Checkpoint

Product safety rules for kids toys and craft materials are not fit for purpose, with the rise in giant e-commerce retailers according to Consumer NZ. The safety of children's play things is centre stage after a recall of several coloured sand products due to an asbestos scare. Several schools that use the products closed while they worked out what cleanup is required. Meanwhile Consumer NZ says the changing way people shop and the sheer volume of products is making safety tough to police. Head of research and advocacy Gemma Rasmussen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Air New Zealand cabin crews could walk off the job next month over stalled pay negotiations, threatening summer travel plans. While the union has ruled out any action the week before Christmas, it will be before the end of the year, unless a deal is reached. Mary Argue reports.

A pair of petitions have been separately presented to Parliament today - asking politicians to address two hot-button topics. Advocates calling for a social media ban for under 16 year olds had theirs accepted by the education minister - who is promising regulation is in the pipeline. At the same time, Malcolm Mulholland arrived with a call to fix the health system, along with what he estimates is the longest petition ever handed over in New Zealand. Political reporter Giles Dexter was at the handovers on Parliament's forecourt.

The All Whites play for the final time in 2025 tomorrow. The New Zealanders kicked off the year with a 7-nil win over Fiji in March and will close it out against Ecuador who have developed a reputation as one of football's best defensive sides. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Canterbury looks likely to get the country's first rubber road. The Selwyn Council confirmed it considering a trial of the technology on State Highway 77 at Glentunnel early in the new year. The rubber roading is made from end of life tyres that are turned into granules. Treadlite NZ is the only company in New Zealand that makes the stuff, and executive director Brad Pierce spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about a US drafted Gaza peace plan receiving the backing of the UN Security Council, as well as Donald Trump changing his stance on tomorrow's vote to release more files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

A Supreme Court ruling yesterday has confirmed four Uber drivers who first took a case against the ride share company in 2022 are actually employees rather than contracters. The ride share is one of thousands of digital platforms that are fueling a gig economy where workers tend to have multiple jobs, work temporary or short term stints and freelance. The World Bank estimates 400 million people earn money from these kind of platforms. But who is benefitting and is there a hidden cost to a cheaper ride to the airport? Employment relations researcher Alex Veen spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK's plans to overhaul its asylum policy, as well as the Shadow Home Secretary weighing in on a settlement option between the BBC and US President Donald Trump.

Over the last 15 years, around 1000 New Zealand workers are thought to have been been exposed to high concentrations of respirable crystalline silica dust while working with engineered stone slabs. It's been banned in Australia, and now our government is seeking feedback on options to control the risks it poses in New Zealand. One of the country's largest fabricators has made the switch to zero-silica engineered stone and is now calling on others to do the same. Samantha Gee visited its new factory in Tasman.

News from the business sector, including a market report.