Checkpoint

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello is back in the firing line over Big Tobacco's influence, with heated debate during a health select committee today on Government plans to roll out oral tobacco and nicotine products. Last year Cabinet agreed in principal to allow the sale of smokeless products, such as Swedish snus and nicotine pouches, subject to the products meeting safety requirements and regulatory controls to prevent youth access. Ruth Hill reports from the special hearing for Parliament's Scrutiny Week.

A smart watch that doubles as an alarm for women at risk of family violence is helping to reduce police callouts. The social service Help at Hand has provided 1200 of the violence prevention watches to organisations including some women's refuges and data shows it's making a difference. Amy Williams reports.

Football fans will get the chance to farewell the All Whites on home soil before next year's world cup. The team will play two games in March in New Zealand before they leave for North America. These games will be part of the first FIFA Series to be held in Aotearoa. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

IKEA is opening the doors of it's first New Zealand store in Auckland tomorrow. Up to 20,000 shoppers are predicted to visit on the first day, along with traffic jams of up to 40 minutes just to get off the motorway. AUT macromarketing professor Ben Wooliscroft spoke to Lisa Owen with some tips about how to make the most of your shopping experience.

Asia correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen about the Indonesian island of Sumatra dealing with the devastation caused by flooding and landslides which has killed hundreds, as well as the Indian government facing pushback over a state-run app that it wants preinstalled on all mobile phones in the country.

Among everyday vehicles, nearly half are overdue for either their Warrant of Fitness (WOF) or their registration, according to a vehicle management app. Bonnet, an app that links to NZTA data crunched the numbers for 21,500 vehicles, privately owned and fleet operated. The Bonnet data shows in Northland, 66% of warrants are overdue, in Auckland around 16% have expired, but it's just 8% in Otago. AA's principal policy advisor, Terry Collins spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the Albanese Government rolling out its new "National Artificial Intelligence Plan" in a bid to encourage innovation and investment in the digital sector while also implementing safeguards for threats posed by the rapidly advancing technology.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Tall Blacks have started their world cup qualification campaign with back-to-back losses to the Australian Boomers. Both games were decided within the last minute of play, but fans missed the crucial moments in last night's nailbiter when the TV feed suddenly switched to different programming. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A suite of decision-makers have been put through their paces at Parliament today - facing questions as part of a jam-packed Scrutiny Week.  In the last half hour, a hearing with the Police Commissioner Richard Chambers just wrapped up - in which he defended police culture in the wake of the Jevon McSkimming scandal. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.