Checkpoint

Southern Steel Coach Wendy Frew is welcoming news of a bid from a private investor in a domestic netball league, but said decisions would have to come soon to stop players and other staff from going overseas. It's a big task then that greets the Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennah Wootten on her first day in the job. RNZ has revealed the national body is in talks with high-profile couple Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray about a proposal to establish a new privately-owned franchise league. It's one of several options the cash-strapped organisation is exploring as it battles to secure the future of the sport. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

It's been 40 years since Alan Hall was wrongly convicted of Arthur Easton's murder and today two former police officers have been found not guilty of obstructing the course of justice. The men, whose names are suppressed, have been on trial in the High Court at Auckland charged with willfully attempting to obstruct, prevent, pervert or defeat the course of justice. Justice Ian Gault delivered the not guilty decision this morning. Amy Williams filed this report.

The brevity of the speech was sign itself that the Prime Minister was not interested in going into details. 75 seconds. There was no mention then of the decision he would make this afternoon about Chris Penk's portfolios. But Chris Penk was notably absent from the senior MPs who flanked Christopher Luxon. A group which included those who had been reluctant to say anything about their confidence in the Prime Minister ahead of the meeting. Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

'Cigfluencer' culture is taking social media by storm and the number of celebrities and influencers posting while smoking has health experts concerned. While cigarettes are making their comeback on screen, with over half of box office films featuring tobacco in 2024, smoking numbers remain low. However, decreases have recently come to a grinding halt, with the smoking rate for 18-24 year olds remaining at the same level for the past three years. So is the online boom driving a cigarette resurgence on the streets? Evie Richardson reports.

When Christopher Luxon first survived a vote of confidence among National MPs in April, Act leader David Seymour said at the time he was pleased to see the party stable and "drawing a line under any trouble they may have had." Fast forward 4 months, and the Prime Minister's leadership is being tested again. He's survived another vote of confidence. Just like the last one, National's coalition partners, ACT and NZ First, were watching on. ACT leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

There's no rest for some of our Commonwealth Games medallists with the swimmers back competing in the pool this week. A 15-strong New Zealand team is preparing to take on some of the world's best at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in California, which is the first time the competition has been held in eight years. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Netball New Zealand's new chief executive Jennah Wootten will have hit the ground running on her first official day in the job today. RNZ revealed that Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray are behind a bid to establish a new franchise netball league for 2028. Details of the bid from the couple behind the A-League Club Auckland FC are yet to be publicly revealed. In the meantime, players, coaches and officials within the sport remain in limbo about next season. That includes Southern Steel Coach Wendy Frew who spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Melissa Chan Green about how in Syria, a court has sentenced former leader Bashar al-Assad to death. She also spoke about how there has been several attacks at sea in the region and how Lebanon has become the first Middle Eastern country to get rid of the death penalty.

He's not the first leader to survive a leadership challenge but Christopher Luxon is now part of a much smaller club of leaders who have stared down two votes of confidence. 'Our caucus is united.' That was the message from the Prime Minister following a three and a half hour caucus meeting. The announcement afterwards was more planned and coordinated than the 24 hours that had preceded it. Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch reports on how events unfolded at Parliament.

'People are unwell, people are unravelling,' those are the words of a Wellington community leader who is among those describing drug use, threats and psychotic breakdowns on the suburban streets of Newtown. Some are also asking whether harmful synthetic cannabis is to blame. Wellington Issues reporter Ellen O'Dwyer has more.