Checkpoint

The amount spent by a group set up to look at retail crime continues to come under scrutiny. It's been revealed that the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime set up amid a worrying spike in retail crime, has cost around $500,000 over three and a half months. That includes nearly $330,000 on personnel costs; admin of $65,000; travel and accommodation of nearly $10,000; and $102,000 pay for group members fees, with most of that going to chairperson Sunny Kaushal's $95,000 paycheque. Mr Kaushal has defended the cost, saying that with $1.8 million available to the group, they're actually under-budget. The Ministry of Justice says the fees paid to the chairman included work from previous months and Kaushal had actually invoiced for 89 days of work, totalling $81,880, during the 102 day period covered. Retail NZ chief executive and member of the Ministerial Advisory Group Carolyn Young spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

University students have been warned about promoting overseas gambling websites on social media for financial gain. Internal Affairs has contacted 10 students who appeared to be promoting gambling websites such as Rainbet and SpinBet. The department has been cracking down on social media influencers promoting online gambling, resulting in a recent fine for internet personality Millie Elder-Holmes. Joe Shaw reports.

A group of NZ researchers want a formal inquiry into the rates of Campylobacter infection. In a just-released study, hospitalisation rates for Campylobacter infection have increased by almost 70 percent in 17 years. Most of the time, the source of the illness is contaminated fresh chicken meat. The group of prominent public health researchers behind the research say rising hospitalisation rates are a serious concern and want urgent action from the government. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Do you earn the same amount as your co-workers? It is a question we all know doubt often wonder about, but many of us are too scared to ask. Currently employers can put pay secrecy clauses in workers' contracts to stop them discussing their salaries. But a Labour party bill that would stop employers enforcing these gag orders has just passed its second reading, with support from National, meaning it may soon be law. Reporter Evie Richardson took to the streets of downtown Auckland to ask workers their thoughts.

Scott Robertson has kept his promise to give everyone in the All Blacks squad a go for this Saturday's third and final test against France in Hamilton. The All Blacks coach has made a raft of changes to the side after a dominant victory to clinch the series last weekend. He has handed Chiefs hooker Brodie McAlister the chance to debut from the bench and has made 10 changes to the starting XV. Rugby reporter Joe Porter spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Two Kiwi Olympians are taking on a herculean challenge - cycling 4500kms through East Africa for charity. Cyclist and Paris 2024 Olympic Silver medalist Nicole Shields came up with the idea and has managed to convince her friend, Olympic kayaker Hamish Legarth, to come with her. But unlike the high performance sports world they're used to, there will be no support crew in tow - with the pair carrying everything they need for the at least two-month adventure on them. Nicole and Hamish spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

US Correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about the so-called Epstein list driving a wedge through Donald Trump's MAGA support base. Things hit boiling point today with the President lashing out at his own supporters who are calling for the government to release all classified documents about convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Much of Donald Trump's voter base has been highly critical of the administration's handling of the issue.

A turn off or offally good? A once forgotten food could be on the cusp of a comeback. Offal is now on the menu for some school lunches with the company behind the programme now using a mince that is a blend with beef and trim heart. The food code means that if you are using a blend it must be disclosed - either as offal or the specific names - like liver and kidney. While most of New Zealand's offal is exported, there's a growing number of people who advocate for greater use - including the organisers of the 'offaly good' festival coming up in Auckland. Hannah Miller, a chef turned butcher who runs 'A Lady Butcher' is also a huge fan of using a 'nose to tail' approach and spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

United Kingdom correspodent Edward O'Driscoll spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about a second host on the popular cooking show MasterChef UK being sacked, as well as customers at a London fish and chip shop who were met with a slithery surprise.

The government has drawn a line under one of education's most contentious issues - today it announced a halt to building what everyone except for teachers call open-plan classrooms. Modern learning environments, flexible learning environments, and innovative learning environments, whatever name you give them, their day is done. The government says evidence backs the move, though surveys show most teachers who work in the buildings like them. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.