Checkpoint

A pharmacist in one of Auckland's wealthier suburbs is worried about people using GLP-1 weight loss drugs, when they don't need them. The injectable drugs mimic natural hormones that make you feel full, slow the stomach emptying and control blood sugar. Auckland Pharmacist Shirley Coleman spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about a Royal Air Force jet that crashed in Wales, as well as the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats hitting its highest daily total so far this year.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Squaring off at this weekend's national school chess champs is a team from a tiny Otago school. Macandrew Bay School on the Otago Peninsula has around 140 students. Its year six team beat off tough competition to represent the region at the national interschool chess champs in Auckland. Principal Nic Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

One of New Zealand basketball's biggest stars has finished her rookie season in the WNBA today and is preparing to come home. Charlisse Leger-Walker signed off the Conneticut Sun's last game in the state with a 14 point win before the team moves to Houston next season. But before she can think about a stateside move Leger-Walker is coming back to play in Wellington. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Health New Zealand is boosting its front line with an extra 380 full time nursing midwifery and health care assistants. Each year Health New Zealand uses a formula to estimate how many staff it needs and today's announcement of 380 additional roles stems from that. Te Whatu Ora's Chief National Nurse, Nadine Gray spoke to Lisa Owen.

Keep all car doors and windows shut. In you break down sound your horn and wait for the patrol vehicle. Remember - lions have right of way. That was the advice on a sign for people heading into Orana Wildlife Park's drive-through Lion Safari section when the Christchurch open-range zoo first opened 50 years ago today. While recent financial woes are weighing heavily on park management, the animals still got a chance to party. Rachel Graham reports.

At the end of day two of the election campaign, the argy bargy had well and truly begun. Accusations were flying over who is - and who is not - putting the work in on the hustings. Ahead of the a big weekend on the campaign trail, political reporter Lauren Crimp spoke to Lisa Owen.

Sarah Hirini is returning to rugby with a new found superpower. The Black Ferns Sevens legend is only four months removed from giving birth to her first son, and is already setting her sights on adding more gold to an already stacked trophy cabinet. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A kiwi dog is starring in a new Hollywood blockbuster hitting movie theatres this week. Heart of the Beast stars Oscar winner Brad Pitt as a retired US Army Special Forces veteran, who is forced to battle nature's brutal elements after his sea plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness. But the film was actually shot across the South Island. Playing the supporting role of his dog Odin, is a New Zealand dog called Uber. Uber's head trainer, Andrew Simpson spoke to Lisa Owen.