Checkpoint Podcast Options

5:24 PM.Kiwi MMA fighter Dan Hooker has vowed to stage more backyard fights in future. The UFC lightweight last weekend hosted 32 men in a 'one minute scrap' tournament for a 50,000 dollar prize. Sports… Read more Audio

5:16 PM.After one of the most respected child advocacy agencies in the world ranked New Zealand the lowest out of 36 countries for youth mental health, the appalling figure was widely quoted. The report on… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.Pushing to prosecute parents of chronically truant kids is a pointless exercise according to one school principal. Associate Education Minister David Seymour is leading the government charge to get… Read more Audio

4:50 PM.Dargaville residents are being asked to conserve water after maintenance teams have worked for hours to patch major breaks in the system. At one point the towns reservoir was down to 10 percent full… Read more Audio

4:47 PM.Driving schools that offer lessons in high-tech car simulators are at odds with the transport agency over safety risks they could pose for learner drivers once they hit the road. The NZTA argues… Read more Audio

4:43 PM.A social enterprise in the Hutt Valley said demand for basic essentials has increased since the public sector cuts. Common Unity Project Aotearoa is based in a building called the The Remakery - home… Read more Audio

4:32 PM.It's Friday - but for rugby fans it's more of a Fri-YAY as Aotearoa heads into the exciting and somewhat confusing final round of Super Rugby. Sports Reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen. Audio

4:25 PM.Boom Boom, the Taupo dinosaur, is exploding on social media after a rocky start with some rate payers. The near ten metre tall dinosaur sculpture sitting on a large geometric rock is the town's latest… Read more Audio

4:18 PM.Asia correspondent Erin Hale spoke to Lisa Owen about Covid-19 in Taiwan, Japan cracking down on weird names for kids like Pikachu and how a Chinese paraglider accidentally flew more than 8500 metres… Read more Audio

4:08 PM.Before the King's Birthday long weekend is done, a list of kiwi's will be crowned with their own titles, when the honours list is unveiled on Monday. Those people will recieve titles such as dame or… Read more Audio

5:55 PM.In a curious case on Norfolk Island, a package believed to contain about 40 kilograms worth of cocaine has washed up onshore. It was found by tourists on Tuesday afternoon at Anson Bay. Caleb… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.In Australia the federal opposition is vowing to rebuild and better represent the expectations of more Australians -- after copping a drubbing at the recent election. But the coalition's first female… Read more Audio

5:42 PM.The government is billing its Resource Management consultation as the country's biggest ever change to national direction. It comes hot on the heels of the fast track changes and leading up the full… Read more Audio

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

5:32 PM.Lydia Ko's pursuit of golf's career Grand Slam begins at the US Open in Wisconsin. A career grand slam on the LPGA Tour is when a player wins four of the five major championships over the course of a… Read more Audio

5:32 PM.The North Island and South Island are going head-to-head in a competition to see which region has the best tasting tap water. Four New Zealand district councils are vying for the coveted title… Read more Audio

5:23 PM.The stars of New Zealand music are sweeping up the red carpet right now for the 60th annual Aotearoa Music Awards. The celebration of New Zealand's best talent follows Lorde's surprise pop-up concert… Read more Audio

5:16 PM.Imagine growing up in New Zealand your whole life only to find at 18 that you have no right to work, study or even remain here. That's the reality facing a rising number of undocumented young people… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.19 year old Ryan Satterthwaite suffered a catastrophic head injury while playing a version of Run It Straight. Since the death some high profile sports people and organisations have come out warning… Read more Audio

4:54 PM.There are mounting calls for sports stars and influencers to come out publicly against the dangers of run it-type games, including from the family of a man who died of head trauma over 20 years ago… Read more Audio

4:47 PM.The poor health of Hawkes Bay Maori is costing lives and the region more than $120 million a year in lost productivity. That is according to a new study that investigates the link between health and… Read more Audio

4:36 PM.Auckland motorists who park without paying may want to think twice about chancing their arm now the city has full fleet of parking enforcement vehicles that can catch you out in a split second. The… Read more Audio

4:33 PM.Ardie Savea isn't expecting a very warm welcome on his return to Wellington. The Moana skipper returns to the capital for the first time since leaving his franchise of ten years. Sports reporter Jonty… Read more Audio

4:25 PM.Leithfield School, Te Kura o Kowai, a primary school north of Christchurch has been selling 250 gram blocks for four bucks. It's a bargain compared to some supermarket butter blocks that are more than… Read more Audio

4:12 PM.Elon Musk is removing one of his many hats, confirming he's bidding farewell to the White House. The billionaire owner of X and Tesla has spent the last few months heading up the Department of… Read more Audio