Checkpoint

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The White Ferns have a new captain, new players and new vibes heading into tonight's first T20 against Zimbabwe in Hamilton. New Zealand hasn't played in an international in four months and the Zimbabwe series is the start of the build up towards the world cup in the middle of the year. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government is proposing to make it legal to ride e-scooters in cycle lanes, and have children 12 and under ride their bikes on the footpath. Transport Minister Chris Bishop says it is part of its work to "fix the basics" in the New Zealand transport system, with consultation opening today on two packages for rule changes. Political reporter Lilian Hanly spoke to Lisa Owen.

Wellington's mayor has taken a swim in front of the cameras to prove residents can swim again at southern beaches after a major sewage leak - but at their own risk. The city's southern coast has been off limits to beach goers, swimmers and surfers after the catastrophic failure of the Moa Point treatment plant three weeks ago. On average 70 million litres of untreated sewage is being pumped out to sea each day, but ongoing testing across 23 sites now shows it's safe to go back into the water, with some conditions. Wellington Mayor Andrew Little spoke to Lisa Owen.

Two dog attacks in as many weeks has put dog control laws back in the spotlight. Mihiata Te Rore was killed by three dogs while visiting a property in the Northland settlement of Kaihu. A few days later a father was seriously injured while protecting his son from a dog attack at a property they were visiting in Christchurch. In a small seaside settlement on the outskirts of Tauranga, the residents have been wrestling with an increasing number of aggressive dogs for years. Reporter Natalie Akoorie went on a walkabout.

A University of Auckland researcher is calling for tougher regulations around marketing ultra processed food to kiwi kids. Dr Kelly Garton says kai is political and she's urging people to scrutinse party policies around access to healthy affordable food with the consumption of ultra processed food, or UPF's growing. Checkpoint did a shop around to see how much UPF's are infiltrating supermarket shelves, and Dr Kelly Garton joined Lisa Owen in the studio to decipher the contents.

Care homes and pharmacies are falling back on their emergency backup plans to distribute medication, following the MediMap hack. The prescription portal is used by many aged care, disability, and hospice providers to track medication, but it's been offline since Sunday. Now the company is heading to court to try and block people from accessing and using the data that has been breached. Health correspondent Kate Green reports.

A pain that no one can understand. Those were the heartbreaking words of a grieving daughter who witnessed her mother being brutally stabbed to death at the hands of an obsessive stalker. Nathan Boulter was sentenced in the High Court at Christchurch today, having pleaded guilty to murdering Chantal McDonald in her Parklands home in July last year. He waived his right to be in court physically, instead appearing via audiovisual link. Christchurch reporter Adam Burns was in court.

SailGP has released its initial findings from its investigation into the high-speed collision between the Black Foils and Team France boats at this month's regatta in Auckland. Two sailors were hospitalised after the French and Kiwi boats collided at speeds approaching 90 kilometres an hour on day one of the SailGP event. Both boats sustained significant damage and are expected to be off the water for some time. Sports Editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

It was no time for modesty as the US President launched full throttle into his State of the Union speech. Donald Trump said he'd inherited a nation in crisis just a year ago but had achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before in "a turnaround for the ages". US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.