Checkpoint

Tai Rāwhiti residents are being warned to stock up with a weeks worth of supplies as an orange heavy rain warning looms for the already hammered district. Metservice is forecasting up to 250 millimetres of rain over 38 hours in some areas; with localised downpours and potential thunderstorms. Locals are still cleaning up from flooding three weeks ago with major roads still severely damaged. Tash Winoa from Te Araroa Civil Defence spoke to Lisa Owen.

A district court judge was today described as one of the best in the country to a Judicial Conduct Panel, which is this week hearing allegations she wasn't on her best behaviour during a New Zealand First Party function. Judge Ema Aitken is accused of yelling at party leader and then-Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters during an event at Auckland's Northern Club in 2024, calling him a liar. Today the court heard from other district court judges who were asked to give their thoughts on the incident and on Judge Aitken. Finn Blackwell reports.

A kiwi cancer patient forced to move to Australia to get life prolonging drugs, that are not funded in Aoteaora is giving a big thank you to the country. In New Zealand she was draining her savings and paying $133,000 a year for the drug daratumumab or dara; in Australia it is costing her nothing. Nic Vipond spoke to Lisa Owen.

There are growing concerns that sports betting companies are targeting young adults and university students through social media ads, and video content disguised as fun and games. Auckland University students' association says students are using their rent money and their student allowance on betting, some of them saying they're enticed by content and ads from betting companies like TAB and its online platform - Betcha NZ. Betting companies are also using influencers and sporting personalities in their content - including a high-profile New Zealand cricketer. Lucy Xia reports.

There is an air of confidence around the Wellington Phoenix women's A-League team this season that has their coach believing they could win the league. Last week the Bev Priestman-coached team briefly went to number one in the standings for the first time. Whatever happens during the remainder of the season, the Phoenix will have their best finish ever. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Sextortion complaints have jumped almost 50 percent according to online safety watchdog Netsafe. The online scams are a type of blackmail where someone threatens to share nude images or sexually explicit video of a person unless they get paid or are given more sexual content. On the eve of Valentine's Day Netsafe is reminding people to be careful; romance scams remain among the top ten reported to the watchdog. Netsafe's chief online safety officer Sean Lyons spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tourism-dependent businesses in the central North Island town of Waimarino have faced hard times since November's fire in Tongariro National Park. The blaze, which burned through almost 3000 hectares, kept the popular Tongariro Crossing closed for over a week and was then followed by a smaller fire in December, as well as wet weather. Although February has so far proven kinder, many say a good dumping of winter snow is needed to get the area, and its tills, humming again. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

America's correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about what the US president has called the "largest deregulation in American history." He made the comment after dumping a scientific ruling that's shaped America's approach to climate change policy for more than a decade. Donald Trump said it will make cars cheaper, while environmental groups have condemned the move.

There is an orange heavy rain warning baring down on several districts that are barely back on their feet after the extreme weather three weeks ago. Wet, windy and sticky weather is forecast for many parts of the country this weekend. Much of the North Island is under heavy rain warnings or watches - including areas of the East Cape, Opotiki and Coromandel. MetService meteorologist John Law spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australian correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about political turmoil continuing in Australia with the country's opposition leader Sussan Ley facing a leadership challenge after less than a year in the job.