Checkpoint

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Two wins and a first lap crash sums up how New Zealand drivers have fared in different motorsport categories around the world today. While Liam Lawson crashed out in Formula One, Scott Dixon continues to succeed in IndyCar and Shane van Gisbergen is on a winning streak in Nascar. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

An Auckland councillor is on a mission to ground helicopters taking off and landing in residential areas for good. It follows multi millionaire Auckland couple, entrepreneur Anna Mowbray and former All Black Ali Williams recently getting approval for a helipad at their waterfront Westmere home. Three independent commissioners approved the resource consent application with some concessions, including a maximum of two flights day and 10 flights per month between the hours of 7am and 10pm. They concluded as per previous decisions; the use of helicopters in residential areas is a permitted activity under Auckland Unitary Plan. But one councillor wants these rules amended. Councillor Mike Lee spoke to Lisa Owen.

Business leaders, community groups, health sector workers and churches are among those due to give evidence at public hearings held by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first public hearings of the inquiry's second phase got underway in Auckland today, with commissioners hearing from business people hit hard by the Covid lockdowns. Amy Williams reports.

A popular North Shore golf course is holding out hope it can survive council plans to turn it into a flood catchment. Auckland Council has confirmed the Takapuna Golf Course will become a permanent wetland that has the capacity to soak up more than half a million litres of water or the equivialent of 220 olympic size swiming pools in a flood. Supporters of the course have strongly opposed the plan and offered up alternative solutions. However, today the council confirmed that 18 hole golf course is no longer possible and it can't guarantee a nine hole course, that's up to the local board to decide. Spokesperson for Takapuna Golf Club Phil Jaggard spoke to Lisa Owen.

The rain may have stopped but the cleanup continues for residents of the Tasman town of Wakefield, which was badly hit in the recent floods. Officials say the region is currently transitioning from a state of emergency and into recovery mode a task residents are warned will be long and hard. Nick James reports.

David Seymour's Regulatory Standards Bill has been put through its paces at Parliament, with its opponents lining up one by one to tear it down. Beginning this morning, and for the next three days, MPs are hearing feedback on the legislation which sets out new gold-standard principles for lawmaking. Ministers introducing new laws would be required to declare whether they'd met the new standards and to justify themselves if not. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

The All Blacks are counting the cost of the opening test win over France with captain Scott Barrett in doubt for Saturday's second test in Wellington. Barrett left the field with an achilles issue in last weekend's 31-27 victory in Dunedin last, with the injury initially described as a niggle. It now seems more serious with All Blacks coach Scott Robertson saying an update will be provided tomorrow. Rugby reporter Joe Porter spoke to Lisa Owen.

Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murdering three of her estranged husband's relatives, by serving them beef Wellingtons containing death cap mushrooms. The jury also found Patterson guilty of attempting to murder Heather's husband Ian, who survived the mushroom poisoning but spent months in hospital. Michael Giles of the South Gippsland Sentinel-Times has been covering the trial and spoke to Lisa Owen.

A 15 year old school boy is cycling his way down the North Island this school holidays to deliver a letter in support of keeping Māori wards to parliament. The Whakatane High School student is due to hit the capital on Wednesday but the PM has declined to meet him when he arrives. He has been on the road with his letter for eleven days now, but it is not his first time - delivering a petition in support of Māori wards to the steps parliament when he was 10. Jack Karetai Barret spoke to Lisa Owen.