Checkpoint

The world's fastest growing sport is popping up in new communities around the globe, while it's closest competitor is losing facilities faster than ever before. Reports out of England show that Padel facilities have grown nearly sixfold over the last three years, while the country has lost nearly 200 tennis courts in the same time frame. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A new type of compostable coffin grown largely from mushrooms has arrived in Aotearoa. The coffins are grown in the Netherlands from Mycelium, the underground root network of mushrooms and upcycled hemp fibres. The finished product looks a bit like an elongated egg or cocoon. Australia has its first burial with a mushroom grown coffin last week. Inventor and founder of the company behind the coffins, Bob Hendrikx spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent, Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about Iran vowing to respond "faster, heavier and more painful" to any further US attacks as the six month war drags on. Strikes between the both sides have become the new normal, as diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the conflict have slowed too.

A coroner has ruled that a man who raised thousands of dollars through claiming to have terminal cancer did not have the disease. Dough Ruch died by suicide shortly after arriving in New Zealand. He had gained considerable media attention for his campaign, "dying to serve", in which he attempted to do volunteer work in every US state. But his philanthropy and diagnosis faced scrutiny last year, amid accusations he was a con-man. Reporter Finn Blackwell spoke to Lisa Owen.

Teenagers are leading the pack when it comes to sports related ACC concussion claims. The sports that feature most prominently are rugby, cycling and soccer. Last month ACC launched an online course to help adults recognise and respond to concussion. Otago University's Professor Gisela Sole researches concussion within schools and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Guyon Espiner about a man who had a toe-to-thumb transplant.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Guyon Espiner about UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham hosting his first foreign leader at Downing Street, as well as the British Army being under strict instruction to cut back on training exercises in an attempt to save money.

Evening business for 3 September 2026.

The atmosphere is sizzling in South Africa ahead of the All Blacks and Springboks third test in Johannesburg. The sides are deadlocked at 1-all. But meanwhile, there's drama brewing around the Black Ferns and Springbok Women's upcoming game. Rugby reporter Joe Porter spoke to Guyon Espiner.

A jury has heard that the man involved in a conspiracy to murder a landlord told police of the plot, but the confession languished in the police filing system after it was referred to a supervisor on holiday. When the supervisor returned from leave, the confession was filed and it was only investigated following an alleged double murder of a different couple two months later. Finn Blackwell reports.