Checkpoint

A campaign is underway to save a runaway pig that prompted a police chase after apparently escaping from a stock truck and wandering on a state highway near Eketahuna. Donald is now potentially in the queue to become bacon. An old law means the Tararua District council was forced to auction-off Donald after no-one claimed him following his antics last month. Sold for $320 dollars, the former escapee has been taken to a farm in Fielding, where the plan is for Donald to soon become dinner. But the Animal Justice Party is hoping that won't happen. Danette Wereta spoke to Lisa Owen.

Hundreds of homes, in a cluster of coastal settlements north of Whangarei, are still cut off due to storm damage, almost six months on. In January, Russell Road at the Helena Bay Hill was swamped in a land slide, leaving some homes in Helena Bay, Oakura, Teal Bay and Whangaruru with limited road access. Robynne Cooper, owner of the Whangaruru Beachfront Campground spoke to Lisa Owen.

Waitaki locals are cleaning up the mess after being battered by heavy rain overnight. The Waitaki District Council declared a state of emergency early this morning as stormwater and wastewater systems were overwhelmed. Firefighters tried to pump water from the area but at least nine homes and six businesses have been flooded and more will possibly be added to that list. South Island correspondent Timothy Brown reports.

How much alcohol is too much, when it comes to health risks like cancer and is Aotearoa's official guide to low risk drinking dangerously out of date? The Health NZ guidelines are being reviewed as part of a three-year cancer action plan, released last week. The cancer society said alcohol is a risk factor in a least seven cancers and is the cause of about five percent of all cancers. Alcohol researcher and Massey University Associate Professor Andy Towers spoke to Lisa Owen.

Two critical minerals projects on the West Coast are getting up to $50 million from the Crown to co-fund the construction of processing facilities. The money will come from the $80 million ring-fenced in the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support development in the sector. But the deal comes against the backdrop of negotiations between the United States and New Zealand about the supply of critical minerals to the US. Business reporter Anan Zaki has more.

The rare decision to suspend a one-match ban for an American player at the Football World Cup has divided opinion. While the USA coach said he had no role in FIFA's decision, reports out of America say President Donald Trump did. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A massive six-day funeral for Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is underway. Khamenei was killed by a US-Israeli strike at the beginning of the months-long war in the Middle East. Millions are set to attend the service according to Iranian officials who are also calling it the "funeral of the century". However, there's one major figure who's yet to appear at the memorial. Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen.

Wellington rugby referees have pulled out of all games around the capital this coming weekend due to ongoing sideline abuse. The Wellington Rugby Referees Association said so far this season there have been 19 incidents, including three on Saturday. That can be anything from swearing to inappropriate hand gestures. President of the Wellington Rugby Referees Association Ben Van Berkel spoke to Lisa Owen.

A red heavy rain warning is in place for Marlborough and parts of Canterbury, including the Kaikoura Ranges. due to flooding. But attention is turning to southern parts of Marlborough through to North Canterbury, where the weather's expected to hit. Rain could peak at 15 to 25 millimetres an hour, especially along the ranges. There's a threat to life from river conditions and slips. Reporter Keiller MacDuff spoke to Lisa Owen from Kaikoura.

United Kingdom correspondent Grace Thomas spoke to Lisa Owen about Prime Minister Keir Starmer issuing a formal government apology for thousands of historic forced adoptions in England and Wales, as well as the German government introducing tough new rules for workers making it harder to have a sick day.