Checkpoint

As biosecurity and conservation groups work to shield the country's wildlife from any spread of bird flu, researchers say some people are embracing false narratives about the virus on social media. The country remain on standby after three confirmed cases in wild birds over the past two months. As Katie Todd reports, some Covid-era conspiracy theories are being repurposed to falsely dismiss avian influenza as a hoax.

Gloriavale Christian School's registration as a private school has been cancelled by the Secretary of Education today after further information from the Education Review Office, which says the school isn't a physically and emotionally safe place for students. Liz Gregory from the Gloriavale Leavers' Support Trust spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Streaming services like Netflix and Prime long ago replaced DVDs as our go to for entertainment, thanks to their competitive prices and smorgasbord of offerings. But sellers and buyers of second-hand discs say they're making a comeback as a cheaper and more personalised alternative. Sammy Carter reports.

It's been a whirlwind week at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting, with foreign minister Winston Peters and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon jetting into Palau for the annual summit. A new UN climate report also says overshooting the Paris agreement goal of 1.5 degrees warming is now unavoidable, renewing calls from Pacific leaders and climate advocates for the world's big emitter to do their part. Teuila Fuatai spoke to Melissa Chan-Green from Koror.

Dozens of aftershocks have been recorded in the lower South Island following a string of earthquakes near Milford Sound last night. A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck on Wednesday evening, followed by a larger 5.6 shake. Three further, smaller quakes followed over the next hour. The tremors have prompted calls for local authorities and central government to get around the table to nut out an emergency response plan. Adam Burns reports.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster has lashed out at internet trolls attacking his players. Webster said the online abuse bears almost on resemblance to the support they encounter in the real world. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A state of the art nurse training suite has opened in Hawke's Bay, three years after the building was destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle. In February 2023, nurse teaching staff at the Eastern Institute of Technology faced a devastating scene after floodwaters and mud swept through their Taradale campus. Acting Head of EIT's School of Nursing, Katie Rongonui spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about tensions ramping up again in the Middle East conflict, with Iran accusing the US of committing a war crime. Meanwhile the Pentagon has outlined how its new testosterone testing programme for service members will operate.

Hospitality New Zealand has called for greater protection for late-night venues from noise complaints, if the venue was there before neighbours moved in. It's on of 13 reccomendations they have made in a report into their ambition for the industry, which has been under pressure. Hospitality NZ Chief Executive Kristy Phillips spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A man accused of murdering an Auckland couple roped in a church friend to help him also kill his landlady, jurors were told today. Lok Fung Lorrence Li is accused of killing Fuk-Fu Joseph Kwok and his wife Mei Han Chong in 2023. He faces a further charge of conspiring to murder his former landlord. Finn Blackwell reports.