Checkpoint Podcast Options

4:30 PM.The Crusaders and Chiefs have both secured a spot in the Super Rugby Pacific final after hair-raising games for both teams in the semi's. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen. Audio

4:25 PM.Video of a harness racer, who was dragged face down for metres by her bolting horse, has gone viral with the footage viewed more than 1.5 million times. Crystal Hackett had just won a race at… Read more Audio

4:12 PM.Middle East correspondent, Perry Wilton spoke to Lisa Owen about the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran threatening to destabilise the region further. Audio

4:05 PM.The price of butter has continued to rise, and could be set to stay that way for some time according to dairy analysts. The demand for reasonably priced butter has seen it become a fundraising… Read more Audio

5:55 PM.After 145 years iconic Auckland department store Smith and Caughey's will close its doors for the final time this Sunday at 4pm. The closure was set for the end of July but Aucklanders have been… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.United Kingdom correspondent Edward O'Driscoll spoke to Lisa Owen about the victims of the Air India plane crash that was supposed to fly to London, many of which were UK nationals. Audio

5:43 PM.The man who murdered Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao has been jailed for life and will spend at least the next 17 years behind bars. Audio

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

5:32 PM.A grudge match 10 years in the making will finally play out in the boxing ring in Sydney next month. Former All Black Sonny Bill Williams will face Australian rugby league player Paul Gallen… Read more Audio

5:25 PM.A coroner wants the police to reinvestigate the death of Gore pre-schooler Lachlan Jones, saying too many questions remain unanswered and criticising flaws in earlier investigations. Audio

5:08 PM.Explosions have boomed across Iran's capital Tehran overnight as Israel launched an attack on the country's military facilities. The attack has reportedly killed the chief of Iran's Revolutionary… Read more Audio

4:55 PM.The free school lunch programme has gotten major backlash over the cut-price lunches provided by the School Lunch Collective. But in other countries, similar programmes have thrived. Japan has been… Read more Audio

4:50 PM.Some subbies still owed money in the Du Val collapse have said their companies have barely survived and they doubt they'll ever see a cent. The Du Val property group of about 70 entities was put into… Read more Audio

4:29 PM.The Super Rugby Pacifc semi-finals are set to kick off with the Blues looking to break the Crusader's 30 game playoff unbeaten streak on home turf. It would be a second huge upset in just as many… Read more Audio

4:24 PM.Data compiled by Infometrics for RNZ looked at the types of jobs that have disappeared over the past 25 years. Service station attendants were near the top of the list, with 77% of their roles, or… Read more Audio

4:11 PM.Israel has launched a major attack on Iran's capital, targeting military and nuclear sites. Iran's top military commander and other high-ranking regime officials have reportedly been killed. Iran has… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the United States announcing it will review the AUKUS security pact, putting Australia's multi-billion dollar nuclear submarine deal in a… Read more Audio

5:37 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:32 PM.Education advocates have said a government decision to remove special funding for Pacific and Māori students in vocational courses harks back to the days of a one-size-fits all education model. The… Read more Audio

5:27 PM.Netball New Zealand has called for World Netball to amend its strict eligibility criteria, which prevents players representing two different countries at consecutive world cups. Sports reporter… Read more Audio

5:18 PM.While farmers are treated to record dairy and meat prices, mental health is still a massive issue with disproportionately high suicide rates in rural areas. Huge work loads, isolation and lots of… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.Inland revenue figures show a record number of hardship withdrawals from KiwiSaver is the past year. Between July 2024 and April 2025, more than $389 million's been taken out of KiwiSaver for… Read more Audio

4:46 PM.A dozen Auckland High schools are voluntarily making changes to their competition rules to stamp out the use of so-called Year 14 players. Year 14's are students that return for an extra sixth year of… Read more Audio

4:42 PM.Mark Lundy hasn't been able to speak a word publicly since he was released from prison early last month. That's because the man twice convicted of murdering his wife and daughter in Palmerston North… Read more Audio

4:31 PM.The controversial 'run it straight' competition has announced it is relocating from Auckland to the Middle East. The much-maligned collision phenomenon was scheduled to host its final in Auckland this… Read more Audio