Checkpoint

Officials have confirmed Auckland's Eden Park will host a State of Origin match in 2027. It'll be the first time the competition has been staged outside of Australia in 40 years. The move comes after three years of high-level talks with the NRL and the Australian Rugby League Commission in a deal reportedly worth five million dollars. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Wellington plastic surgeon is patching up dog attack victims on a weekly basis with some injuries so severe they're life changing. She believes Aotearoa needs to review animal control laws and consider mandatory reporting of bites and dog related injuries requiring medical treatment. Doctor Emily Yassaie spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Perry Wilton spoke to Lisa Owen about strikes in Gaza threatening the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. It comes ahead of the first meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump's so-called 'Board of Peace' - set to take place on Thursday.

It has been a day of weather chaos at the bottom of the North Island with thousands of properties still without power. Planes, trains and ferries were also disrupted. Five areas remain under local states of emergency as heavy rain and strong wind warnings continue for the central and southern North Island and eastern South Island. In Wellington, Hutt Valley roads were closed to due to flooding with some schools also closed. Hutt City emergency operations centre controller John Kingsbury spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Manchester United Football Club who has been forced to respond after controversial comments from its co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, as well as a development in the Donald Trump lawsuit against the BBC.

Tomorrow is Caturday at a south Auckland animal shelter, where a bumper crop of kittens are in desperate need of forever homes. The SPCA has more than 30 kittens available for adoption at its Mangere Centre, where it says the 40 year old building is crumbling and part of the cattery floods when it rains. The organisation has seen a surge in cats needing to be adopted across the country, and it hopes its Caturday events will see people heading home with a new family member in tow. Amy Williams reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

An Ardie Savea-less Moana Pasifika will be looking to build on their stunning 2025 season as Super Rugby kicks off this weekend. Star signing and former All Black Ngani Laumape says while he leaves a void, the squad will not let the standards set by Savea drop. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The crown has called for the Court of Appeal to dismiss the application filed by the terrorist who massacred 51 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques, saying it lacks substance and has no merit. Australian Brenton Tarrant is calling on the court to overturn his convictions and sentence, after he claims he was forced into pleading guilty by the torturous conditions he experienced in prison. The five-day hearing has concluded in Wellington. Reporter Timothy Brown was in court and spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Christchurch councillor's calling for a levy on all tickets to events at the city's new stadium to put the cost on users rather than just rate payers. At the moment the plan is for stadium goers to pay an extra five dollars on top of their ticket price but only if they are seeing an international act. Its estimated ratepayers will be picking up the tab for the stadium for decades to come with 1.75 percent of their rates going to cover costs. Councillor Yani Johanson spoke to Lisa Owen.