Checkpoint

Polling has closed in Tonga's national general election which is being conducted amid a massive fuel shortage in the capital. There are 71 candidates vying for a seat in parliament including eight women. More than 64,000 voters are on the electoral roll but the kingdom has struggled with low voter turnout since democratic reforms in 2010. RNZ Pacific senior reporter Teuila Fuatai is in Nuku'alofa and spoke to Lisa Owen.

A move to protect children or state sanctioned harm? The government's upcoming halt on new prescriptions for puberty blockers has provoked strong feelings on both sides of the debate: supporters say it will keep children safe, while critics warn it will cause "profound distress". The Health Minister Simeon Brown says the new settings will take effect in mid-December - and stay in place until the outcome of a major clinical trial in the United Kingdom, expected in 2031. Political reporter Lillian Hanly has more.

It has been revealed Kmart has sold tens of thousands of potentially asbestos laced children's play things. The retail giant confirmed it has sold 67,000 units of coloured children's sand that are now part of massive recall that was expanded even further today. That number doesn't include suspect products sold through different retailers. Some councils have now set up drop-off sites for the recalled products. MBIE's Product Safety Spokesperson Ian Caplin spoke to Lisa Owen.

The equivalent of more than four and half million rubber car tyres have been collected in the first year of a recycle scheme. Tyrewise is governed by a charitable trust and funded by the fee that is charged on the sale of all new regulated tyres in Aotearoa. Tyrewise says a year into scheme illegal dumping of tyres has been slashed along with the number of tyres going to landfill. Adele Rose, CEO of 3R Group that manages the Tyrewise Scheme, spoke to Lisa Owen.

The driver and owner of a dodgy truck with a litany of faults that ploughed into a roadworker on the job has been jailed for three years. Ashik Ali's truck had a non-operation order issued in 2021, and last had a certificate of fitness in 2019. But it was last year when its brakes failed before rolling down a hill and into Johnathon Walters who later died in hospital. Kim Baker Wilson reports.

There are calls for a public awareness and education campaign about domestic violence, after fresh data has revealed its prevalence around the globe. A new report from the World Health Organisation says a quarter of women have experienced intimate partner sexual or domestic violence in their lifetime. Lauren Crimp has more.

The last time the All Blacks lost to Wales there was no Harbour Bridge in Auckland, Elvis Presley hadn't released any music and Queen Elizabeth II was about to make her first visit to New Zealand. The Welsh will need to channel the spirit of 1953 - the year they beat the All Blacks 13-8 - if they want to taste victory once again. But do they have any shot at snapping this seven-decade streak? Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

"Stone cold killers". That's how Conservation Minister Tama Potaka describes feral cats, which he's just added to the Predator Free 2050's hitlist. It means that feral cats will join the likes of stoats, ferrets, weasels, rats and possums on the official list of pests targeted for total eradication from these shores. This is a sharp change of policy - revealed to exclusively to RNZ by the Minister today. He sat down with Farah Hancock who spoke to Lisa Owen.

US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about a number of US military officials visiting Ukraine to discuss bringing an end to the war with Russia, as well as more twists and turns in the trial of former FBI director James Comey.

Is the mobile phone becoming the dominate side dish during meals out? A top new resturant in London's Mayfair is banning phones in a bid to encourage diners to immerse themselves in the dining and social experience without device distraction. So is it a thing here? Auckland restaurant owner and chef Al Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.