Checkpoint

Auckland commuters spotted digital motorway signs with warnings to beware traffic delays with IKEA opening in Auckland this morning. The Swedish homeware store takes up a whole block in Mount Wellington. Traffic forecasts showed worst case scenarios of 40-minute delays just to get off the motorways and a special traffic team was in place monitoring the situation. Auckland Transport Operation Centre manager Claire Howard spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about a number of new photos from sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's island that has been released to the public, as well as a Pentagon review into group chat messages related to US strikes on Yemen which were leaked earlier this year.

San Francisco is suing the makers of ultra processed food or UPFs, arguing local government is picking up the bill for the serious health consequences from their products; including conditions like obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease & cancer. 10 companies including Nestle, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Kraft Heinz and Mondelez are targeted in the legal action. Professor Boyd Swinburn from the University of Auckland's school of population health spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent, Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the release of a landmark report into one of the most tragic events in British sporting history, as well as an update on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince and Duke of York.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Things are well balanced in the first test between the Black Caps and West Indies. After being bowled out for just 231 at Hagley Oval, the Kiwis have taken six wickets on day two with the visitors still 74 runs behind. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche says Andrew Coster's resignation from his high paying government job was the right thing to do. The former Police Commissioner has quit as head of the social investment agency. It follows a highly critical investigation into the police response to allegations of sexual offending against a woman by former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Public Service Commissioner, Sir Brian Roche spoke to Lisa Owen.

The North Island has been hit by rolling storms this afternoon as thunderstorms and lightning darken early summer skies. The Sky Tower took a hit from a lightning strike, while severe thunderstorm watches remain in place for northern areas and strong winds are expected. In rural Manawatu a campground was hit by a tornado that left a trail of destruction in its wake. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham spoke to Lisa Owen.

A kindergarten operator says it will cost hundreds of thousands dollars to decontaminate several Wellington sites that have tested positive for asbestos in the wake of the kid's-coloured sand recall. Whanau Manaaki has tested 13 kindergartens around the motu that had been using the coloured sand that could be laced with asbestos. Three in Wellington have come back positive and need significant cleanup work. Whanau Manaaki CEO, Amanda Coulston spoke to Lisa Owen.

A coroner wants the public banned from a deadly but popular rock fishing spot in Waikato, after two more people are believed to have drowned there. Flatmates Olson Canatoy and Eric Dabalos failed to return from a days fishing at Papanui point in October 2021. Since 1980 20 people have died within one kilometre of the point. Open Spaces manager at the Waikato District Council, Glyn Morgan spoke to Lisa Owen.