Checkpoint for Tuesday 4 May 2021

5:07 PM.Northlanders are waiting on the phone for more than six hours as they try to book appointments for their Covid-19 vaccine, while older people are being turned away as they attempt walk-in… Read more Video, Audio

5:12 PM.A Northland Grey Power representative says it should not be so hard for seniors to get their Covid-19 jab and it is stressing people out.

Ron Thompson is calling on health officials to get their act… Read more Video, Audio

5:18 PM.The Finance Minister Grant Robertson has unearthed nearly a billion dollars of unspent Covid-19 cash to fatten up this month's Budget.

The man with his hands on the purse-strings now has a new job… Read more Audio

5:21 PM.The Trade Minister has issued a warning to his Parliamentary colleagues declaring the treatment of Uyghur Muslims as genocide will hurt New Zealand's trade relationship with China.

The ACT Party… Read more Audio

5:24 PM.The 'Whatever it Takes' slogan for Ashburton appears to have done its dash.

Ashburton District councillors have unanimously voted to ditch the tired tagline, which is loathed by some and mocked by… Read more Video, Audio

5:43 PM.Fiji's border will remain closed until the government says it can stop the largest surge of Covid-19 cases in the country.

Fiji has 51 active cases, 31 in the community, 16 in border quarantine and… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.Pacific church ministers are stepping up to get their Covid-19 vaccine, and are encouraging their members to follow suit.

More than 100 people lined up for their vaccine in Ōtara today, hoping to… Read more Video, Audio

5:53 PM.A man who has spent many years of his life in prison says he learnt his trade while in boys' homes.

47-year-old Daniel Rei has given evidence to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care as it focuses… Read more Audio

6:08 PM.A regional New Zealand mayor says the government's forecast of 20,000 new jobs through its multibillion-dollar shovel ready projects scheme always seemed too good to be true.

Before last year's… Read more Audio

6:13 PM.The Prime Minister says the government has nothing to hide over a report commissioned on how to better uphold indigenous rights.

The Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson has prepared a draft… Read more Audio

6:17 PM.The trial of a man charged with the murder of Whanganui woman Jasmine Wilson has been postponed.

Zane Paora Wallace, Jasmine's boyfriend, pleaded not guilty to her murder. Hamish Cardwell was in the… Read more Audio