Checkpoint for Tuesday 9 March 2021

6:20 PM.Covid-19 lockdowns in the world's largest Polynesian city forced the Auckland Arts Festival to reschedule much of a year's work in the space of a week.

But a delayed launch is set for Thursday and… Read more Audio

6:17 PM.Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa are set to enter the starting box tomorrow - getting the America's Cup officially underway.

Fans are looking forward to it, teams are being guarded in public… Read more Video, Audio

6:13 PM.An independent advisory group has been set up to oversee what the government's calling the "continual improvement" of its Covid-19 response.

Chaired by Sir Brian Roche, the group is tasked with… Read more Audio

6:08 PM.The government plans to release the Covid-19 vaccine priority list on Wednesday, detailing who will get their jab and when, based on the arrival of more vaccines into the country.

Today, the… Read more Video, Audio

5:54 PM.A former state-approved caregiver accused of sexually abusing boys took the stand today to give evidence at his trial. Earl William Opetaia denies 26 charges relating to six teens, dating back to the… Read more Audio

5:49 PM.The Independent Police Conduct Authority and the Privacy Commissioner are broadening their investigation into the police practice of photographing innocent youths - to include any member of the… Read more Audio

5:44 PM."Free subject to conditions" - that would be the security status of terror suspect Suhayra Aden in the community if she returns to New Zealand, according to a senior government minister.

It looks… Read more Audio

5:40 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6238116699001 Video, Audio

5:31 PM.A community cafe on Auckland's Karangahape Rd may be forced to close if it cannot raise $60,000 by the end of the month.

For more than a decade, Merge Cafe has been a space where the city's homeless… Read more Video, Audio

5:23 PM.The NZ Nurses Organisation says it will not rule out strike action during the mass Covid-19 vaccine roll-out if it is unable to reach an agreement on satisfactory pay agreements.

The government… Read more Video, Audio

5:19 PM.So as the Black Caps seek priority for their players, we went searching for a citizens' 2nd XI.

That is, 11 people who would happily let the team leapfrog them in the Covid-19 queue.

We sent… Read more Video, Audio

5:13 PM.It has been revealed the Director-General of Health was lobbied by cricket bosses for priority access to the Covid-19 vaccine for its players, all while Dr Bloomfield was an invited guest, hosted by… Read more Audio

5:07 PM.The largest superyacht destined for New Zealand in time for the America's Cup has been stopped by Immigration, which says there are too many crew on board.

It means New Zealand may miss out on up to… Read more Video, Audio