Checkpoint

The Government has announced an end to open plan classrooms. The initial concept began in 2011 under National's then Education Minister Hekia Parata. For a period, every new classroom had to be built open plan, so up to 100 students could learn in one space with 3 teachers collaboratively. Many schools still have them, but Education Minister Erica Stanford says the barn-like designs "aren't meeting the needs of students". Instead, there will be a range of designs schools can choose from that are flexible, but not open plan. Principal of Albany Senior High School and the President of the Auckland Secondary Schools Principals Association Claire Amos spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

In Australia there's relief following the discovery of a young German traveller who was lost in the outback for 12 days. Our correspondent Nick Grimm can bring us more.

The Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has agreed to withdraw a scathing letter he wrote to the United Nations - after being hauled into line by his coalition partners and the Prime Minister. But he's refusing to accept he did anything wrong. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Significant pressure at Auckland's major hospitals this winter is being felt across almost all the different parts of the health system, including at general practice, private urgent care and in the community. The pressure is becoming so great GPs have said they are overwhelmed by the sheer number of people with winter sicknesses. One nurse said the system is so stretched she is seeing sick patients discharged into the community before they're ready. Today Health NZ said the city's public hospitals are at their "upper limit", with many turning up at emergency departments with repiratory illnesses, but said it is not turning patients away in Auckland and Northland. Lucy Xia reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The Baby Blacks are back on the big stage. The New Zealand under 20 rugby side are through to the final of the World Championships in Italy after a dramatic win over France. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

New Zealand Police is tackling the challenge of officers going to Australia head on. Yesterday Checkpoint heard from a recruitment officer for Northern Territory Police who had no qualms about luring kiwi cops over, and said they would be coming here on a roadshow this month to talk about the higher salaries and housing allowances on offer. First year constables in the Northern Territory earn a salary of $111,000 compared to $83,000 here - the salary quoted on the new cops website in New Zealand. After five years in the force an officer would get $121,000 in Northern Territory compared to $91,000 here.

Holiday-makers in the Far North are counting their lucky stars after what locals are describing as a twister ripped through their campground, damaging campervans and destroying a caravan. A 79-year-old man was injured when his campervan tipped onto its side and witnesses say if the caravan's occupant had been in at the time we'd likely be dealing with a tragedy. Peter de Graaf reports from a shaken but relieved Tauranga Bay.

The team trying to tame Auckland's problem with roaming dogs is calling for an overhaul of national dog control laws. Auckland Council suggests tools like fencing requirements for dog owners and greater powers to detain dogs. In the last year there have been nearly 17,000 reports of roaming dogs in Auckland. There have been reports of 1,500 attacks on other dogs and 1,300 attacks on people - although that could be much higher according to ACC claim data. Auckland Council's General Manager of Licensing and Compliance Robert Irvine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Auckland's business leaders and key decision makers have been warned the city risks being cast into obscurity as "a global city" according to a report released today. The State of the City report makes for tough reading, saying the city is falling behind other global cities due to poor planning, lack of innovation and a weak economy. Victor Waters reports.