Checkpoint

The prospect of more ferocious winds has Wairarapa locals on the verge of tears on the eve of one of their biggest holiday weekends. A rare red-level wind warning has been issued tomorrow for Wellington and Wairarapa south of Carteron. It comes after the death of a man in Mount Victoria on Tuesday, who was struck by a falling tree and widespread damage causing power outages in communities across the region. Riversdale's coastal community is one of them. Mary Argue reports.

The highly public dispute between Netball New Zealand and Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua is becoming increasingly political. Earlier today Minister for Sport and Recreation Mark Mitchell told RNZ he asked Sport New Zealand officials to step in and help resolve the dispute. But RNZ can reveal they have been involved from the outset. High Performance Sport New Zealand has footed the bill for an independent review of the Ferns programme as well as player safeguarding measures - even as the coach at the centre of the crisis remains on the agency's board. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

The collapse of e-commerce website, Grab One has left many businesses struggling to cover the cost of vouchers that the site sold but hasn't paid the retailers for. Some say they simply can't afford to honour the deals that run into the thousands. Coromandel Shelly Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park owner Aaron McFarlane has deals with Grab One and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Asia correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen about Japan's parliament electing the country's first ever female prime minister, as well as an attempt to exterminate a cockroach with a makeshift flamethrower in a South Korean apartment that quickly turned tragic.

An Australian TV host has kicked off a conversation with a post on her social media calling for airlines to provide women only seating areas. It has attracted hundreds of comments many supporting her concerns. Last year one of India's airlines started letting women select seats next to other women when checking in. Others have sensitive seating areas. Aviation Commentator Irene King spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Australian Prime Minister's Anthony Albanese's meeting with US President Donald Trump, where he was lavished with praise.

There have been calls for a review of the warnings issued ahead of last week's weather event which brought down hundreds of slips, closed dozens of central North Island roads, inundated farms and flooded homes. An orange warning was issued, but the Mayor of the Waitomo District and the Minister for Rural Communities are questioning whether that should have been uprgaded. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin was in Waitomo.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

A teenager's social media stunt at this year's Formula One Melbourne Grand Prix has seen him fined by an Australian court. A group of three people snuck into the event wearing fake security IDs and hi-vis vests and filmed a video which went viral online. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Evacuations are underway across Kaikoura due to multiple large fires as wild weather causes chaos across the country. Winds gusting more than 100 kilometres an hour have toppled trees & vehicles. Between midnight and 3pm, fire crews responded to 131 weather-related callouts across New Zealand. Assistant National Commander at Fire and Emergency, Ken Cooper spoke to Lisa Owen.