Checkpoint

Across the ditch the British and Irish Lions tour is set to kick off in Perth while the Barbarians super squad head to Cape Town with a number of All Blacks in tow for a game with the Springboks. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

Asia Correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about confusion over whether a trade deal has been struck between the US and China, as well as a massive beach resort set to open in North Korea, that leader Kim Jong-un hopes will boost tourism.

Everyone has had school reports saying we could try harder, but imagine a teacher telling your parents they hope you won't be back in class next term or that they can only hope and pray for your future. Today is the last day of term and most schools have issued children's mid-year reports knowing that teachers' general comments will get as much attention as the grades children have achieved. Education correspondent John Gerritsen reports.

The Nelson Tasman region and parts of Marlborough are in states of emergency with torrential rain causing wide spread flooding and landslips. There are road closures at the top of the South Island on State Highways 6, 60 and 63. The Transport Agency is asking people to avoid unnecessary travel. About 60 homes in the town of Spring Creek had to be evacuated by 9am this morning because of concerns a damaged stop bank protecting the settlement from the Wairau River could fail. Manager of Spring Creek Holiday Park Judy Theron spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a push in Australia for schools to do more to tackle declining standards among their students by doing more to improve their writing skills.

The sudden death of MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp in the early hours of this morning has brought members from across the house together today. Flags in the capital have been flying at half mast for the Te Pati Maori MP for Tamaki Makarau, who was at parliament just yesterday. Takutai Tarsh Kemp, who recently celebrated her 50th birthday, revealed she was diagnosed with kidney disease last year. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Moana Pasifika may have had their best season on the field to date, but off field financial dramas are plaguing the franchise. Reports have emerged that Moana have been larely reliant on tax payer funds to survive, and that funding is now under threat of being pulled. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran is still holding , but Iran's supreme leader remains hidden in a bunker, fearing assassination. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has gone to ground, issuing no public statements. The conflict has left some citzens, who had hoped for regime change, conflicted. Sahar Zand, a British-Iranian journalist who spent the first 12 years of her life in Iran, before fleeing with her mother to avoid political persecution, spoke to Lisa Owen.

A huge catch-up bill has left one Watercare customer stressed out and "pissed off' and she says the problem is still not fixed. Checkpoint has revealed that more than 13 thousand Watercare smart meters are not working properly. It means customers have been gettting zero use bills; bills that claim they havent used a single drop of water in a month or in some cases months. Watercare said the problem is specific to a particular smart meters. They have installed about 40,000 of them since 2022, and there's a fault with about a third of them. Watercare chief financial officer Angela Neeson spoke to Lisa Owen.