Checkpoint for Friday 5 December 2025

5:52 PM.Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about Mo, a cat who's been reunited with his owner after going missing 14 years ago. Audio

5:43 PM.United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about several countries announcing plans to boycott Eurovision 2026 after organisers confirmed Israel will compete, as well as Britain and… Read more Audio

5:35 PM.New Zealand are set to draw first blood in the three match series against the West Indies in Christchurch. The Black Caps have dominated for a second day in a row, leaving a daunting task for the… Read more Audio

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

5:29 PM.The Commerce Commission has taken down close to two dozen fake stores scamming online shoppers. The stores advertise online and often carefully cultivate the impression they're real local independent… Read more Audio

5:19 PM.MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi has been reinstated as a member of Te Pāti Māori, following an interim ruling by a high court judge, and will now attend the party's Annual General Meeting this weekend… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.Kmart is walking back some of its product recalls following an asbestos contamination scare with kids play sand products. The retail giant is cancelling it's voluntary recall notice for three… Read more Audio

4:48 PM.A Korean national who was caught in an undercover sting trying to smuggle multiple New Zealand geckos out of the country has been jailed. Gunak Lee's lawyer argued he was a naive mule when he agreed… Read more Audio

4:45 PM.Critical public health roles - including in emergency management, pandemic preparedness and Maori health - are on the chopping block at the Ministry of Health, with yet another restructuring under way… Read more Audio

4:35 PM.Finishing touches are getting added to the country's biggest indoor sport and aquatics centre, which opens to the public in central Christchurch in less than a fortnight. The long-delayed $500 million… Read more Audio

4:30 PM.The country's fastest man over 100 metres is trading in his black singlet and hopping the ditch. National record holder Eddie Osei-Nketia has officially completed his transfer of allegiance and will… Read more Audio

4:25 PM.From a two bedroom apartment that went for just $15,000 to a $35 million seaside mansion, 2025 has seen some pretty remarkable property sales. Latest data from Cotality shows the national median house… Read more Audio

4:10 PM.A Victoria University Professor has sparked a debate over what is acceptable language after she posted on social media saying she ignores emails from students if they use the greeting "hey", as she… Read more Audio

4:05 PM.At least five children have been taken to hospital with chemical burns after an apparent mix up at a Christchurch childcare centre. Emergency services were called to the centre, in the suburb of… Read more Audio