Checkpoint

It's one small step for SpaceX, one giant leap for New Zealand's fledgling space industry. A rocket bearing a first-ever experiment built in Lower Hutt has lifted off from Cape Canaveral. The mission, called Hēki, will plug onto the outside of the International Space Station. Scores of scientists and others watched the launch on a screen at a Victoria University facility in Lower Hutt this morning. Phil Pennington reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Prior to the election, Christopher Luxon made a commitment to fund a list of hard tumour cancer medications. At the same time National repeatedly promised that blood cancer sufferers would not be forgotten. But two years on from that promise, many of them do feel forgotten. The drug Daratumumab, or Dara is on Pharmac's priority drug list. That's the list of drugs it would like to fund, but can't afford. Dara is virtually free in Australia, but costs hundreds of thousand of dollars here. That means some desperate blood cancer patients are funding it themselves; relying on the kindness of others and donation pages. Aucklander Geoff Dawson, has multiple Myeloma, and is on Dara, he spoke to Lisa Owen.

There are calls for the government to settle an unpaid debt, a promise made by National to blood cancer sufferers, desperate for access to drugs not funded in Aotearoa. On the election campaign, National pledged to fund a list of medications for solid cancer tumours. It was forced to make good on that, following public backlash over a lack of action. But it had also given assurances about closing the medicine gap for blood cancer patients too, yet two years on they're still dying for it to deliver.

There are calls for the government to settle an unpaid debt, a promise made by National to blood cancer sufferers, desperate for access to drugs not funded in Aotearoa. On the election campaign, National pledged to fund a list of medications for solid cancer tumours. It was forced to make good on that, following public backlash over a lack of action. But it had also given assurances about closing the medicine gap for blood cancer patients too, yet two years on they're still dying for it to deliver.

A psychotherapist believes there are potentially cult-like characteristics to the life Tom Phillips created on the run with children. Phillips died in a shootout with police a week ago. One of his children was with him at the time. His other children were found at a bush camp after almost four years living off the grid with their father. Beth St Claire is a psychotherapist with a special interest in fundamentalist or 'cult-like' groups and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland flower sellers have said "you'd be hard pushed to find a happy florist" as their industry is hit by turmoil. Since the city's major flower supplier, United Flower Growers, went exclusively online, florists say there have been a raft of problems. The florists spoken to by Checkpoint also feel their concerns are being ignored, but fear that if they speak out against UFG they'll be blacklisted. The CEO for United Flower Growers says his organisation has done nothing wrong. All the florists in Evie Richardson's report fear their business will be at risk if they speak out, so have elected to remain annonymous.

"Save our chateau". That's the message Ruapehu's mayor is hoping politicians will hear tomorrow when he drops a petition off to parliament signed by thousands of people. The petition is urging the government to act swiftly to reopen Chateau Tongariro as soon as possible. The 96-year-old building was closed in February 2023 due to its earthquake risk, leaving a big hole in the local economy. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

It's all over for the Warriors, as both the mens and womens teams saw their seasons come to an end at the weekend in very contrasting ways. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government has revealed how it plans to get around rules limiting events at Eden Park. The prime minister wants more concerts, more sports matches, more conferences - and the government's signalling a willingness to change local rules to do it. Cabinet has also been considering whether to recognise Palestine as a state. As well as the Prime minister announcing there may be an inquiry into the Tom Phillips case. Political reporter Russell Palmer spoke to Lisa Owen.