Checkpoint

For detection dogs, sniffing out predators in remote South Westland is just part of their day job. But they're a key part of the Predator Free South Westland mission to eliminate every possum, rat and stoat from 100,000 hectares of backcountry, farmland and towns. Tess Brunton reports.

An Auckland teenager has made history at the Weightlifting World Championships in Norway. Olivia Selemaia's eighth place finish is the best-ever by a New Zealand female lifter. However she had mixed emotions after being within touching distance of getting a medal. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

National has dipped into the twenties, while New Zealand First has hit double-digits, in a new poll. The latest Taxpayers Union-Curia poll has National down 3.5 percentage points to 29.6%. Labour has also taken a bit of a hit- but the left bloc would have 21 seats in total - which would be enough to form a government. Political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Lisa Owen.

New Zealand Post has approval to cut the number of mail deliveries it does in a week. In urban areas, two days a week will be the minimum, down from three. But the cuts are deeper in rural areas, where it is a minimum of three days down from five. Rural Women NZ says it will cost their communities and is a step back for farming regions. Chief executive Nicola Eccleton spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm.

An ambitious project is clearing predators from more than 100,000 hectares of South Westland wilderness, farmland and towns. Predator Free South Westland project aims to eliminate every possum, rat and stoat - and their goal is in sight. They've already removed from more than 90 percent of predators from the project area. Tess Brunton joined the workers doing the hard mahi from the Southern Alps to the sea.

One New Zealand has effectively sacked an actor used in its TV ads after she revealed Winston Peters' home address in a live stream last week and encouraged pro-Palestinian activists to join protests outside the Auckland property. On Monday night, a window was smashed at the house and a 29 year old has since been arrested and charged with burglary. Winston Peters is calling out the activist and actor, Acacia O'Connor for disclosing the street address. O'Connor spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The NBL's two winless teams will tip-off the basketball competition's newest innovation in Auckland. The New Zealand Breakers host the defending champion Illawarra Hawks in the first game of an in-season tournament, the Ignite Cup, tomorrow night. Sport reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A coronial inquest into Cyclone Gabrielle has heard how some people stranded on roofs in Hawke's Bay as the floodwaters rose, waited nearly an hour to be connected to 111. Our Tairawhiti Hawke's Bay reporter Alexa Cook is covering the inquest and speaks with Lisa Owen.