Checkpoint for Thursday 14 August 2025

5:47 PM.Australia correspondent Nicole Johnston spoke to Lisa Owen about Australia's unemployment figures looking positive, as well as the average weekly salary for full-time workers hitting a record high.  Audio

5:37 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:33 PM.Some of the world's top darts players will be in Auckland this weekend for the New Zealand Darts Masters. The Auckland event is the seventh and final tournament of the World Series of Darts for this… Read more Audio

5:24 PM.Napier Port has revealed its cruise ship revenue is down nearly 10%. Bookings for the upcoming season that starts in October are headed in the same direction. Cruise ship numbers in the Bay of Island… Read more Audio

5:17 PM.Plans to block road access to a remote stretch of the South Wairarapa coastline will deny sufers access to one country's most pristine surf breaks. South Wairarapa District Council wants to close… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.A woman is dead after being shot by the police officers called to her home over concerns for her safety. A man remains in hospital in a stable condition after also being shot by police. Officers were… Read more Audio

4:51 PM.The Prime Minister has stuck to his criticism of his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, but said he has also been critical of Hamas. Yesterday Christopher Luxon said the Israeli prime minister… Read more Audio

4:41 PM.An expert in traumatic brain injuries is calling for consistent protocols when dealing with concussions in schoolyard sport to prevent debilitating long-term impacts. While there's greater awareness… Read more Audio

4:33 PM.A soldier with links to far right groups and who is accused of spying will face a court martial hearing next week - a first-of-its-kind prosecution that's for now shrouded in secrecy. The Linton-based… Read more Audio

4:29 PM.The future of test cricket could be at threat, according to Cricket Australia's boss who believes the 5-day format could bankrupt cricketing baords. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen. Audio

4:24 PM.Kiwis are eating 10% fewer potatoes than we were just over a decade ago. New industry research shows a quarter of people eating fewer spuds are passing on them because they are worried about their… Read more Audio

4:16 PM.United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about Donald Trump warning thay there will be "very severe consequences" for Russia if the war in Ukraine doesn't stop after he meets with… Read more Audio

4:06 PM.A Christchurch college is bringing back uniforms for its senior students after decades of them wearing their own clothes, despite its community and students strongly opposing the move. Some of the… Read more Audio