Checkpoint

It's the final fortress of the All Black empire that's still standing - the streak. While the All Black's aura has eroded in recent years, the 32 year, 52 test unbeaten run at Eden Park remains intact, and new coach Dave Rennie defends the streak for the first time this Saturday. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A new deal is set to make it easier for international visitors to jet into New Zealand on private planes. 1500 flights in and out of our airports each year are on private jets. Global executive aviation company PrivatPort has chosen Auckland as its VIP gate-way to Australasia and the Pacific. SO Capital CEO Shah Aslam spoke to Lisa Owen.

The state of emergency in Kaikōura has been lifted, almost a week after torrential rain caused the Kowhai River to burst its banks and triggered widespread flooding across the district. Residents are now in clean-up mode and are being warned to keep an eye out slips and landslides as prolonged rain has left the ground soaked. Samantha Gee reports.

St John Ambulance has confirmed it is experiencing delays getting patients into hospital care, because of increased winter demand at ED's. Meanwhile Health New Zealand has confirmed Waikato Hospital ED was more than 20% short on staff the night a man died while waiting to be seen by a specialist. Sarah Dalton from the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists spoke to Lisa Owen.

Unnecessary, a breach of the bill of rights, and morally indefensible - that's how the government's move on orders have been described at parliament today. But another submitter says the system currently has no teeth to deal with aggressive and non-compliant behaviour. Oral submissions are being made on the Summary Offences Amendment Bill. Political reporter Lillian Hanly has more.

Hundreds of drivers whose licences might not be legit are being allowed to stay on the road until the re-sit their practical exam, including heavy vehicle drivers. NZTA has suspended or stood down almost two dozen driver testing officers as part of an ongoing investigation. 650 drivers will need to resit their practical test - but that number could increase. CEO of Ia Ara Aotearoa, Transporting NZ, Dom Kalasih spoke to Lisa Owen.

The radicalisation of a man who stabbed six people at an Auckland mall will be a key question considered by a coroner over the coming weeks. The next two phases of an inquiry into the death of LynnMall attacker Ahamed Samsudeen began in Auckland today. Samsudeen's attack on shoppers inside a supermarket within the mall ended when he was shot dead by police. Finn Blackwell reports from the inquest.

Could the FIFA World Cup be about to get even bigger? As we enter the semifinal stage of the first ever 48-team World Cup, FIFA President Gianna Infantino has hinted the tournament could expand again. A proposal for a 64-team competition will be assessed after this year's event. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Immersive virtual reality headsets are giving mechanical engineering students a glimpse of what life is like for people living with tetraplegia, so they can be better, more empathetic designers. University of Canterbury Mechanical Engineering lecturer, Dr George Stilwell spoke to Lisa Owen.

Support services behind mental health helplines are breathing sighs of relief about a boost in government funding confirmed today. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has announced around $10 million in new money for telehealth mental health services over four years. The services are experiencing ever-increasing demand in the number of calls they receive, and their complexity, yet some are struggling to keep their phones on the hook. Luka Forman has more.