Checkpoint

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the reaction to the news that the European Court of Human Rights has found Russia responsible for shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine. 38 Australians and two New Zealanders were among those who died eleven years ago.

Politicians are grappling with who should pay for damage to homes from future weather related events - and just how much responsibility is on the government to front up. n independent reference group set up by the Ministry for the Environment has released a raft of recommendations help the government shape climate adaptation laws. It suggests a phase out of government support for houses that are flooded or damaged by weather events. But those already affected by severe weather events say they'd be in a tight spot if it wasn't for government support. Political reporter Lilian Hanly reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

There's no place like home for the Warriors women. For the first time in six years the Warriors will play in Auckland as part of a double header when they meet the Eels at Mount Smart. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A North Shore woman says she's stressed out and being kept awake at night after getting an eight hundred dollar bill from Watercare, because its smart meter clapped out. The latest bill claims the Browns Bay couple used an average of 4342 litres of water per day. Added to the couples other catch up bill, they now owe Watercare more than 12 hundred dollars. Following a Checkpoint investigation Watercare revealed thirteen thousand of its smart meters have malfunctioned, and need to be replaced. As a consequence customers have been charged incorrectly and after getting zero use bills are now facing big catch up accounts. Watercare customer Lizzie spoke to Lisa Owen.

The eye-watering price of butter has prompted Finance Minister, Nicola Willis to ask for a please explain from her former employer Fonterra. Checkpoint has run numerous stories about the cost of the pantry staple, with the price climbing as high as $18 for a tub of semi-soft butter. Fonterra has pinned the price of dairy products here on the global dairy trade auction price, but Willis has questioned why people overseas are getting a better deal. Farmer and former Fonterra Board member Leonie Guiney spoke to Lisa Owen.

Pensioners camped out in a Waikato carpark are facing an uncertain future after years living on the site, but the carkpark owner says most of them cant afford to go anywhere else. The Classics Museum in the Hamilton suburb of Frankton has allowed people living in campervans to park on its land for $50 a week. Many of them are elderly and on low incomes; some of them have been there for years. But it is a breach of the museum's resource consent that only allows limited short term stays. Now Hamilton City Council has put the landowner on notice. Classics Museum Owner Tom Andrews spoke to Lisa Owen.

A growing number of people are giving up their dream career, and settling for any job, or jobs, in order to put food on the table. While the unemployment rate has remained steady 5.1 percent, The number of people working part-time jobs has jumped to 20.5 percent of employed people an increase of over 4 percent. But for some, fewer hours is a last resort, applying for hundreds of jobs with hundreds of other applicants before settling for a part-time role. Others are working seven different roles just to earn enough to live. But while it's a way of survival for some, others are opting for a patchwork career. Evie Richardson reports.

The Inquiry into the Government's Covid-19 response has held a tense session this afternoon, as critics described what they called red-flags in the vaccine roll out and mandates. Today was the fourth day of the inquiry, with tomorrow rounding out the hearings in Auckland. More hearings are expected to be held in Wellington next month. Today, commissioners scrutinised evidence put forward by groups like Voices for Freedom and The Health Forum. Finn Blackwell reports.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has made two injury-enforced changes to his starting side for the second test against France naming one debutant in the process. Meanwhile the Black Ferns have also named their squad for a one off test against Australia in the capital with Ruby Tui a surprise inclusion. Tui has an opportunity to impress before this year's women's World Cup after initially being left out of the Black Ferns squad. RNZ rugby reporter Joe Porter spoke to Lisa Owen.