Checkpoint

A Canterbury manufacturing company, struggling to find workers despite high unemployment says there's a mismatch in school leavers skills and misconceptions about the industry. Vortex Engineering group has been trying to fill 10 Christchurch roles across various trades, but says it hasn't been easy, despite unemployment sitting at 5.6 percent. Vortex Engineering Group CFO Glenn Hansen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about Donald Trump's son-in-law and Middle East Envoy, Jared Kushner sitting down with Hamas officials in a rare face to face meeting. It's part of efforts to push forward an Amercian-backed Gaza peace plan between the militant group and Israel.

Who should pay for our care as we get older? It's a major issue facing Aotearoa and according to a new report the current age care system can not meet future demand safely, equitably or sustainably without a major shake. Aged Care Commissioner Erin James spoke to Lisa Owen.

Whether it's Woolworths' "Ooshies" or New World's Smeg knife promotion, many Kiwis are keeping these sought after items close. But down in the South Island there's one man who's built up a massive collection of his own and he's looking to the public to help him part ways with it. Producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about the Clacton by-election, how the UK has broken another temperature record and how people battling the scorching heatwave have found a rather unusual way to keep their homes cool.

New Zealand Football has withdrawn support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino's bid for re-election. Infantino courted controversy with the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, which proposed carving off the commercial rights to the World Cup and selling 20 percent to private investors. New Zealand Football said FIFA's actions to develop the scheme had contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division within international football. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Business people from across the South Island have met in Christchurch for the first South Island election conference to hear from politicians about their plans for the Mainland. They covered a range of topics from transport, productivity, infrastructure and immigration, with National announcing its election plan for the South Island. But the head of the Southland Chamber of Commerce said she still feels her region is badly overlooked and its potential underestimated. Rachel Graham has more.

Friday was the first time the accusation was ever been put to him under oath, Phillip Polkinghorne told the Coronial inquest that he did not kill his wife. The former eye doctor has faced an intense cross-examination. He has admitted lying many times, but maintains that does not mean he is responsible for Hanna's death. Jessica Hopkins reports.

An emergency department doctor working in Palmerston North said he believes some decisions are being made to prioritise Government discharge targets over ideal healthcare. Government targets set a goal for hospitals to admit and discharge 95 percent of patients within six hours. The trend has been slowly increasing toward that, with 74.2 percent in December. Health NZ Group Director of Operations at Counties Manukau Dr Vanessa Thornton spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Netball New Zealand said it's a priority to have a domestic competition in 2027 and beyond. Speaking publicly for the first time since officially becoming CEO, Jennah Wootten said today that the organisation is looking at a number of options but could not guarantee anything would be ready by next season. The organisation is facing losses of up to $6 million for the financial year. Watching the developments is boss of the New Zealand Netball Players Association, Pippa Moore, she spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.