Checkpoint

A Checkpoint investigation has revealed how easy it is to get potentially dangerous nitrous oxide or nangs in large quantities with virtually no questions asked. That's despite it being illegal to supply, possess or use the gas recreationally. Nitrous oxide, known as nangs or cream whippers, has legitimate medical and catering uses, but can have serious side effects when huffed. A growing number doctors and community leaders calling for restrictions on the gas. Checkpoint reporter Teuila Fuatai has been looking into this and spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Bay of Plenty man has begun walking with a club in case he has to fend off roaming dogs. There are growing calls for an overhaul of the 30 year old dog control act in the face of increasing attacks. Tommy Wilson, who lives in Te Puna in the Bay of Plenty, spoke to Lisa Owen.

New Zealand First MP Casey Costello has told a Judicial Conduct Panel that the judge accused of disrupting a political party event must have known she was yelling at the then-Deputy Prime Minister. District Court Judge Ema Aitken is accused of yelling at Winston Peters during an event at Auckland's exclusive Northern Club, calling him a liar describing his comments disgusting. Today, the panel for the first time heard from the judge herself. Finn Blackwell reports.

Wellington councillors, industry groups and workers are sounding the alarm over immigration settings for bus drivers, warning of a looming shortage. A residency pathway for bus drivers, announced in 2022, required an academic English language level to stay in the country after two-years on a working visa. Now, drivers are coming to sit the test and some are struggling. Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

Super Rugby Pacific kicks off tomorrow night in Dunedin, where the bruised Highlanders are facing the Crusaders. That's just one of a number of interesting clashes in the first round. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

Cashing up clutter is becoming a national obsession. But there's still billions of dollars' worth of pre-loved goods lying idle in homes around Aotearoa according to a new report on the so-called circular economy. The report commissioned by Trademe surveyed 4000 New Zealand based people in October and November last year. The results show about 75 percent of them currently have unused or unwanted items they could sell. Head of Trade Me Marketplace, Lisa Stewart spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the FAA ordering the airspace above El Paso, Texas to be shut for ten days, only to be reopened shortly after, as well as the House of Representatives voting to overturn Donald Trump's tariffs against Canada.

There have been two cases of nerve damage linked to the use of nitrous oxide or nangs in Hawkes Bay. Community leaders recently called a crisis hui after an apparent spike in recreational use of the gas with dozens of empty cannisters being discarded, locally. Dr Nicholas Jones is the Medical Officer of Health in Hawke's Bay and was at the community meeting, he spoke to Lisa Owen.

Gore's famous giant brown trout statue is angling for an official name. The scuplture, made by a local artist and captured mid-leap, has proudly stood in the so called trout capital of New Zealand for almost 40 years. It's finally getting a name as part of a compeittion to promote the town's "On the fly festival" on the Mataura River. Gore District Council senior events co-ordinator Florine Potts spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about a 13 year old boy being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a school stabbing, as well as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer making a bold statement in the wake of mounting pressure over his leadership.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Hamilton will play host to the Māori vs Indigenous All Stars rugby league match this Sunday, and for World Cup winner Kennedy Cherrington, the Māori jersey represents the pinnacle of the game. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Salvation Army is warning that families are starving and is calling on the Government to urgently increase food aid. Its latest State of the Nation paints are dire picture of worsening child poverty and unemployment, rising family violence and stubbornly high cost of living pressures. Penny Smith was at the launch of the report.

The Court of Appeal has heard from two further lawyers who represented the white supremacist terrorist who massacred 51 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques. Australian Brenton Tarrant is serving a life sentence without parole for the shootings at Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre in March 2019. The 35-year-old now claims he was forced to plead guilty due to being irrational from the solitary nature of his conditions. Reporter Timothy Brown was in court and spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government has announced a surprise review of the Reserve Bank's actions during the Covid-19 pandemic - and it's due to land just months out from the election. Opposition parties say it is a politically motivated hit-job - but ministers from across the coalition say it's simply about learning from past mistakes. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.