. New Zealand is not immune, with exports to Gulf Co-operation council countries valued at almost $3 billion in 2025. Trade and Associate Foreign Affairs Minister Todd McClay spoke to Lisa Owen.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger's proposal to pump stinking sewage from the Bromley Plant into the ocean without being fully treated has other interested parties baffled that he didn't consult with them first. Residents who live in the city's eastern suburbs have been plagued the foul odour since fire damaged the facility in 2021. And this year, the Bromley Pong has got markedly worse and started wafting across other parts of the city. Canterbury Regional Council issued Christchurch City Council with an abatement notice last week due to the stench. Timothy Brown has more.

A kiwi living very near a Middle East military base that is critical to the US says he feels safe enough for the moment, but his family has an overland evacuation plan just in case. The US State Department has today issued a "depart now" warning to Americans living in more than a dozen locations in the Middle East. Just outside Abu Dhabi is a military base that hosts U-S troops. It's reportedly been a target of retaliatory strikes. Jordon Buchanan, his wife and two young children moved to Abu Dhabi about ten months ago. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

For decades, raw sewage was pumped into Lake Horowhenua, earning it the dubious reputation as one of New Zealand's most polluted waterways. Now, a huge cleanup project is underway to try and restore it back to health. But could the fetid lake two kilometres west of Levin ever be safe to swim in again? For the past five summers a special harvester has operated in the lake, chopping out invasive weeds to try and give native species to the chance to flourish and replenish the oxygen-deprived water. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

San Diego wasn't the All Whites first choice as a team base for the Football World Cup, but they believe it's better than some other options. The team will stay and train in the Californian city and travel to play their group games in Los Angeles and Vancouver. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland's mayor and the Government are locking horns over reworked housing density rules for the city. A fortnight ago, the government agreed to slash the number of houses Auckland has to plan for from over two million down to 1.6 million. Auckland's Mayor says the government now expects Auckland Council to provide maps of intended zoning changes ahead of law its law changes, that's something Wayne Brown has given a hard no. Mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

A woman whose young daughter had part of her face bitten off by an aggressive dog can't understand why the animal has not been euthanised a month after the attack. The dog belongs to a family member who came to stay at their Waikato home. They were aware it had previously bitten an adult and had been impounded, but the family was unaware it had also previously attacked a child. The dog was seized by animal control but the owner won't give permission for it to be destroyed. Georjeana Tupawa, whose daughter was attacked, spoke to Lisa Owen.

The US conflict with Iran is approaching its fourth day, with continued strikes in the Middle East. The Iranian death toll has reportedly topped 550. Dozens more have been killed in Lebanon, with Israel bombing the capital Beirut. The US has confirmed six military personnel have died. US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK's response to the Iran strikes, as Defence Secretary John Healey spoke for the first time since the air strikes began.

News from the business sector, including a market report.