Checkpoint Podcast Options

5:19 PM.A Wellington mum says she's relying on bread and pasta to keep food costs down and fill tummies at home. Shoppers say fruit, veggies, meat and dairy products are blowing the budget and they're looking… Read more Audio

5:15 PM.Nga iwi mōrehu are gathering at Rātana Pa to celebrate the birthday of Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana the founder of the Rātana faith. Kiingi Tuuheitia was welcomed earlier this afternoon in the wake of… Read more Video, Audio

5:07 PM.Imagine this, it's up to 28 degrees in the afternoon sun, with stiffling humidity and you're forced to sprint more than half a kilometre as fast as you possibly can. It's ruthless and exactly what's… Read more Video, Audio

6:55 PM.Can you imagine racking up $17,000 dollar worth of parking tickets in just 6 months, then taking eight years to pay them off? That is the expensive lesson learnt by former Auckland resident Todd… Read more Video, Audio

5:48 PM.Coromandel business owners are hailing what they say is the best summer in a decade. After two years of covid, and its lifeline highway washed away in last year's summer storms, it's been a disruptive… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.The SPCA is slashing its adoption fees to ease pressure on its packed animal shelters . From next week adoptions will be half price whether its a kitten, puppy, pony or porka. Nationwide the SPCA has… Read more Video, Audio

5:29 PM.If you are in one of the hot spots literally, getting a good night sleep may be a challenge. So to help turn the nightmare around we're joined by University of Otago sleep researcher Professor Barbara… Read more Video, Audio

5:25 PM.New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has shaken off a tough 2023 to get back into the winners circle at the season-opening LPGA event in Florida. Ko had a two shot victory at the Tournament of Champions… Read more Video, Audio

5:20 PM.Parts of the country have again been sizzling in super hot weather, with some areas tipping over 30 degrees. Metservice has issued heat alerts for 18 towns and cities, all the way from Kaitaia to… Read more Audio

5:11 PM.A scene from Mad Max is how one surfer has described the chaos on Muriwai Beach, when vehicles are hooning around. The death of a young person has sparked calls for vehicles to be permanently banned… Read more Video, Audio

5:42 PM.While Christmas is a time of coming together for many, not everyone has the luxury of friends or family in their town to gather with. An Auckland Yoga teacher says she's been in that boat before, and… Read more Audio

5:30 PM.If you're struggling to find time to catch up with your mates ahead of Christmas, the solution might be… chicken parmigiana? Well for one group of friends in Melbourne it has certainly helped. Andrea… Read more Audio

5:27 PM.Aucklanders who've spent the year dealing with storm-affected homes are getting some relief, as the first of the council property buyouts begins. Auckland Council has been working with insurers and… Read more Audio

5:23 PM.The Black Caps are allaying fears over the fitness of captain Kane Williamson after he was withdrawn from the upcoming T20 series against Bangladesh.

Williamson and pace bowler Kyle Jamieson have… Read more Audio

5:19 PM.Emergency water tanks are selling out across Wellington, as the region moves closer to strict water restrictions. New modelling from Wellington Water shows the chance of an acute water shortage has… Read more Audio

5:16 PM.There will be security guards at 32 hospital emergency departments across the country this summer. The government is spending an extra $5.7m on short-term security after an increase in violent… Read more Audio

5:10 PM.It's a busy time on our roads and at petrol stations. Terry Collins, a Fuel Spokesperson for the AA, speaks to Jimmy Ellingham about the cost of filling up this festive season, and what tips or tricks… Read more Audio

5:07 PM.'Tis the season for reuniting with loved ones... and traffic jams and airport queues. It's the busiest day of the year for Auckland Airport, with 63,000 people expected to arrive or leave on flights… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.Christchurch's Methodist Mission has been a hive of holiday cheer today, as donated Christmas hampers were dropped off and given to those struggling to put a meal on the table. Volunteers, dressed as… Read more Audio

5:35 PM.Animal Control Officers will be out in force at Auckland's West Coast beaches , making sure nobody's breaking the rules. Piha is one of the region's worst beaches for bad behaviour from dog owners… Read more Audio

5:26 PM.Locals in a tiny Central Hawke's Bay town want a new vape store gone. A petition delivered to the council calling for the closure of the shop in Otane has gathered 500 signatures. But the shop owner… Read more Audio