Checkpoint

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.

The ACT Party wants to get rid of the Maori and Pacific Admissions Scheme because it says it's racist. The scheme is a targeted entry and support programme at Auckland University's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences designed to increase the number of Maori and Pacific health professionals. ACT leader David Seymour pushed for a review of the scheme, which has now been completed and recommends it remain. But Seymour isn't happy with that. Dean of Medical and Health Sciences, Professor Warwick Bagg spoke to Guyon Espiner.

A native seaweed that can cut the methane belched out by cows by around 80 percent is being grown right here in New Zealand, but our regulations mean no local farmer can actually use it. Executive director of Asparagopsis Technologies, Nigel Little spoke to Guyon Espiner.