Checkpoint Podcast Options

4:16 PM.United States correspondent Zach Montellaro spoke to Lisa Owen about the clock ticking for the US Government to keep its lights on amid a fight over funding in Washington and Donald Trump's repeated… Read more Audio

4:07 PM.In the Far North, the district council is having to bring in tighter controls across its 11 cemetries to prevent so-called "plot hoarding." It means reserving a plot, but not using it for many years… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.Africa correspondent Elna Schutz spoke to Lisa Owen about a devastating cyclone impacting some African nations, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo peace talks interrupted and the descendants… Read more Audio

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

5:29 PM.This would make Lawson the first Kiwi Formula One driver in almost 15 years. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen. Audio

5:24 PM.More people in financial hardship have been declined government food grants this year and foodbanks warn this is putting even more pressure on their struggling services. Data released to RNZ under the… Read more Audio

5:16 PM.There are mixed reactions to the government's announcement today of redress payments for those tortured in the Lake Alice psychiatric hospital's child and adolescent unit in the 1970s. The minister… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.Downtown Port Vila has been cordoned off as rescue workers dig for survivors in a painstakingly slow and delicate process. At least 14 people are confirmed dead in yesterday's 7.3 magnitude quake and… Read more Audio

4:47 PM.Kiwi Stu Mckewen, has lived in Vanuatu for almost 20 years, he was due to move to the Philipines flying out of Port Vila. But like most commercial flights; his has been cancelled. For now he's stuck… Read more Audio

4:43 PM.The desperate search for survivors continues after yesterday's 7.3 magnitude earthquake which toppled buildings and brought a huge landslip down on a busy road. At least 14 people were killed and… Read more Audio

4:35 PM.This year, the allure of alcohol -free drinks is more popular than ever with a growing number of people choosing to steer clear of the booze. Globally, sales of alcohol-free beer are up six percent… Read more Audio

4:28 PM.High Performance Sport New Zealand will invest $162.8 million into 36 sports over the next four years through to the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. Football, golf and E-Sports have lost… Read more Audio

4:23 PM.A hard working Hamilton Christmas tree is a little on the tired side and needs a pretty pricey zhoosh up if its going to stay on duty for years to come. The iconic tree, that is the tallest in country… Read more Audio

4:16 PM.Asia correspondent Erin Hale spoke to Lisa Owen about South Korea's parliament voting to impeach president Yoon Suk Yeol following his declaration of martial law two weeks ago, Prince Andrew being… Read more Audio

4:07 PM.All domestic cats will have to be microchipped and registered if a proposed law being championed by a Green MP makes it over the line. But the bill, backed by Celia Wade-Brown, stops short of… Read more Audio

5:48 PM.It's the time of year when many people are looking forward to getting away on their summer break -- to enjoy some sun and sea and let their hair down a little while they're away from home. But the… Read more Audio

5:45 PM.Orana Wildlife Park will stop taking in new animals for six months, after two reviews highlighted four key areas that need improving. The investigations were prompted by whistleblowers' animal welfare… Read more Audio

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

5:32 PM.A two-time sevens Olympic gold medalist, six time World Series winner and a world champion, Michaela Blyde is hopping codes at the end of the Sevens season on a one year deal to the Warriors. Sports… Read more Audio

5:28 PM.For two and a half years Far North folk have faced long detours, isolation from friends and family, higher costs and fewer customers. This week, however, that's coming to an end, thanks to the… Read more Audio

5:25 PM.The government opened its books today - revealing the economic outlook for the near term is looking pretty bleak. A lower tax take and higher Crown expenses deliver continued budget deficits - with a… Read more Audio

5:16 PM.MPI is asking people to keep a close eye on their backyard chooks after a bird flu scare in the forced killing of 200 thousand birds. A mainland egg farm near Moeraki tested positive for an aggressive… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.A massive 7.3 earthquake has hit Vanuatu, at a depth of 10 kilometres. The quake struck 37 kilometres west of the capital Port Vila just before 1:00pm local time. A local journalist has told the ABC… Read more Audio

4:50 PM.A woman whose holiday home was at the centre of an online scam said it has taken weeks for the host site to take the property offline. Meanwhile she's worried people will have been fleeced for a… Read more Audio

4:46 PM.The below-inflation lift of 1.5 percent, which comes into effect in April, brings the minimum wage up to $23.50. But the Employers and Manufacturers Union said the small increase reflects the… Read more Audio