Checkpoint

A former Loafers Lodge resident has told a court he faced the choice of jumping out his bedroom window, or dying in the inferno, as a blaze that would eventually become fatal took hold. Former residents are among those giving evidence during the trial of a man who has denied murdering five people by setting the Wellington boarding hostel alight in 2023. Lauren Crimp reports.

It is possible many New Zealanders will not be able to get insurance in ten years time unless there is serious intervention, according to a new Consumer New Zealand report. It said the cost of house insurance had gone up more than 900% since 2000, and looked at how climate change is affecting the price and availability of house and contents insurance. Tower Insurance recently expanded its risk based pricing to include sea surges and landslips. Chief executive, Paul Johnston spoke to Lisa Owen.

A thousand choir singers are converging on Dunedin as the Big Sing competition reaches its crescendo. More than 200 secondary school choirs pitched for a position in the Big Sing Finale with the top 24 performing for gold, silver and bronze awards from tomorrow until Saturday's gala concert. An Otago choir hasn't made Finale for more than five years, so it set a special tone for the host city when Columba College made the cut. Tess Brunton reports.

Samoa is getting ready to vote in what is tipped as being one of the most unpredictable elections in the country's history. The vote was originally scheduled for April next year, but was brought forward after a split in the ruling FAST party which led to months of political instability and then the snap election. Reporter Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai is in Apia and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Students at the University of Otago say with the lack of jobs in the city, climbing rent prices and cost of power, they're struggling to make ends meet. The situation has got so bad, some are even leaving their flats altogether to move into vans and cars to sleep. The student's association has said a recent survey shows some students are resorting to sleeping rough. Bella Craig reports.

Baby-boomers struggling to sell up their small businesses got a surprise opportunity today - after the government announced a new visa for migrants who might want to buy them out. International investors could be given residence after as little as 12 months if they buy an existing firm and employ at least one more person. Industry experts have said it could be a boom for business owners who are on the cusp of retiring or have been looking to retire for years but didn't want to see their business fold. Immigration reporter, Gill Bonnett explains.

Former Highlanders flanker and Tasman NPC captain Shane Christie has died aged 39. He spent three seasons with the Super Rugby side and also played 73 times for Tasman over seven seasons, before retiring due to concussion-related symptoms. Last year he told media he wanted to donate his brain to the New Zealand Sports Human brain bank for study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Sports reporter, Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A group of Lego pros are hoping to build a less stressful environment for young hospital patients by creating brick miniatures of MRI scanners, xray machines and waiting rooms. The Lego verisons of the high tech gear will go Hospitals in South and Otago. Lego put out hundreds of replicas of hospital machinery about eight years ago, but they were snapped up and New Zealand didnt get a look in. Now a South Island Lego group has managed to get the "blue prints" and are building their own. Secretary of the LUG South group, Gavin Evans spoke to Lisa Owen

A massive manhunt is underway for a suspect who shot and killed two police officers in rural Victoria. 56-year-old Dezi Freeman is believed to be behind yesterday's shooting in Pore-punkah, a small town about 300km north-east of Melbourne. Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush says Freeman is heavily armed and extremely dangerous while a local resident called him an experienced bushman who could take weeks to track down. ABC reporter Kate Meade spoke to Lisa Owen.

Gas is up about 15% and power 11%. Dozens of customers have gotten in touch with Checkpoint to share how their electricity bills have ballooned. David Taylor from Papamoa is one of those, and spoke to Lisa Owen.