Checkpoint for Monday 2 November 2020

6:25 PM.Despite the trend in recent years towards e-books, independent bookshops are popping up all across the country.

Four new shops opened in the past few months, and another is due to open in Wellington… Read more Video, Audio

6:22 PM.Nanaia Mahuta has become the first woman to be made New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister.

She is one of five Māori Labour MPs who have been appointed to Cabinet - with strong Māori representation… Read more Audio

6:21 PM.The SIS spied on literary great Denis Glover, newly released files show. Guyon Espiner digs around in New Zealand's 'Cultural Cold War'. Read more Video, Audio

6:09 PM.Labour newbie Dr Ayesha Verrall has been catapulted straight into Cabinet, taking on the roles of Minister for Seniors, Minister for Food Safety, Associate Minister of Health, and Associate Minister… Read more Video, Audio

5:55 PM.Former Auckland Blues player Matt Johnson had his career cut drastically short after he nearly died from the complications of rheumatic fever.

Now he's fighting to stop others from getting disease… Read more Video, Audio

5:51 PM.The Solicitor General has fronted up to the Abuse in Care inquiry telling the Commissioners she was there to explain the Crown's role but not to necessarily defend it.

The Royal Commission is… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.A former Dunedin Airport security worker is accused of orchestrating a bomb scare that shut down the airport in March last year.

Preetam Maid is on trial facing one charge of taking an imitation… Read more Audio

5:45 PM.The owners of an earthquake-prone heritage building in Wellington are warning an excessive strengthening bill could force them into liquidation.

The Wellington City Council wants permission to seize… Read more Audio

5:41 PM.Natural disaster insurance claimants will no longer have to deal with the Earthquake Commission, and instead will only have to claim through their private insurer.

Previously claimants would apply to… Read more Audio

5:36 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Video, Audio

5:28 PM.Showers like running mud and dodgy water that changes hair colours.

They're among the complaints of residents of two small Hawkes Bay communities who are fed up with brown and smelly water, and say… Read more Audio

5:25 PM.The trust behind a Christchurch mosque says it has been treated unfairly over claims of financial impropriety.

Last week an unnamed complainant went to the local paper, accusing the Linwood Islamic… Read more Video, Audio

5:19 PM.A Whakaari White Island crater walk was cut short in the minutes leading up to last December's fatal explosion as a guide noticed the situation was getting dangerous.

In audio released to Australia's… Read more Video, Audio

5:10 PM.In the new Labour government, Grant Robertson has the job of deputy Prime Minister after Kelvin Davis turned it down. He talks to Lisa Owen about the new team. Read more Video, Audio

5:07 PM.Jacinda Ardern is not messing around, making a major shake-up to her Ministerial team in the first move of her second term.

She has rolled out a new Deputy Prime Minister, new Health Minister, a new… Read more Video, Audio