Checkpoint

The mayor of a flood-prone town says it's wishful thinking that the government will help councils to fund their climate adaptation plans. The government has introduced a bill that would make adaptation planning mandatory for areas at high risk from climate change hazards like flooding and sea level rise. But it's kicked the big question of funding into the next parliamentary term, despite growing calls to deal with that issue now. Climate change correspondent Kate Newton reports.

Follow the evidence, and the evidence shows that vaping helps people quit smoking. That from ASH, in reponse to a Wellington's main stop smoking service quitting, because it refuses to give out vapes. Takiri Mai Te Ata Trust parted ways with Health New Zealand after the refusal and will no longer get funding. ASH Director Ben Youdan spoke to Lisa Owen.

Bird lovers near ground zero, where the first detected case of H5N1 bird flu landed on our shores, are steeling themselves for a busy period protecting wildlife. The flu strain has been confirmed in a sick sea bird found on Wellington's Petone Beach late last week. Now, a charity bird hospital nearby is setting up quarantine facilities to treat sick native birds if a flu outbreak takes hold. Sammy Carter reports.

The Green Party wants all new workers to automatically be enrolled in unions. Their election policy would mean the onus is on workers to opt out. The first Labour government brought in compulsary union membership in 1936, but in 1991 National's Employment Contract ended compulsary unionism. Green's co-leader Marama Davidson spoke to Lisa Owen.

A-League champions Auckland FC are close to meeting their self-imposed deadline of locking in a new head coach. The club's inaugural coach Steve Corica left last month and the club said they would have a replacement in time for their game against touring English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur on July 26th. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A small central Hawkes Bay community is still taking the long way round, more than three years after Cyclone Gabrielle damaged their bridge and their patience is wearing thin. Hundreds of locals have signed a petition calling for the bridge to be replaced or repaired. It was presented to the Central Hawkes Bay District Council this morning. Farmer Dave Ellison made the case for action, and spoke to Lisa Owen.

US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about President Donald Trump has urging Iran to "behave" as renewed hostilities with Iran stretch into a fifth day. Tit-for-tat strikes between the two countries continue with tensions exploding around control of the Strait of Hormuz. While an American naval blockade has come into force in the Strait - Iran's warning it could disrupt other key shipping routes in response.

Have you ever felt the frustration of sitting on a plane that should have taken off ages ago, or the late touch down that messes up an important meeting? Well, Air New Zealand says it has improved its on time arrivals in June, 86 percent of its flight touched down within 15 minutes of schedule. But that still means 1719 flights were late last month, around 57 a day. Air New Zealand's Chief Operations Officer, Kate Boyer spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Grace Thomas spoke to Lisa Owen about counter-terrorism police investigating the murder of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, and say she died in a "targeted attack".

News from the business sector, including a market report.