Checkpoint

News from the business sector, including a market report.

After nearly a year away from red ball cricket, Kane Williamson will return to the New Zealand test side for the upcoming series against the West Indies. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A food waste researcher would like to see mandatory kerbside composting put back on the table, after researchers discovered just how much food is wasted in New Zealand every year. Their report, commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment, has found more than 1.2 million tonnes of food is thrown away, equivalent to 237 kilograms for every person in the country. Climate change correspondent Kate Newton spoke to Lisa Owen.

The prime minister is struggling to hose down the opposition's claim his Kiwisaver policy is likely linked to a rise in the retirement age. The proposal unveiled yesterday would see employers required to match workers' Kiwisaver contributions up to six percent of their wages. The opposition is mildly supportive, with some caveats, but the links to retirement age could point to a brewing rift in the coalition. Political reporter Russell Palmer has more.

The government has unveiled its renovation to building rules, with changes including mandatory home warranties, indemnity insurance for some professionals and a doubling of penalties for so called cowboys. It is also scrapping the current joint liability model for dealing with building defeats, where a customer can go after anyone of the people involved in the project for full damages - a scheme that has often resulted in councils left picking up the cheque. Building Industry Federation CEO Julian Leys spoke to Lisa Owen.

The biggest losers in National's bid to super size Kiwisaver are low income earners and small businesses according to an economics expert. If re-elected National is proposing to raise Kiwisaver contributions to a combined 12 percent by 2032. The graduated increase would see contributions split evenly between between the employer and the employee, topping out at six percent each. Professor of economics Robert MacCulloch, who holds the Matthew S. Abel Chair of Macroeconomics at the University of Auckland, spoke to Lisa Owen.

The mother of a man who died after being pepper sprayed in Mt Eden Prison wants to see meaningful change, as the second part of inquest into his death gets underway in Auckland. It's been nearly four years since the death of 26-year-old Caleb Moefa'auo, who went into cardiac arrest shortly after being pepper sprayed by an officer in 2022. Now, prison staff are facing questions before Coroner Heather McKenzie. Finn Blackwell was there.

"Chump change" is how one striking worker at Resene Paint in Lower Hutt has described the company's latest pay offer. A noisy protest of around 80 workers and supporters braved the rain to picket the company's head office in Lower Hutt today - as some workers remain at loggerheads with the company over pay. But Resene says they're being consistent with other salaries in the manufacturing sector. Bill Hickman has more.

The All Black season finished with a comfortable win over Wales, but attention now turns to what will happen next. Questions have been raised over coach Scott Robertson and captain Scott Barrett regarding their future standing in the team. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

Howick councillor Bo Burns is calling for a review of the city's rates; specifically the so called Uniform Annual General Charge. That's the fee that's the same amount for every household regardless of the property's value. The rest of the rates bill is made of a general rate, largely based on the capital value of your property and targeted rates; that are earmarked for specific projects, like water quality. Howick Ward Councillor Bo Burns spoke to Lisa Owen.