Checkpoint

In the Northland town of Oakura, locals are adjusting to a new reality - no proper road south to Whangarei for as long as the next three months. The road north reopened on Saturday but it is a long detour, and the emergency route south is narrow, steep and, frankly, frightening. Peter de Graaf reports from a town picking up the pieces after last week's storm.

The government is mulling an inquiry into the events surrounding the deadly landslide that crashed down Mount Maunganui on Thursday, leaving six campers missing - presumed dead. While the recovery effort continues, questions are being asked about whether the council-owned campground should have been evacuated earlier, when the alarm was raised about other slips on the maunga. Lauren Crimp is in Mount Maunganui and filed this report.

The government is assuring flood hit regions there's more financial support to come after announcing an immediate $2.2 million relief package. $1.2 million of that will go into topping up mayoral relief funds, while the other $1 million will reimburse marae that have provided welfare support to communities. Tairawhiti's East Cape has been hit hard, communities remain isolated, some homes are uninhabitable and lifeline roads are still touch and go. The mayor says it will take a lot to get the area back on its feet. Mayor for the District, Rehette Stoltz spoke to Lisa Owen.

There is a "strong case for an independent government inquiry" and families of those missing in the Mt Manuganui landslip "deserve" the facts, according to the Prime Minister. He has appointed Chris Penk to advise cabinet on the possible scope of an inquiry into the fatal disaster. Tauranga City Council is already planning to investigate but the Prime Minister said there is an inherant conflict. Newly appointment Associate Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery, Chris Penk spoke to Lisa Owen.

Thames Coromandel's local State of Emergency ends tomorrow, and the mayor says at this point it is unlikely to be extended. However, as the district tries to dry out it has some challenges ahead, including two major slips on its main highway and 63 storm-damaged homes. Libby Kirkby-McLeod spoke to people around the district and filed this report.

The temperatures are rising in Melbourne on and off the tennis court as the Australian Open reaches the quarter-finals stage. The city was forecast to reach 45 degrees Celsius and tournament organisers had to juggle the schedule for what could be the warmest day at the tournament on record. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

National has narrowly outperformed Labour as the party voters trust the most to manage the economy. Just over 32 percent of people trust the National Party the most to manage the economy in RNZ's latest Reid-Research poll. Labour is just a whisker behind on more than 31 percent. Political reporter Anneke Smith spoke to Lisa Owen.

US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about President Trump speaking to Minnesota leaders about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents, as well as the public and political response that have come from that.

A south Auckland health clinic that is now operating 24-seven is hoping to take the pressure of an overrun Middlemore hospital emergency department. Local Doctors Otara is the first clinic to open through the night in Counties Manukau since 2020. It is gradually extended its opening hours to meet demand, with medical staff previously staying on after official closing because patients were still waiting to be seen. Dr Lloyd McCann, Chief Executive officer for Tamaki Health, which owns Local Doctors, spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government is kicking an extra $1.2 million into mayoral relief funds for areas hit by the severe weather, to help with immediate needs like food and shelter. But it has acknowledged that is a drop in the ocean and there will be more money to come.