Checkpoint for Monday 3 February 2020

5:13 PM.Hundreds of people are trapped in Milford Sound after heavy flooding cut off the only road out.

A State of Emergency has been declared in Milford, Te Anau and Manapouri.

Locals say they have never… Read more Video, Audio

5:15 PM.New Zealanders returning home from or travelling via China will be expected to stay out of public areas and monitor their health as officials grapple with the spread of the coronavirus.

It comes as… Read more Video, Audio

5:17 PM.Meanwhile an Auckland community receiving some new neighbours from Wuhan says it will welcome the evacuees.

Up to 70 New Zealanders are expected to be flown out of the Chinese city, the epicentre of… Read more Video, Audio

5:21 PM.A Gisborne woman who has taken over the care of six children who were removed by the state says they were traumatised by the process.

She and other advocates are backing calls for Oranga Tamariki to… Read more Audio

5:27 PM.The facts of an uplift at the centre of the highly critical report into Oranga Tamariki are being disputed.

The report commissioned by Whānau Ora calls for a complete overhaul of Oranga Tamariki, due… Read more Video, Audio

5:35 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Video, Audio

5:38 PM.Strong, fearless, and just a loving nana with soft hands - that is how Dame Whina Cooper was remembered at the unveiling of her new statue.

Hundreds gathered in the small settlement of Panguru at… Read more Video, Audio

5:46 PM.The Ministry of Health denies it was ever asked for extra funding by a disability and rehabilitation service that says it is being forced to close its doors for largely financial reasons. Read more Video, Audio

5:54 PM.Simon Bridges' election year gamble has signalled the start of campaign mode.

The National leader kicked off his caucus retreat on Sunday by ruling out working with New Zealand First in any form.

… Read more Audio

5:57 PM.A reprieve from sweltering temperatures in parts of the country is likely from Wednesday.

On Monday afternoon Gisborne reached 36C, Whakatane 35, and places like Blenheim, Tauranga and Hastings were… Read more Video, Audio

6:08 PM.Tough decisions will have to be made about major global events such as the Olympics if the coronavirus is unable to be contained.

That is according to a top ESR virologist, who says there is a long… Read more Video, Audio

6:16 PM.A report - highly critical of Oranga Tamariki - has prompted calls for the immediate resignation of the Ministry's boss, Grainne Moss.

The Māori-led inquiry commissioned by Whānau Ora concluded the… Read more Video, Audio

6:23 PM.Could there be a way forward to break the deadlock over Māori water rights? Some iwi leaders are backing a plan that would see major iwi stop plans to take court action over Māori water rights.

Iwi… Read more Video, Audio