Checkpoint

Whether it's a block of butter or cheese, a kilo of mince, a dozen eggs or a cooked chook, food prices have gone up rapidly. The latest Stats NZ figures show in the past 12 months food prices have gone up 4.4% - the highest increase since December 2023. Over the last three years Checkpoint has been tracking a weekly shop from the same suburb at a Countdown and Pak'n SAVE supermarket to see just how much things have gone up at the checkout. Louise Ternouth reports.

Next time a vintage aircraft flies overhead there's a good chance it's being propelled by the handiwork of a man from Manakau, an hour north of Wellington. For over 25 years Jeff Fox has created wooden propellers for classic aircraft like tiger moths and sopwith camels. He can put up to 300 hours of work into each handcrafted propeller for clients including First World War aviation buff Sir Peter Jackson. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

United Kingdom correspondent Edward O'Driscoll spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK's medicine regulators warning that popular weight-loss jabs could be linked to hundreds of people getting sick and 10 deaths, as well as the latest Scottish words added to the Oxford English Dictionary.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Cristiano Ronaldo has landed a two year deal with a Saudi Arabia club worth over a billion dollars. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The watchdog that settles disputes about essential services like electricity and gas believes it should be mandatory for water suppliers to sign up to the scheme. Utilities Disputes is an independent disputes resolution service; its compulsory for gas and electricity companies and broadband installers to be part of the scheme. But it's voluntary for water suppliers. It comes after Checkpoint revealed 13,000 Watercare smart meters are not working properly, leaving some customers struggling to pay big catch-up bills and frustrated by Watercare's service. Watercare is a voluntary member of Utilities Disputes, which means it has to refer any complaints to the service, customers can't make complaints directly. Utilities Disputes Commissioner Neil Mallon spoke to Lisa Owen.

Nelson Tasman Civil Defence Controller Andrew White spoke to Lisa Owen about the evacuations and state of emergency in place for residents at the top of the South Island as wild weather and flooding battered the country.

A state of emergency remains in place for Nelson and Tasman and part of Marlborough, after heavy rain pelted the top of the south, causing widespread flooding, forcing evacuations, and closing roads. Residents in Spring Creek were evacuated this morning, with further evacuations called for in Renwick, Tadmor and Tapawera this afternoon. In Auckland, thunderstorms downed trees and lifted roofs in Auckland. Samantha Gee reports.

The father of a boy using ADHD medication is rationing his sons medication because of drug shortages and is worried things will get worse when new prescribing rules are introduced. From next year GPs and specialist nurses will be able to diagnose and prescribe medication for ADHD. But there is a world-wide shortage of the drugs. Pharmac's website shows there's no stock for nine types of the drugs and low stock for two others. Half a dozen others have no supply issues. Auckland dad Craig has a ten year old son who takes one of the ADHD medications that has supply problems, he spoke to Lisa Owen.

Economists having been telling us survive til 2025', but so far this year things don't seem to have improved that much, particularly for those out of work. The job market is sluggish, with people looking for jobs facing a huge amount of competition. At last count the unemployment rate was 5.1% or 156,000 people at the March quarter. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Lisa Owen.