Checkpoint

A Treaty lawyer said today's Supreme Court judgment on Māori coastal rights could set a precedent for more Māori customary-rights claims over riverbeds. The Court found riverbeds deemed to be part of the marine area - such as rivermouths - can be included in Māori customary marine title orders, if certain legal tests are meet. Māori News Journalist Pokere Paewai reports.

Auckland council has stood firm with its plans to covert a chunk of Takapuna Golf course into flood storage and probably halving it to a nine hole course, despite strong opposition. 10,000 people signed a petition to keep the course, with supporters including Hall of Fame Golfer Dame Lydia Ko and Golf NZ. Both sides met today, as council delivered its final decision. Infrastructure Specialist and spokesperson for the Takapuna Golf course, Phil Jaddard spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Taranaki father has shared his sense of loss and anger following the death of his son in a one-punch assault. About 200 people gathered at the Tukapa Rugby Club in New Plymouth today to remember Daniel Nganeko and join a march calling for tougher penalties for coward-punch-style offences. Robin Martin reports.

A group of Otago parents hope a so-called "dead rockers" fundraiser will help to turn a patch of dirt into a toddlers' playground. It's been more than a decade since the playground next to the Blueskin Bay Library in Waitati was moved to make way for an extension. But with no money to replace the playground, local parents hope donning denim, glamming up and getting their dance on will be enough to change that. Tess Brunton reports.

The South Wairarapa District Council wants to block use of an unformed paper road between the Cape Palliser light house and several Māori owned blocks of land through to the Waitutumu stream because of vandalism and damage to sensitive areas. People, including four wheel driver, use the road, along with surfer and hikers. The hapu representing some owners of the land have said the whenua is deeply scarred and access needs to be closed indefinitely to allow it to heal. Spokesperson for Ngati Hine-waka Hapu, Haami Te Whaiti spoke to Lisa Owen.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has said Pacific nations and territories should not be told what to do by outsiders. His message comes ahead of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in the Solomon Islands and follows a contentious gathering in Suva where regional leaders discussed culling international partners from next month's meeting.Teuila Fuata reports.

After more than four years living in a motel room, a New Plymouth man paralysed in a fall is finally in a home of his own. Shane Emeny's Kainga Ora house has been modified for a wheelchair user and gives him the privacy he's craved since 2021. At long last he has also got a spare room for when his 11-year-old son comes to stay. Now, the 49-year-old wants to make sure no one is again left languishing for years in emergency accommodation - which comes at a hefty cost to the people there and the taxpayer. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

There was little in the way of surprises from the All Blacks team naming today. Scott Barrett returns from injury to lead the team into this Sunday's showdown with the Pumas in Argentina. Despite a somewhat predictable starting line up, coach Scott Robertson did make a few changes. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

Exploiting workers and paying them under the minimum wage has cost a bakery owner more than $330,000. The owner of Murupara's Bakehouse cafe has been convicted of four charges of making false or misleading statements to immigraiton officials, along with six exploitaiton charges..including knowingly paying employees below the minimum wage. General Manager for Immigration Compliance, Steve Watson spoke to Lisa Owen.

Asia correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen about the trial of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong has facing further delays, as well as South Korea's top court has handed a big win to the company behind the mega viral 'Baby Shark' YouTube video.