Checkpoint for Thursday 19 August 2021

5:07 PM.Could it be the missing piece of the puzzle? A potential link to the Covid-19 outbreak that's thrown the country into hard lockdown.

Today news that the cases could be linked to a recent returnee… Read more Audio

5:11 PM.Professor Philip Hill is an epidemiologist on two government Covid-19 advisory groups.

He told Checkpoint the genomic link to a New South Wales returnee is "a game-changer" for stopping the spread in… Read more Video, Audio

5:19 PM.Despite the country being in Alert Level 4 lockdown, there are thousands of essential workers around the country, still at work.

Calls have been growing louder for those in public-facing roles to get… Read more Audio

5:23 PM.Five members of the same family who are connected to Avondale College are among the new Covid-19 cases confirmed today.

There are now officially 21 community infections. It comes after a teacher at… Read more Audio

5:30 PM.The Avondale College exposure has left other Auckland schools racing to have their students tested.

Thousands of Auckland school students have been mingling with Avondale College students over the… Read more Video, Audio

5:39 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6268574034001 Video, Audio

5:42 PM.People have been waiting for seven or eight hours in Auckland for a Covid-19 test.

The number of locations of interest has ballooned to more than a 100, meaning people are coming out from all corners… Read more Audio

5:48 PM.There are fears two Auckland events could be Covid-19 super spreaders, with close to 2,000 people deemed close contacts from just one night.

On Friday 13 - a now-positive case took late-night trips… Read more Audio

5:53 PM.An Afghan has told of his miraculous escape from Kabul this week, crammed aboard a US cargo plane.

Images from the plane have gone viral - of hundreds of people refusing to get off in the hopes of… Read more Audio

5:53 PM.On Thursday, the second day of Level 4 lockdown, locations of interest continue to balloon to well over 100.

On Thursday evening, the Ministry of Health added even more to that list.

Among them is… Read more Audio

6:09 PM.Meanwhile travellers stranded in Queenstown have been given a temporary reprieve before the travel window is poised to slam shut.

Hundreds of people are in town trying to get back, but there have… Read more Audio

6:13 PM.A mission to rescue New Zealanders stuck in Afghanistan, and those that helped NZ forces, has finally taken off.

A C-130 Hercules departed Auckland for the Middle East with up to 80 Defence Force… Read more Audio

6:20 PM.The Auckland City Missioner says requests for help from its foodbank doubled on the first day of the Level 4 lockdown yesterday, and it's just as busy today.

It's helping rough sleepers with food… Read more Audio

6:23 PM.The Silver Ferns' captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio has signed with the Magic in a major off-season signing.

Pulse fans were shocked earlier this week when the franchise announced her departure after six… Read more Audio

6:23 PM.A 92-year-old woman has had her painting displayed in a Nelson gallery for the first time.

Our reporter Kirsty Frame caught up with her. Read more Audio