Checkpoint for Wednesday 27 August 2025

5:44 PM.UK correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Nigel Farage's Reform party's plans to deport 600,000 migrants, as well as two men who were jailed for selling petfood to unsuspecting shoppers. Audio

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

5:32 PM.The Warriors are backing some bold calls by the Penrith Panthers ahead of this week's NRL games. The defending champions have benched players with significant experience for a grudge match with the… Read more Audio

5:25 PM.Big box wholesale supermarket chain Costco has its eyes on expansion, and a new "express lane" for supermarket developments will help that happen, according to the Minister for Economic growth. Nicola… Read more Audio

5:17 PM.A former Loafers Lodge resident has told a court he faced the choice of jumping out his bedroom window, or dying in the inferno, as a blaze that would eventually become fatal took hold. Former… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.It is possible many New Zealanders will not be able to get insurance in ten years time unless there is serious intervention, according to a new Consumer New Zealand report. It said the cost of house… Read more Audio

4:54 PM.A thousand choir singers are converging on Dunedin as the Big Sing competition reaches its crescendo. More than 200 secondary school choirs pitched for a position in the Big Sing Finale with the top… Read more Audio

4:48 PM.Samoa is getting ready to vote in what is tipped as being one of the most unpredictable elections in the country's history. The vote was originally scheduled for April next year, but was brought… Read more Audio

4:46 PM.Students at the University of Otago say with the lack of jobs in the city, climbing rent prices and cost of power, they're struggling to make ends meet. The situation has got so bad, some are even… Read more Audio

4:35 PM.Baby-boomers struggling to sell up their small businesses got a surprise opportunity today - after the government announced a new visa for migrants who might want to buy them out. International… Read more Audio

4:30 PM.Former Highlanders flanker and Tasman NPC captain Shane Christie has died aged 39. He spent three seasons with the Super Rugby side and also played 73 times for Tasman over seven seasons, before… Read more Audio

4:25 PM.A group of Lego pros are hoping to build a less stressful environment for young hospital patients by creating brick miniatures of MRI scanners, xray machines and waiting rooms. The Lego verisons of… Read more Audio

4:16 PM.A massive manhunt is underway for a suspect who shot and killed two police officers in rural Victoria. 56-year-old Dezi Freeman is believed to be behind yesterday's shooting in Pore-punkah, a small… Read more Audio

4:06 PM.Gas is up about 15% and power 11%. Dozens of customers have gotten in touch with Checkpoint to share how their electricity bills have ballooned. David Taylor from Papamoa is one of those, and spoke to… Read more Audio