Checkpoint for Tuesday 29 April 2025

5:45 PM.The sharp end of the Australia national election is approaching and it's coming down to who can best manage the economy and pull down the high cost of living. Australia correspondent Peter Ryan spoke… Read more Audio

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

5:31 PM.Vaibhav Suryavanshi has rewritten the cricket record books, becoming the youngest cricketer to score a professional century, at only 14. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen. Audio

5:24 PM.In a speech on Tuesday, the Finance Minister revealed the operating allowance - that is the new money the government's got to spend is basically being halved, from $2.4 billion to $1.3 billion… Read more Audio

5:16 PM.In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney has achieved a remarkable turnaround  - with his Liberal party projected to be able to form a fourth consecutive government. He became Prime Minister just last… Read more Audio

5:12 PM.A former health chief said cutting the number of intensive care beds planned for the new Dunedin Hospital is taking chances with the region's health. 30 intensive care unit beds were originally… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.The Finance Minister has shaved a billion dollars off the government's spending limit with more cuts to public services. Nicola Willis said she's worked hard to avoid the mistakes of austerity budgets… Read more Audio

4:47 PM.The future of almost 120 employees with disabilities is up in the air after the northshore recyling plant where they worked burnt to the ground at the weekend. The Abilities Group's Glenfield factory… Read more Audio

4:46 PM.A senior Corrections staff member said high risk offenders - similar to the man who murdered Juliana Bonilla Herrera - are regularly being paroled from prison and into the community. An inquest into… Read more Audio

4:38 PM.Tory Whanau has bowed out of the Wellington mayoral race but won't rule out running for the capital's top job in 2028. Ms Whanau, who's had a turbulent time as mayor, said she will instead be running… Read more Audio

4:30 PM.A crackdown on high tackles in the last round of the NRL saw 18 players sent to the sin-bin and has divided opinions about the state of the game. Six players have accepted a combined 13 games worth of… Read more Audio

4:23 PM.A government call for mayors to help battle truancy is cheeky and completely at odds with earlier instructions for councils to stick to roads and pipes and keep their noses out of everything else… Read more Audio

4:14 PM.In Washington DC Donald Trump's first 100 days in power is the talk of the town. United States Correspondent Todd Zwillich explains how the US President is tracking with approval ratings. Audio

4:06 PM.The Finance Minister has virtually halved the amount of new money the govenrment will spend in next month's budget from 2.4 billion dollars to 1.3 billion. Nicola Willis made the announcement during a… Read more Audio