Checkpoint for Thursday 24 April 2025

5:47 PM.Promises to voters, along with the occasional backdown, are flowing thick and fast as the Australian national election heads towards it final week of campaigning. Australia correspondent Peter Ryan… Read more Audio

5:35 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:31 PM.It will be brothers in arms for Moana Pasifika on Saturday. The Savea siblings reunite for their first game together at the franchise. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Melissa Chan-Green. Audio

5:30 PM.It has been three decades since thirteen Tai Poutini Polytechnic students and a DOC worker died when a poorly-constructed viewing platform collapsed at Cave Creek, on the West Coast. A private… Read more Audio

5:21 PM.A cross-party visit to Taiwan has drawn a strong rebuke from China, which has accused the New Zealand MPs of colluding with pro-independence separatist forces. New Zealand does not recognise Taiwan as… Read more Audio

5:12 PM.Checkpoint has been inundated with messages from people affected by the cost of Air New Zealand's domestic flights. That includes a Rotorua man, who instead of flying direct to Christchurch for work… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.A vigil has taken place for the US PhD student Kyle Whorrall, who was killed at a bus stop in Auckland's Meadowbank on Saturday night. A 16-year-old boy charged with murder and aggravated robbery has… Read more Audio

4:47 PM.Jerome Taylor launched the high-end fashion brand nearly 10 years ago and it's been featured in Vogue Magazine and had showings at Fashion Weeks overseas and at home. He even had the backing of a… Read more Audio

4:44 PM.A man who leaves home at 1:30 in the morning to drive to Auckland Airport to save hundreds on air fares. An 18-year-old who can't come home for his first university holidays because of the cost of… Read more Audio

4:34 PM.For the last five years the route 64 bus fare has been virtually free at just one cent to tag on, but come Sunday a full fare will apply. The bus service was originally established to accomodate for… Read more Audio

4:30 PM.Giancarlo Italiano has been offered a one-year contract extension at the club he has been involved with for the past six years - despite finishing outside the play-offs in his second year in charge… Read more Audio

4:23 PM.When 12 year-old George Fisher got first place at the North Island secondary schools mountain bike competition he was given a certificate but not the first place medal. That was passed to the next… Read more Audio

4:15 PM.United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky clashing over the Ukrainian president refusing to acknowledge Russian control of Crimea… Read more Audio

4:06 PM.Some tourist towns like Paihia can trade on Anzac Day, while Tairua, Whitianga and Whangamata in the Coromandel can open, so long as it falls on a Friday or Monday. Some of the stores Checkpoint spoke… Read more Audio