Checkpoint

In Australia, the country's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is toughing out a storm over comments he made about a gift from his Japanese counterpart. Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Philip Polkinghorne has been accused of pretending to do some of the things he said he did, on the morning he found his wife dead. Dr Polkinghorne was acquitted of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, and is a witness at the Coronial Inquest into her death, which began last week.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The New Zealand Breakers have unveiled their rebrand as pre-season training tipped off on Auckland's North Shore. Coach Gordon Herbert was in the gym for the first time seeing who he'll be working with and how he can put the puzzle together for NBL season. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

In Southland, 'The Saw Club' is keen to attract new members through an event called 'Last Warrior Standing'. It's competitive arm wrestling. Mel Shepherd is the Secretary and Treasurer of the Southland Arm Wrestling club. Ranked in the top ten in New Zealand, she spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

With speculation over his leadership swirling, National's Christopher Luxon is calling all National MPs to the capital for an urgent in-person caucus meeting tomorrow. He's just come off a fortnight defending his comments to Rotorua small businesses, his Foreign Minister telling a Chinese-born MP to go back where he came from, and announcing on live radio he wants a referendum on MMP - without having told his caucus. Political reporter Russell Palmer has the story.

A New Zealand study has found a link between vaping during pregnancy and sudden infant deaths - also known as SUDI. On average one New Zealand baby dies from SUDI each week - and Maori and Pacific babies are at a much higher risk. The study of 101 deaths between 2022 and 2023 found that over half of the mothers were vaping while pregnant, in the cases involving bedsharing. Researchers say while the link between smoking and SUDI is well established, the new study shows that vaping may be having a similar impact.

After three days, Ohakune residents have been told their water will be gradually restored but it's not yet confirmed safe to drink. The Ruapehu District Council has put out an update that said a boil water notice remains in place. Residents are also being asked to conserve water as the reservoir recharges. It had fallen to 12 percent on Saturday. Remi Butler, manager of The Peaks Motor Inn spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The All Blacks are set for their second outing in South Africa. Dave Rennie's men will meet the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday in the second of four franchise matches in the republic. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Finishing school is not a concept you hear so much about these days and if you did, you wouldn't associate them with the skills being taught at one in the South. Changing a tyre, cracking a stock whip and shooting a gun are among the subjects at the Southern Girl Finishing School. It's being run by Laura Koot on a farm in Kingston, about 45 minutes from Queenstown. Koot spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.