Checkpoint Podcast Options

5:54 PM.It's well and truly supposed to be summer by now - but Otago was heading towards a white Christmas this morning.

Parts of Central Otago, Southland and Queenstown woke to freezing temperatures and… Read more Video, Audio

5:42 PM.A man who was abused in both state and church-based care says pent-up frustration over what happened to him prompted him to stab a convicted paedophile in prison.

Roy Takiaho gave evidence today to… Read more Audio

5:37 PM.Hopes are now gone that thousands of tonnes of toxic waste may be removed from Mataura by Christmas.

The Environment Court is trying to mediate a resolution between the Environmental Defence Society… Read more Audio

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

5:28 PM.Armed with just a baseball bat, a Hastings Dairy owner has managed to chase off a would be robber waving what appears to be a gun straight at her.

Police do not recommend this as a standard approach… Read more Video, Audio

5:26 PM.A half century from Henry Nicholls has helped the Black Caps recover from a wobbly start in their second test against the West Indies.

At lunch, New Zealand were 82 for 3 - and have spent the… Read more Audio

5:23 PM.Queensland is opening up its border to New Zealanders - who won't have to quarantine upon arrival.

It follows a major push by the Australian government to attract Kiwis to help with a shortage of… Read more Audio

5:15 PM.Dunedin's mayor says there's no reason to cancel any other big events in the city after Otago University graduations were postponed this week due to a targeted, but unspecified threat.

Hundreds of… Read more Audio

5:12 PM.Taxpayers have had to stump up more than $330,000 on a legal dispute sparked by Parliament's Speaker Trevor Mallard falsely accusing a staffer of rape.

Both the National and ACT parties say it's time… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.Furniture, clothing, bikes, construction fittings and footwear are among thousands of products making their way south from Whangārei in a Christmas convoy.

The products are in 1200 containers which… Read more Video, Audio

6:25 PM.The Black Ferns lock Joanah Ngan-Woo is an inspiration for young women on and off the field and she's breaking barriers as a Pasifika woman.

The 24-year-old has had a big 2020, juggling preparations… Read more Audio

6:16 PM.A mayoral taskforce into Wellington's water woes has unanimously concluded the current approach is failing and major investment is needed to deal with decades of neglect.

Its findings have just been… Read more Audio

6:08 PM.A concussion expert believes New Zealand Rugby is doing all it to can to provide a safe workplace but players need to know there's a risk in contact sports.

A group of former international rugby… Read more Video, Audio

5:55 PM.Christmas is still a few weeks away, but the country's retailers are getting an early gift. Shop owners lose thousands of dollars a year to contactless fees, but now the government has taken a big… Read more Audio

5:41 PM.A woman gassed with pepper spray inside her prison cell is taking legal action to stop Corrections using the cell busting technique, which has been linked to two deaths in America this year.

Lawyers… Read more Video, Audio

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

5:17 PM.New Zealand should prepare for a wave of former rugby players suffering degenerative brain disease, after repeated knocks on the field, an Australian player agent says.

Peter Jess, who fights for… Read more Video, Audio

5:14 PM.The fallout from crippling delays at the Ports of Auckland will be most visible on the road between Auckland and Whangārei over the coming days.

From Friday, Waka Kotahi says there will be 800… Read more Video, Audio

5:07 PM.Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is refusing to express confidence in the chief executive or leadership of the Ports of Auckland, following major delays clearing cargo and a spate of serious accidents… Read more Video, Audio

6:17 PM.A prominent Wellington concert promoter says the capital is languishing behind other regions and needs a large multi-purpose arena for gigs.

A report commissioned for the region's economic… Read more Audio

6:12 PM.Judith Collins has offered a brutal account of National's lead up to polling day - labelling her campaign team inexperienced.

She made the remarks as politicians gathered for a post-election debrief… Read more Audio

6:09 PM.The Opposition wants the Speaker to be up front about how much taxpayer money was spent defending a defamation claim.

Yesterday Trevor Mallard apologised for comments he made last year claiming a… Read more Audio

5:56 PM.Trees, fairy lights, wrapping paper, massive meals - Christmas is a time of excess, and it hits the environment hard.

Can we reduce our carbon footprint, without becoming the grinch?

Louise Ternouth… Read more Audio

5:53 PM.New Zealand's bad results in an international maths and science test are being blamed on ability-grouping in classrooms and the previous government's national standards in reading, writing and maths.

5:49 PM.The head of the SIS is facing calls to stand down from the role - with the Greens saying she's unfit to lead the agency. Some in the Muslim community too have little faith in Rebecca Kitteridge.

They… Read more Audio