Checkpoint for Friday 29 October 2021

8:08 AM.Auckland's 11 week lockdown has NZ Post on the brink. The demand for online shopping is so great, the company has been forced to hire 800 more workers but a van shortage in the city means deliveries… Read more Video, Audio

5:12 PM.Christchurch has avoided a snap lockdown for the second day in a row despite two new community cases of Covid-19 and a positive wastewater detection.

It comes after 125 new cases were reported today… Read more Video, Audio

5:14 PM.After decades of tirelessly campaigning, people with disabilities are being recognised with their own ministry.

The government has moved to establish a new agency, and a separate Accessibility… Read more Audio

5:21 PM.The government is running out of motels to place families in as the housing crisis reaches record levels, with children among those hardest hit.

There are now 4512 children living in motels - an… Read more Audio

5:24 PM.A New Zealand couple is facing the devastating possibility of being separated from their toddler until border restrictions ease hopefully sometime next year. Read more Audio

5:27 PM.As Auckland DHBs rocket towards the 90 percent double dose rates needed to open up the region, some of the city's suburbs are being left behind.

Locals in Ōtara's west side say the vaccination… Read more Video, Audio

5:35 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6279302796001 Video, Audio

5:38 PM.Some tourism operators fear they are kissing another summer of international business goodbye after yesterday's MIQ announcement.

Come mid-November double vaccinated NZ returnees will spend seven… Read more Video, Audio

5:45 PM.A commercial airline pilot accused of being at risk of killing all his passengers has won a scathing court judgement against Civil Aviation.

The judge says the agency may have been primed to… Read more Video, Audio

5:50 PM.Facebook is changing its company name to Meta. It's a shift of focus for the social media giant after a barrage of negative publicity. Worldwatch's Max Towle has this report. Audio

5:55 PM.Palmerston North's streets and walkways are about are to liven up as e-scooters hit the pavement.

The mayor is an enthusiastic proponent, but some people are questioning if they're safe.

Our… Read more Video, Audio

6:08 PM.Christchurch residents are on tenterhooks as they head into the weekend with four cases of Covid-19 in the community.

Two more cases were confirmed this afternoon - cases the health ministry says… Read more Video, Audio

6:13 PM.Aucklanders are on the fence about a possible passenger train from the city through Mount Roskill and to the airport.

The government has revealed a three-option shortlist put together by an… Read more Audio

6:17 PM.A new one way travel bubble with some Pacific nations is being welcomed. Travellers from Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Tokelau will be able to come to New Zealand without a stay in MIQ.

It opens the door… Read more Audio

6:21 PM.The clean up continues in West Auckland, two months after severe flooding swallowed parts of the region.

The massive flooding saw dozens of homes evacuated, roads washed out and dealt a heavy blow to… Read more Audio