Checkpoint for Thursday 22 July 2021

5:06 PM.Cabinet ministers are meeting right now to decide the fate of the trans-Tasman bubble.

The meeting has been called just hours after New South Wales recorded 124 new Covid-19 cases - a record high in… Read more Video, Audio

5:09 PM.The man who shot police constable Matthew Hunt admits he walked away from the dying officer as he was asking for help.

Eli Epiha has been described as "fully engaged" and intent on killing officers… Read more Audio

5:14 PM.A south Auckland man says he is lucky to be alive after his family home was targeted in an early morning drive-by shooting. Read more Video, Audio

5:18 PM.Pharmacies say they are underutilised and getting mixed messages from health officials - despite being an obvious solution to the sluggish Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

About 13 percent of New Zealanders… Read more Video, Audio

5:21 PM.In Wellington, some pharmacies have been told, 'thanks but no thanks', when it comes to helping with the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

Ben Latty from the capital's Wellworks Pharmacy said it is an… Read more Video, Audio

5:28 PM.New South Wales has today reported a new high of 124 Covid-19 cases, with close to 90 of those people wandering in the community while infectious.

Greater Sydney is in the fourth week of a lockdown… 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=6264681970001 Video, Audio

5:41 PM.The Trade Minister says security and trade are separate issues when it comes to China.

This week, New Zealand joined its Western allies in condemning China for state-sponsored cyber attacks.

At a… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.A boys' home watchman quit his job after seeing a boy being beaten to a near pulp, the inquiry into abuse in care has heard.

Pulotu Arthur Gus Solomon was 26 when he was employed by Owairaka Boys'… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.An impending tropical cyclone looks set to bring some action to the surfing competition at the Olympics this weekend.

It's the first time the sport has been included and two New Zealand surfers are… Read more Audio

6:08 PM.Christchurch is getting a stripped-back version of its planned indoor stadium. But the budget-friendly pick could cost the city in the long run.

The initial plan was for the indoor stadium to have… Read more Video, Audio

6:18 PM.A skipper's bravery in the face of death - and precautions that could have saved him - are at the heart of a maritime report out today.

Former ACT party candidate Stuart Pedersen died after his 14… Read more Audio