Checkpoint Podcast Options

5:54 PM.The widow of a the truck driver who survived a horrendous crash earlier this year but later died has spoken about her happy life with her husband who she described as a true gent. Reporter Robin… Read more Audio

5:50 PM.A veteran Whangarei truck driver says low pay and long hours on the road are the real reasons log truck drivers keep rolling their rigs in Northland. Lois Williams reports. Audio

5:44 PM.Donald Trump, who has been derided, dismissed, scoffed at and written off, now formally has the number of delegates required to be be the Republican candidate in November's US Presidential elections… Read more Audio

5:41 PM.Hekia Parata has revealed schools will not know which of their students are attracting the new targetted education funding, the government unveiled to target children of long-term beneficiaries. Audio

5:38 PM.A day after Budget 2016, debate has turned to whether the government will embark on a major programme of tax cuts in an election year. Mei Heron reports. Audio

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

5:30 PM.Wellington city councillors have been told to go dumpster diving if they want to retrieve personal documents thrown out by staff. Michael Cropp reports. Audio

5:24 PM.The Golden State Warriors have won game five of the Western Conference NBA playoffs, beating Steven Adams' Oklahoma City Thunder 120-111. Fox Sports anchor Sam Gannon watched the match. Audio

5:20 PM.The Salvation Army has dipped into its reserves to help people struggling to pay their bonds for rental housing for the first time. Mohamed Hassan reports. Audio

5:16 PM.The Prime Minister has ramped up the rhetoric over the Auckland Council's role in the city's housing shortage, saying a new National Policy Statement will ultimately dictate how much housing land… Read more Audio

5:12 PM.A police officer was left with a bloody hand in the Christchurch District Court this morning, when the family of Renee Duckmanton yelled abuse and lunged at the man accused of her murder. Belinda… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.The man who murdererd two women at the Ashburton WINZ office, Russell John Tully, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison. Reporter Sally Murphy was at the sentencing. Audio

6:50 PM.Finance Minister, Bill English, delivers his eighth Budget. Opposition leader, Andrew Little, launches the 11-hour Budget debate with the now-traditional amendment calling on the House to support a… Read more Audio

6:08 PM.Budget 2016 has already been dubbed the "boring Budget". Auckland Airport CEO Adrian Littlewood, Hapai Te Hau-ora General Manager Papa Nahi and economist Shamubeel Eaqub share their insights. Audio

5:55 PM.Wellington City Council has been applauded for taking a bold move to regulate cats and protect the city's native wildlife today. Audio

5:53 PM.The Black Caps coach Mike Hesson has had a change of heart and will continue as the New Zealand Cricket coach until 2019. He spoke with Stephen Hewson. Audio

5:52 PM.More than 550 people narrowly escaped drowning on Wednesday after their smugglers' boat capsized in the Southern Mediterranean. Audio

5:47 PM.The Labour leader, Andrew Little, says today's Budget is not enough to fix New Zealand's biggest problems. Audio

5:42 PM.A hotel room shortage in Queenstown is raising concerns that international film productions could be deterred from bringing their business to the region. Audio

5:39 PM.The man charged with murdering his 10-year-old brother, Alex Fisher, has pleaded guilty. Ruth Hill was in court. Audio

5:36 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:23 PM.A grant of up to five-thousand dollars is being offered to people to leave Auckland - but what's waiting for them when they arrive in their new, regional home? Audio

5:11 PM.The Finance Minister, Bill English, discusses his eighth budget. Audio

5:09 PM.The Prime Minister, John Key, says Budget 2016 paints a picture of a country with a sparkling economy. But opposition parties say the Budget was a missed opportunity. Audio

6:52 PM.Tomorrow's budget dominates questions to ministers; Prime Minister continues to face questions about housing from Labour leader Andrew Little; Health Committee hears evidence on petition calling for a… Read more Audio