Checkpoint

News from the business sector, including a market report.

It's dare to dream for Warriors fans as the club sits top of the NRL table with just two rounds remaining and have a maiden title in their sights. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Hundreds of thousands of layer hens are still in lockdown after the third case of avian flu was confirmed in a wild bird. The mosty recent case is a giant petral that was found on a remote beach at Cape Palliser in Wairarapa. Huge layer flocks and broiler hens that would normally be free range have temporarily been brought inside to avoid the virus. Egg Producers' Federation chair John McKay spoke to Lisa Owen.

Safety complaints filed by under-pressure nurses reveal there are often not enough of them to care for the very sickest patients in North Shore Hospital's emergency department. The problem is one of dozens highlighted in 192 safety reports filed by the ED nurses in late July and early August as they declare a crisis. Rowan Quinn reports.

The government is moving to ban under 16's from social media and will introduce the Online Safety Bill. If it becomes law, so called high risk social media platforms will have to take reasonable steps to verify a users ages. ACT will not support the bill. ACT leader David Seymour spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tenants are wanted for new houses installed today - but they must be feathered, blue and roughly 30 centimetres tall. The new builds for little kororā have been built by year seven and eight students from Ridgway School and were set up at Owhiro Bay today. Anya Fielding reports.

Dunedin could be inline for tough new alcohol rules that would restrict new licences, ban buy now pay later and some single beer sales. The council's draft local alcohol plan goes out for public consultation from tomorrow. City Councillor Russell Lund spoke to Lisa Owen.

A tourism leader is questioning the government's commitment to the industry after National ditched plans to explore a bed tax. Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was open to looking into a bed levy. He has since ruled it out if National is re-elected, sparking shock, confusion and frustration among the tourism industry. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton reports.

New Zealand's leading doubles tennis player is eyeing a match against a blockbuster pairing in New York. The revamped US Open mixed doubles begins this week and Erin Routliffe and her British partner are involved in qualifying tomorrow. If they make it through they could be playing Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz in the first round. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government is introducing legislation to ban under 16s from social media today, and put greater responsibilities on technology companies to protect children online. It will require social media platforms like Instagram, Tiktok, Snapchat and Facebook to take "reasonable steps" to check users are over the age of 16. It will also introduce "significant penalties" for companies that fail to meet their obligations. Political reporter Lillian Hanly spoke to Lisa Owen.