Checkpoint

It's an idea that some Aucklanders want to see binned before it's even begun, while others say moving from weekly to fornightly rubbish collection is a no brainer. Submissions opened last week on a proposal halve the number of collections in the suburbs of Panmure, Te Atatu Peninsula and Clendon Park, with the pilot scheme to be expanded should it prove successful. Aucklanders create enough rubbish to fill Eden Park pretty much every week and the council hopes it will encourage people to seperate their waste properly and reduce what goes to landfill. Evie Richardson reports.

It won't be just books, pens and paper in the backpacks of students at an Upper Hutt school opening next year. Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced a sports school, the New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa will join the list of charter schools the government is backing. Nick James reports.

Nottingham forest manager Ange Postecoglou has been sacked after only 39 days in charge of the English Premier League side, making it the second shortest tenure ever. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland University researchers are developing an AI tool that can help analyse and select the most viable embryos for IVF. At the moment the process of selecting a fertilised egg for transfer to recipient relies heavily on a visual assessment of embryo videos and can be subjective and prone to variability. It is hoped the use of artificial intelligence will make selection a precision process. Nicholas Knowlton is a senior research fellow at the University of Auckland and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen about Israel launching a series of deadling air strikes on Gaza, as well as cutting of all aid into the strip. Israel said the strikes were in response to a Hamas attack on two Israeli soldiers. Regional leaders are now scrambling to try and de-escalate the situation and get the ceasefire back on track.

A Christchurch school is offering financial incentives to families whose kids meet attendance targets. The government has set a target of 80% of students being in class 90% of the time by 2030. Te Kōmanawa Rowley Primary School has set a slightly lower target than the government in a bid to boost attendance. Students who turn up for 80% of the time in term four will get a new uniform for next year and free stationary. Principal, Graeme Norman spoke to Lisa Owen.

Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about the hefty cost of living remote.

One girl became so sick she needed a blood transfusion after drinking contaminated water during a school trip to a popular North Canterbury campground. An outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by the water supply at Hanmer Springs Forest Camp sent six people to hospital, while at least 10 others fell ill. The camp's a popular destination for school trips and there's anger nothing was done to halt visits when the risks of sickness became apparent. Keiller MacDuff reports.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the boss of MI5 intervening in a row over the collapse of the alleged Chinese spy case, as well as Johnson & Johnson facing legal action from thousands of people in the UK.

News from the business sector, including a market report.