Checkpoint Podcast Options

5:23 PM.The government will introduce legislation that could see the parlimentary term extended from three years to four. There is a catch though - it will be subject to a referendum. In an announcement… Read more Audio

5:11 PM.Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has expressed his enthusiasm for plans to beef up citizens arrest laws. Some Destiny Church supporters are currently being investigated by police after they stormed… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.There's a large police presence around the seaside Whangarei's suburb of Onerahi, after a shooting that left one person dead and another critically injured. Emergency services located the pair at the… Read more Audio

4:45 PM.A group representing more than 2000 principals is calling on the government to ditch its new school lunch provider and fund schools to deliver their own lunches locally. In a letter to David Seymour… Read more Audio

4:42 PM.It's hoped a new inland port that's opened in Malborough today will speed up the region's ability to export wine overseas. Malborough is the country's largest wine producing region and the facility… Read more Audio

4:34 PM.It wouldn't be a summer festival without ducking off to the food trucks for a feed, and Te Matatini is no different. Although in Ngamotu this week you're more likely to see hangi, paua fritters and… Read more Audio

4:27 PM.Another of the country's top rugby coaches is heading off-shore. Chiefs coach Clayton McMillian will leave at the end of the Super Rugby season to take up a gig with Munster. Sports reporter Jonty… Read more Audio

4:22 PM.Foreign Minister Winston Peters is en route to South Korea following his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi overnight. The Foreign Minister said he didn't seek any explanations about China's… Read more Audio

4:13 PM.United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his way to the White House and some government agencies being in line for the chopping block… Read more Audio

4:06 PM.Some students are being served Wattie's ready to eat frozen fish pie meals, that can be be bought straight from the supermarket freezer. It comes as the Principal's Federation calls for the government… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.UK correspondent Alice Wilkins spoke to Lisa Owen about Sir Keir Starmer's plans to boost Britain's defence spending. She also spoke about efforts to crack down on mobile phone theft in the UK and… Read more Audio

5:38 PM.The government has announced reforms granting retailers greater power to detain shoplifters. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the changes, proposed by a ministerial advisory group, will provide… Read more Audio

5:33 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:29 PM.All Black legend Ma'a Nonu is not ready to hang up the boots just yet.Nonu has signed on as medical cover for French giants Toulon. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen. Audio

5:25 PM.Foreign Minister Winston Peters has held his first bilateral meeting in China noting the two countries won't always agree. Meeting with Vice President Han Zheng this afternoon Mr Peters said he was… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.Checkpoint has reported on a litany of issues experienced by some schools during the rollout of the revamped school lunch programme this term. Unpalatable lunches, meals arriving late or missing… Read more Audio

4:46 PM.Once again a report has found the state agency meant to protect our children is failing to meet minimum standards of care for tamariki and rangatahi. 507 children and young people were abused or… Read more Audio

4:37 PM.Dairy is New Zealand's most profitable export industry, but also one of our biggest carbon emitters, so what if you could take the cow, and methane, out of the production process altogether? That's… Read more Audio

4:28 PM.The NZ Herald is reporting that NZ Rugby is courting British disruptor DAZN about making an 11th hour play to snatch the broadcast rights. It comes after Sky offered NZ Rugby a reduced offer of around… Read more Audio

4:15 PM.Asia correspondent Erin Hale spoke to Lisa Owen about Taiwan's coast guard detaining a China-linked cargo ship and a major bank in Asia looking to cut thousands of roles in favour of artificial… Read more Audio

4:06 PM.Amendments to the crimes act will mean citizens can intervene and detain someone who for example is making off with a trolley full of groceries without paying. The power will extend to any crimes act… Read more Audio

5:42 PM.China has brushed off a live-firing incident last week in international waters between New Zealand and Australia as nothing much out-of-the-ordinary. However, more details have emerged in the… Read more Audio

5:34 PM.Council contractors have resumed laying pipeline for a sewerage scheme at Lake Roto-kakahi in Bay of Plenty after police last night arrested protesters opposing the work. Eighty officers moved to… Read more Audio

5:33 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:25 PM.Kevin Braswell, who was born in Baltimore, underwent emergency heart surgery last month. He joined the Breakers in 2010 and also played for Southland Sharks and coached Wellington Saints in the… Read more Audio