Checkpoint

A free laundry, shower and korero service for people experiencing homelessness in Hawke's Bay is seeing an increase in demand and calling for more volunteers to help out. The not-for-profit organisation Orange Sky launched in the region a year ago - and has completed over 1,300 loads of washing and nearly 300 hours of conversations across Napier and Hastings. Alexa Cook reports.

While it was not a weekend to be remember for the All Blacks, the Black Ferns opened their World Cup defence with a comprehensive win over Spain, running away with a 54 - 8 lead in York. But the big win has come at a cost: with one of the team's main assets, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, in doubt for the rest of the tournament. Jamie Tahana reports.

It was a bleak weekend for the All Blacks, who were bullied into submission by Argentina in Buenos Aires. After winning their first four tests of the year, Scott Robertson's side came crashing back down to earth against the fired up Pumas, who scored a historic first ever home win over the All Blacks. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

A campaign has been launched to help a rare snail find a mate. Ned, was unearthed in a Wairarapa garden earlier this month and found to be something quite special; a left handed snail. That's a snail that's shell spirals in anti-clockwise direction from its smallest point. The problem is, Ned will need to mate with another lefthanded snail, and New Zealand Geographic have launched a nation-wide snail hunt to help him find one. Illustrator, gardener and Ned's finde, Giselle Clarkson spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent, Perry Wilton spoke to Lisa Owen about explosions in Yemen's capital following a strike by Israeli military forces, the latest in a series of attack between Houthi rebels and Israel, stemming form the war in Gaza.

The Ministry of Education suspects that some schools are closing for more days than they're legally allowed to. Documents released under the Official information act claim it remains an area of "misunderstanding" and the "reasons for closing have become increasingly diverse and frequent, with inadequate notice given to whanau". President of the Secondary School Principal's Association and Principal of Kaitaia College, Louise Anaru spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Black Ferns are preparing for their first game of the Womens Rugby World Cup, facing Spain in York. More than 375,000 tickets have already been sold, three times more than in 2022. The Twickenham final is sold out, that is 82,000 ticket, marking the largest crowd ever for a women's rugby union match. The Black Ferns are back to back champions and have won at total of six World Cups. Black Fern Laura Bayfield spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent, Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK joining 26 other countries in calling for Israel to allow independent foreign media access into Gaza, as well as the price of food continuing to rise in the UK - making the beloved meal deal its latest victim.

The biggest Womens Rugby World Cup in history is set to begin. Hosts England kick off the tournament tomorrow against the U.S.A. with the defending champion Black Ferns in action on Monday morning. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Staff at the Eves Valley sawmill in Tasman are still trying to digest the news that their jobs are likely to end soon, a blow one worker said she never saw coming. Carter Holt Harvey told the mill's almost 150 staff this week about plans consolidate its operations to Kawerau in Bay of Plenty, blaming weak markets. It comes as the timber industry struggles with low demand, increased running costs, and wars and tariffs overseas. Samantha Gee reports.