Checkpoint

The government has suspended adoptions from certain countries after it was revealed people with histories of violence or sexual abuse were able to adopt children from overseas. Association Justice Minister Nicole McKee says it's acting with urgency to protect further children and young people from harm, introducing an amendment to our adoption laws today. Gill Bonnett reports.

A Haematologist believes specialists are being left with no choice but to recommend some cancer patients move to Australia to get life prolonging drugs that are not funded in New Zealand. He said studies show Daratumumab can prolong life and hundreds of New Zealand patients would benefit from it each year. Haematologist, Doctor Rodger Tiedemann spoke to Lisa Owen.

As the spring season takes hold, for many of us it can mean unsettled and temperamental weather. But in Christchurch, it's brought a pink and white wave of cherry blossoms which are on show across North Hagley park. Clouds of the flowers have transformed certain streets in the Garden City. Anna Sargent went to one of the popular spots to check them out.

Blood cancer patients are being forced to move to Australia to access life prolonging drugs that are not funded in Aotearoa. Daratumumab, or dara, can help prolong the lives of people with the blood cancer myeloma but costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, while it is virtually free in Australia. Jo Neep was diagnosed with Myeloma in 2017 and moved to Australia to access funded Dara treatment, she spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Porirua community group says members are saving money for the first time and breaking free from devastating cycles of debt by creating their own pool of savings and interest-free loans. It's a model that's been operating for decades, but may be getting more common as daily life gets more expensive. Ellen O'Dwyer reports as part of Pinch Point - an ongoing RNZ series about living with the cost of living.

A year after Olympic heartbreak, Geordie Beamish is a world champion. Today the 28-year-old won the 3000m steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Ranked 44th in the world, the best in the sport literally did not see him coming, as he surged to victory. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

After more than 140 years of making traditionally-crafted leather footware, the McKinlay family is looking for someone else to step into their hard-wearing shoes. The Dunedin-based business produces between 130 to 160 pairs each day, everything from roman sandals for the playground, to boots for the battlefield for Peter Jackson's film The Hobbit. Its fifth generation owners David and Graeme have put up a for sale sign and they're prepared to search high and low for the right fit to take over the family legacy. Graeme McKinlay spoke to Lisa Owen.

US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the fallout from the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk continues. The 31-year-old was fatally shot last week while speaking to a large crowd at a Utah Valley University event. A 22-year-old man has been arrested but he isn't talking to authorities who are still trying to work out a motive, but the Trump administration knows who it is putting the blame on.

The government has signalled it plans to use new powers under the Resource Management Act to change event rules at Auckland's Eden Park if it can. At the moment the stadium can host a maximum of 12 concerts a year, and all events must be over by 11pm. Residents in Mount Eden are split on whether more is better. Chair of the Eden Park Neighbours' Association Colin Lucas is not keen on change and spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about preperations being underway for US President Donald Trump's unprecedented second state visit to the UK, as well as Prime Minister Kier Starmer defending the British flag after a huge protest over the weekend.