Checkpoint

The All Blacks weren't the only New Zealanders dealt a loss in South Africa at the weekend. A large number of fans were turned away from the stadium in Cape Town after being caught up in a ticket scam. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A snapshot of how businesses are using AI shows uptake at 91 percent but a list of concerns is holding them back from using it to transform operations. The Datacom research heard from 207 business leaders in organisations of more than 100 employees. Nearly two thirds though New Zealand should introduce specific AI legislations and controls. Director of AI at Datacom, Lou Compagnone spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Parents worry changes to the jobseeker benefit could bite them if their teenagers can't find work after high school. From November, the government will end jobseeker payments for 18 and 19 year olds whose parents make more than $67,000 a year. Felix Walton has more.

The government has delayed next year's planned fuel excise hike - instead staggering the tax increase over later years - and dipping into a rainy day fund to help pay for it. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

It's a trip over 50 years in the making. Two New Zealand frigates were sent to the Pacific to observe and protest French nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll in 1973, exposing 500 sailors to radiation. On the way back one of those vessels, the HMNZS Canterbury, was invited to Rarotongo, but the ship's captain decided to head home instead. Now, 19 veterans from the tests are finally heading to the Cook Islands for one last tour of duty together. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

National is just "kicking a can down the road" with its promised changes to student loan debt, according to a tax lawyer. David Ananth says reducing the compulsory repayment rate from 12 cents to 10 cents on every dollars earned above $24,000 isn't enough of a reward to stop newly qualified students leaving the country without paying their debt off. Tax lawyer, David Ananth spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A small community in rural Hawke's Bay is working hard to restore a big area of precious native bush that is home to one of New Zealand's largest Totara trees, and a colony of long tail bats. A'Deanes Bush is the best remaining example of the original forest of the Ruataniwha Plains. 18 year ago locals teamed up with DOC to create a wildlife sanctuary where native plants and animals can flourish. Alexa Cook reports.

Netball New Zealand has latched onto the lifeline offered by Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams to keep the elite domestic competition afloat in 2027. RNZ understands the national body has selected the Mowbray-Williams bid to establish a private franchise league as its preferred option to replace the ANZ Premiership, following months of uncertainty over the future of the competition. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

When ski-mad Mike Wilwert takes to the slopes this week, every metre he skis will benefit families who need to be close to medical care at Christchurch Hospital. A few years ago Mike was diagnosed with blood cancer and spent almost a year at Ranui House, which provides free and subsidised accomodation for families travelling to Christchurch for medical treatment. Now he's giving back in the best way he knows house - through skiing. Mike Wilwert spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about tensions flaring in the Middle East following a new round of strikes between the US and Iran. After no reports of American attacks in the region for a month, an island in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by ballistic missiles. in response, Iran has reportedly targeted American bases in Jordan.