Checkpoint

A ward of people at Northshore Hospital that have no medical reason to be there, but can't be discharged because they have nowhere to go for further care is the tip of the iceberg, according the Aged Care Association. The 20-bed ward was created in May for patients and RNZ understands the people there were not under the direct care of doctors, but were looked after by nurses and allied health staff such as physiotherapists and social workers. There is effectively nowhere for them to be discharged to further care, like an aged care facility. Chief executive of the Aged Care Association, Tracey Martin.

As part of it's overhaul of NCEA, the government has said it plans to work with industry to develop bette vocational pathways for students. Advocacy and stakeholder engagement lead at the Employers and Manufacturers Association, Joanna Hall spoke to Lisa Owen.

After more than 20 years as New Zealand's official secondary-school qualification, the government has pulled the pin on the NCEA. By 2030, the National Certificate of Educational Achievement will be gone. It will be replaced by a basic literacy and numeracy award at Year 11, and the Certificate of Education and Advanced Certificate of Education at Years 11 and 12. No more achieved, not achieved, merit and excellence - instead there will be marks out of 100 and letter grades like A B and C. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

A 27-year-old woman has appeared in court charged with ill-treating a toddler who was found inside a suitcase, stowed under a bus. Oranga Tamariki said the case is "distressing", while locals in Kaiwaka, where the toddler was discovered, have been left shocked. Kim Baker Wilson reports.

The countdown is on for the long -awaited opening of Christchurch's new central city stadium. The 25,000 seat Te Kaha, officially known as One New Zealand Stadium, finally opens in April. But the fight for events, including concerts and All Blacks tests, is heating up and hopes of a South Island NRL league club dashed, at least for now. So what will be on offer for fans once the $680 million arena opens next year? Christchurch reporter Adam Burns has more.

"He's intimidating." Those were the words All Blacks coach Scott Robertson used to describe one of the unexpected bolters who has been named in his squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship. That very big new name is Simon Parker. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland University is building a new AI tool that will give te reo Maori learners real time feed back on their pronunciation. The $1 million project involves language experts, linguists, engineers and computer scientists. Head of Auckland Universitie's Te Puna Wananga, Dr Piata Allen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen about Israel's controversial far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir has publicly praying at the Al Aqsa Mosque,the most sensitive religious site in Jerusalem, and the fallout that has come with it.

The government has announced they are planning to to ditch NCEA and phase in a completely new qualification. NCEA Level One will be abolished and instead students will sit a Foundation Skills test in numeracy and literacy. The New Zealand Certificate of Education and Advanced Certificate of education will replace NCEA levels Two and Three. Students will need to take a minimum of five subjects and pass at least four to get each certificate. Final results will show a mark out of 100 for each subject, along with a corresponding grade, A-E. Chair of the Minister's NCEA Professional Advisory Group and Rangitoto College Principal, Patrick Gale spoke to Lisa Owen.

One of the country's most well-known tourism ventures is marking a major milestone today. Ngai Tahu Tourism say the Shotover Jet's 60th birthday is more than a commercial success story, it's the celebration of a major turning point for the iwi - a story of mana whenua taking the wheel. Otago Southland Reporter Katie Todd explains.