Checkpoint for Wednesday 17 February 2021

5:06 PM.Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins joins Lisa Owen to discuss the latest Covid-19 alert level decision. Read more Video, Audio

5:14 PM.Auckland Mayor Phil Goff joins Lisa Owen with his reaction to the government's Covid-19 alert level decision.

Responding to question about him informing decision to move to level 2, Goff says he has… Read more Video, Audio

5:21 PM.Checkpoint reporter Nick Truebridge is in Papatoetoe in south Auckland, where today's two new cases have been recorded. Read more Video, Audio

5:23 PM.Auckland University Professor of Medicine Des Gorman talks to Lisa Owen about the latest Covid-19 alert level decision. Read more Video, Audio

5:29 PM.Businesses in Auckland's Viaduct are rapt with this afternoon's news that the city will return to alert level 2 from midnight.

The Soul Bar has been a popular lunch and dinner waterfront spot over… Read more Video, Audio

5:35 PM.On Wednesday two new community cases were announced, both students at Papatoetoe High School where the daughter in the family at the centre of the latest community outbreak attends. Principal Vaughan… Read more Video, Audio

5:41 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6232866126001 Video, Audio

5:46 PM.The Prime Minister has struck a more conciliatory tone towards Australia after last night's phone call with Scott Morrison.

But Jacinda Ardern wouldn't go into detail about their discussion, sticking… Read more Audio

5:49 PM.A New Zealand woman linked to a terrorist group in Syria should be put through a deradicalisation programme and rehabilitated according the Islamic Women's council.

But the question is whether it… Read more Video, Audio

5:54 PM.Health officials believe there's about 10 percent of the population they won't be able to convince to get a Covid-19 vaccine.

A new survey by the Ministry of Health shows the majority of people are… Read more Audio

5:57 PM.Some Aucklanders say they are 'stoked' to be stepping down to alert level 2.

Whilst it still means restrictions on numbers in venues and at gatherings, people at Auckland's Viaduct told reporter… Read more Video, Audio

6:07 PM.From midnight Auckland will drop down to Covid-19 alert level 2 whilst the rest of the country will return to alert level 1.

That's despite three new cases in the community, two are siblings from… Read more Audio

6:11 PM.The news of a drop to Covid-19 alert level 2 was met with joy and relief from locals on Takapuna beach this afternoon.

Locals shared their thoughts with our reporter Ella Stewart. Read more Video, Audio

6:12 PM.The Employers and Manufacturers Association has almost 7,500 businesses as members.

Brett O'Riley is the chief executive and he joins Lisa Owen with his reaction to the alert level changes.

  Read more Video, Audio

6:16 PM.Michael Baker is an epidemiologist from Otago University and joins Lisa Owen with his analysis.

"I think this is the right decision," Professor Michael Baker told Checkpoint. 

"The evidence was… Read more Video, Audio

6:21 PM.Melburnians are breathing a sigh of relief as well. Victoria's 5-day circuit breaker lockdown will end tonight as planned after recording no new cases. Our Worldwatch reporter, Perlina Lau reports. Read more Audio

6:25 PM.To other news now and the country's biggest construction company has made a significant lift in its earnings thanks mainly to a strong housing market.

Fletcher Building has reported a profit of $121… Read more Audio