Checkpoint

Food safety officers have today been at the Christchurch school which yesterday was delivered rotten and stinky meals as part of the Government's school lunch programme. Haeata Community Campus, which covers from year one to 13, received dozens of meals which staff say were covered in mould and smelt rancid. A number of investigations are underway into what went wrong, including by MPI and the supplier Compass. Rachel Graham has more.

A Lower Hutt mum whose kids' Kmart play sand tested positive for asbestos says she's stressed out and worried about whether she's done enough to make sure her kids and house are safe. Several coloured sand products have been recalled over the contamination scare. Kmart is the main retailer involved and has sold 67,000 units of the potentially asbestos laced sand play sand. Keren Lee, who's sand has tested positive for asbestos, spoke to Lisa Owen.

A new weapon that aims to destroy invasive yellow hornets and their nests is about to be introduced in Auckland. Advanced tracking technology from the Netherlands has arrived to help Biosecurity New Zealand ramp up its eradication project. It comes as national experts are coming together to try and figure out what kind of threat the hornet poses to the rest of the country. Victor Waters explains.

There is a renewed call for the Minister responsible for animal welfare to be stripped of his portfolio over allegations of an "egregious conflict of interest". Animal rights organisation SAFE believes the Associate Minister for Agriculture, Andrew Hoggard's close personal ties to farming significantly compromise his decision making when it comes to the welfare of animals. The Minister has ditched the previous government's committment to ban farrowing crates for sows from this month. SAFE's Debra Ashton spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Black Caps' Test Championship campiagn has kicked off in Christchurch, with the first of three test matches against the West Indies getting underway this morning. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The boss of a Southland RSA is not pulling his punches after thieves pinched burial plaques off soldiers graves at an Invercargill cemetery. Police believe they were stolen from the St Johns Cemetery sometime between the 28th of October and November 22nd. The brass plates marked the graves of World War I and World War II veterans and those who served in the Korean war. President of the Awarua RSA, Ian Becker spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about tensions betwene Venezuela and America ramping up along with concerns over US air strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats, as well as Luigi Mangione appearing in court today.

Small busineses are being advised not to panic over the arrival of retail giant IKEA. The 34,000 square metre store is stocked with 7,500 unique products, with forecasts suggesting up to 20,000 shoppers will visit on opening day. Global IKEA sales topped $90 billion New Zealand dollars in 2024. So is this whale of a brand going to consume some smaller businesses? Managing director of business consultants First Retail Group, Chris Wilkinson spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Chancellor Rachel Reeves rejecting claims that she lied about the UK's finances ahead of the budget announcement, as well as a long-lost painting with an incredible story that has sold at auction in Versailles.

News from the business sector, including a market report.