Checkpoint

Retailers who have sold children's coloured play sand potentially laced with asbestos need to be held to account, according to Labour's consumer Affairs spokesperson. The contamination scare has prompted a recall of several brands, including another one just this afternoon. It's illegal to import any products with asbestos and its up to sellers to make sure any toys are up to safety standard. Labour Consumer Affairs spokesperson Arena Williams spoke to Lisa Owen.

A proposed 66 house subdivision near the shores of Lake Whakamaru in Waikato has sparked a land occupation by a local hapu. But the issues Ngati Te Kohera are fighting for go much deeper than the one development; and they might not be easy to solve. Libby Kirkby-McLeod reports.

Christchurch has been revealed as the city that will be home to a national memorial to the Erebus crash victims. It comes after a wait of more than four and half decades and push back from other communties that didn't want it in their backyards. David Allan, who's parents and sister died in the Erebus crash, spoke to Lisa Owen.

What started with a "stir crazy" chef armed with a nutri bullet during lockdown is now an award winning company looking to tackle a major element of the country's food waste problem. Rescued Kitchen is aiming to cut down on one food that's commonly ending up in the bin - bread - which it is turning back into the very flour it was made from. This week it was revealed Kiwis are wasting over one million tonnes of food each year. While the business is currently only able to make a small dent in this number, a major upscalling operation means they're hoping to eventually take a mighty slice out of the country's food waste. Evie Richardson reports.

Rescue crews in Hong Kong are scrambling to find survivors after a huge fire engulfed a high rise residential complex. At least 44 people have died, dozens more are critically injured and hundreds are still missing. While the cause of the blaze is not yet known, three construction company executives have already been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Hong Kong correspondent Laura Westbrook spoke to Lisa Owen.

Almost 46 years to the day that 257 people died in the Mt Erebus plane crash, a Christchurch reserve has now been chosen as the preferred location for a national memorial. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage says Cracroft Reserve in Cashmere is the best place to commemorate the disaster with its tranquil setting and panoramic views of the Southern Alps. Anna Sargent reports.

The crawl towards summer means one of the showpiece events on Auckland's sporting calendar is fast approaching. The ASB Classic has already had some good news in the last month and now has another update. Sports report Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

A crypto accountant is warning investors that the tax collector is coming for them, with seven out of ten people trading in crypto assets currently side stepping their tax obligations. In July last year IRD signalled it was honing in on people dealing crypto who were not declaring their income. Accountant Tim Doyle specialises in crypto currency and says 30% of his clients have now received letters from IRD calling in tax they owe. Doyle spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about a shooting just blocks away from the White House which has left two National Guard troops in a critical condition

A local community board has voted against having more concerts at Eden park, a move some Auckland businesses are describing as a handbrake on prosperity. The government wants to boost the number of gigs allowed at the venue to 12 large and 20 medium concerts a year. At the moment Eden Park is limited to six artists playing a total of 12 gigs a year. But Auckland Council's Albert-Eden local board has voted no to supporting that plan, which has infuriated the Dominion Road Business Association. Manager Gary Holmes spoke to Lisa Owen.