Checkpoint for Tuesday 17 December 2019

5:10 PM.Bad weather has hampered rescue efforts in Whakatāne for two people missing since last week's eruption on Whakaari/White Island.

Police have formally named the two missing bodies as local guide… Read more Audio

5:14 PM.Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne has spoken highly of New Zealand's response to the Whakaari White Island volcanic eruption.

Ten Australians are among those formally identified… Read more Audio

5:16 PM.Shortly after 11:30am Tuesday the Pike River Recovery team stepped through a door chiselled into the concrete wall sealing the mine 170 metres into the drift.

It is uncharted territory - no one has… Read more Video, Audio

5:24 PM.A former school teacher has been sentenced to two years and six months jail for sexual misconduct involving two students.

The 37-year old woman has admitted seven charges of sexual relations with… Read more Audio

5:26 PM.The Waitangi Tribunal has released a scathing report on how the Crown dealt with iwi opposed to the Pare Hauraki treaty settlement, saying it not only trampled on their mana but created fresh… Read more Video, Audio

5:36 PM.Refugee journalist Behrouz Boochani has revealed he is still in New Zealand despite the 30-day visa expiring over the weekend.

The award-winning author, who was detained on Manus Island by Australia… Read more Video, Audio

5:45 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Video, Audio

5:45 PM.Wild weather has battered parts of New Zealand, bringing down trees and smashing windows in Waikato.

MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the central and upper North Island which is… Read more Video, Audio

5:52 PM.Tauranga City Council has finally voted in favour of gifting a piece of contested land back to a hapū, after a year of going back and forth.

The previous council had vetoed this at the end of last… Read more Audio

5:55 PM.The Silver Ferns netball coach Noeline Taurua says shooter Maria Folau's contribution to the game is immeasurable.

The 150 test veteran has announced she's retiring from all netball.

Folau, 32… Read more Audio

6:08 PM.A US maritime lawyer say the cruise company whose passenger were on Whakaari White Island when it erupted could be liable for millions of dollars in compensation - if it or the tour company failed to… Read more Video, Audio

6:18 PM.Meanwhile Whakatāne fishing and tour operators are losing thousands of dollars a day due to restrictions put in place following the Whakaari White Island eruption.

As they head in what is usually… Read more Audio

6:24 PM.The National Party says the delay of a final Cabinet decision over public broadcasting is the latest broken promise in the government's so-called Year of Delivery.

Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi… Read more Audio

6:27 PM.A man has been taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital in a critical condition after being shot by police during an incident at school in Flaxmere.

Hastings District Councillor Peleti Oli says he was in a… Read more Audio