Checkpoint for Wednesday 3 May 2023

6:14 PM.Hawke's Bay locals are onto their third cyclone recovery minister in just five weeks after former Labour Minister Meka Whaitiri's surprise defection.

She anounced she's switching allegiances to the… Read more Video, Audio

6:07 PM.A district councillor is taking on his own local body about the way it charges development levies.

Manawatū District councillor Andrew Quarrie says ratepayers are being ripped off, but the council… Read more Audio

5:50 PM.Swimmer Jono Ridler is just a few hours away from making it to shore in his record-breaking non-stop 100km open water swim, from Aotea Great Barrier Island to Narrow Neck beach on Auckland's North… Read more Video, Audio

5:46 PM.New Plymouth's mayor says New Zealand needs to take a leaf out of Australia's book and tighten up vaping regulations.

Australia is limiting vape flavours, bringing in "pharmaceutical-style"… Read more Audio

5:42 PM.Meka Whatiri's surprise defection has come while Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is in London for the King's Coronation.

He received the news not long after touching down in the UK.

Our reporter Katie… Read more Video, Audio

5:26 PM.Security cameras and QR codes to access toilets are some of the tools used to tackle students vaping at an Auckland high school.

Australia's announced a raft of new vape rules including making it… Read more Video, Audio

5:23 PM.New Zealand boxer David Light's future in the ring is uncertain after the 31-year-old suffered a minor stroke.

The cruiserweight fighter became unwell upon returning home to New Zealand after his… Read more Video, Audio

5:18 PM.Wild weather is bearing down on the Bay of Plenty, and is expected to deteriorate in Taranaki and Northland later tonight.

Some Bay of Plenty residents are being told to boil water because of… Read more Video, Audio

5:07 PM.In an election year bombshell, Labour minister Meka Whaitiri has jumped ship, her shock defection blindsiding her own caucus - including the Prime Minister.

She remains in Parliament as an… Read more Audio