Checkpoint

Major changes are coming for the future of the America's Cup on and off the water. After months of toing and froing the protocol for the next event, to be held in Naples in mid-2027, has finally been signed by the defender Team New Zealand and the challenger of record Athena Racing. The changes are being promoted as being "more inclusive, compelling, and financially sustainable". Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Critical staff shortages, an unsafe work environment and failures of leadership are among the findings of a review into Canterbury's mental health service. Director of Mental Health, Doctor John Crawshaw carried out the investigation and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Critical staff shortages, an unsafe work environment and failures of leadership are among the findings of a review into Canterbury's mental health service. Mental health director, Dr John Crawshaw, began his report after Hillmorton patient Zakariye Hussein murdered Laisa Waka Tu-ni-dau in 2022 as she walked home from work in Christchurch. In October last year - while the review was underway - another Hillmorton mental health patient, Elliott Cameron, murdered 83-year-old Faye Phelps at her home. Rachel Graham reports.

Intravenous drug users are demanding a say in the future of the South Island's needle exchange services, warning health leaders are gambling with their lives. In seven weeks, needle exchange programme DISC Trust will hand over its long-standing contract, which provides sterile drug injecting equipment at six sites around the South Island. Health NZ's chosen new provider still hasn't revealed how or where it plans to run the service. Katie Todd reports.

Over 100,000 people around the country are on the radiology wait list, in the queue in the public health system for MRIs, X-rays, CT scans and other diagnostic tests.  APEX, the union representing  medical imaging technologists and sonographers, said radiology services are unravelling. Meanwhile, 45% of the health workers who answered the APEX survey said they are working with broken, outdated or unsafe equipment. APEX Advocate, Omar Hamed spoke to Lisa Owen.

South Auckland pre-schoolers are learning the value of getting their hands dirty to grow fresh fruit and veggies, and the awesome power of the humble earthworm to get it to go absolutely gangbusters. Kids at the Barnardos Early Learning Centre in Otara are stuck in to school's veggie garden and worm farm, learning how to transform food waste into healthy vegetables. Felix Walton reports.

A cardio test that heart patients in some regions can wait up to six months for can be delivered in days, according to a private provider. Half of all heart attack patients are not being treated within accepted timeframes in New Zealand according to a new Otago University report. CardioScan Aotearoa is contracted by Tairawhiti and Taranaki hospitals to offer cardiac tests and it said more people are paying out of their own pockets rather than waiting. Jez Morris from CardioScan Aotearoa spoke to Lisa Owen.

Online behaviour experts have said the sudden growth and equally swift decline of ram raids in recent years shows a fading online craze, made harder by measures such as bollards and fog cannons. But police have said there are a range of factors at play and the offences have seen them change their response practises and speed up their engagement with young offenders and other social agencies. Bill Hickman reports.

Some mixed news on the injury front for the All Blacks ahead of their Rugby Championship opener. A couple of key forwards remain sidelined for the first test in Argentina, however all three Barrett brothers are back. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Kaipara motorists are demanding compensation after their car tyres were ripped up by razor sharp road metal. They said the metal was wrongly laid and has left them with big bills. Since fresh metal was laid on Arapaoa, Hamlin and Neems Road south of Dargaville last month a number of residents have had punctures, some suffering multiple flat tyres and wheel damage. Local resident Rachael Gedye spoke to Lisa Owen.