Checkpoint for Thursday 4 March 2021

5:07 PM.Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says he was well within his rights to leave Auckland on Saturday night following the official announcement the city would enter level 3 lockdown at 6am the following… Read more Video, Audio

5:20 PM.The strongest evidence yet that Pharmac's brand switch of epilepsy drugs may have been a factor in fatal seizures was heard at an inquest today.

The inquest is looking into the death of six patients… Read more Audio

5:26 PM.Ports of Auckland is being warned it must accept all findings and recommendations of a review into health and safety.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood is warning the port is on… Read more Video, Audio

5:37 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6237066639001 Video, Audio

5:42 PM.One of the world's biggest shipping companies is being told to use New Zealand crew to move empty containers from Auckland to the South Island.

Faced with delays in the North Island, Maersk is… Read more Audio

5:45 PM.The government is being pressed for more information about how it will roll out the Covid-19 vaccine to priority groups.

Almost 9,431 front line border workers have received a vaccine so far - their… Read more Audio

5:51 PM.Today marks a fourth straight day without any new cases of Covid-19 being found in the community.

More than 68,000 tests have been processed in the last week - but a number of results are still… Read more Video, Audio

5:56 PM.Another 88,000 students at more than 300 schools and kura across the country are now receiving free lunches.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins made the announcement at Tauranga's Welcome Bay school… Read more Audio

6:08 PM.Cabinet will decide on Friday whether to pull Auckland out of Covid-19 alert level 3 lockdown, and what will happen with alert level 2 for the rest of the country.

It has been four straight days with… Read more Video, Audio

6:16 PM.Gisborne residents say there are extraordinary waits to sit driving tests, putting the brakes on people getting jobs.

But driving test operators insist more testing spaces and staff coming to deal… Read more Audio

6:19 PM.A man who narrowly escaped being trampled by race horses after invading the track on Wellington Cup Day is banned for life from all racetracks around the country.

Justin Bergman pleaded guilty to… Read more Audio