Checkpoint

A Government taskforce set up to target black market cigarettes says it has shut down a network and raided eight stores that were selling products. RNZ has been investigating the illicit smokes, sold over the counter at prices well below retail value, and without any of the health warnings or quitline numbers required by law. Finn Blackwell reports.

Deep fakes and A-I generated scams are now so sophisticated it's getting harder to pick them out of a line-up. That's why a tech users advocacy groups wants laws requiring telcos and social media platforms to proactively detect and block fraudulent activity and scams, in a move away from the "user beware" approach. TUANZ said too much responsibility is being placed on individual users and small businesses to manage complex digital risks. Chair Paul Littlefair spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Taranaki couple wants the government to stop chasing them for hundreds of thousands of dollars in court costs after the Crown dropped plans to seize part of their farm for a highway project. Taranaki-Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is calling for an independent inquiry into the death of a man at Waikato Hospital's emergency department. The man was found unconcious in the ED toilet and he was unable to be resusciated. NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter spoke with Lisa Owen.

A mother and daughter who watched as Waikato Hospital staff frantically tried to resuscitate a man found unconscious on the floor of a toilet say the waiting room had a line out the door. The man presented to ED on Monday night. Health correspondent Kate Green reports.

Serena Williams' much anticipated return to competitive singles tennis action was cut short in the first round at Wimbledon. The tennis icon hadn't played a singles match in almost four years prior to today's loss. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

A enthusiastic Australian jogger who collected whale poo on his runs and stashed it in the freezer has provided scientists with a veritable treasure trove. The dung and whale poo from other areas has revealed valuable new information about the diet and gut health of the Southern right whale or tohora. Molecular ecologist Associate Professor Emma Carroll from Auckland University who's made a career out of studying dolphins and whales spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about how there's been a major anti-corruption crackdown in Iraq. He also spoke about how mines along the Strait of Hormuz still need to be cleared and how billions of dollars' worth of frozen assets will be released by Qatar, according to Iran's president.

Finding the latest must have digital pet or action figure for the child in your life could get easier and cheaper with changes to toy standards. But will it be safer? The government's announced toys meeting American and European safety standards will be good enough for our tamariki. University of Auckland law professor Alex Sims likes the look of the proposal and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about tech giant Amazon being sued by the nation's consumer watchdog over allegedly unfair contract terms for customers on its Prime streaming service.