Stories by Louise Ternouth
Audio and features
Many workers with disabilities still paid $5 an hour on average
Three years after the government announced it would scrap minimum wage exemptions and replace them with a wage subsidy, some disabled workers are still earning an average of just $5 an hour.
… Video, Audio
Auckland Zoo completes Indonesian Swamp Forest project
Auckland Zoo has completed its largest project yet, a four hundred square metre Indonesian Swamp Forest. The climate controlled dome is the final part of a $62 million South East Asia Jungle Track… Video, Audio
NZ breast cancer sufferers dying twice as fast as those overseas
Kiwi women with advanced breast cancer are dying twice as fast as overseas patients, according to research from the Breast Cancer Foundation. But a new set of clinical guidelines launched today is set… Video, Audio
Eating disorders: 168% increase in hospital admissions of children
The number of Kiwis suffering from eating disorders has skyrocketed over the last five years. Figures obtained by Checkpoint show hospital admissions due to an eating disorder has increased by 75%… Audio
Tonnes of masks diverted from landfill in new initiative
With most people having discarded their mask now that the rules are almost completely over, lots of them have ended up as landfill or litter. But the country's largest mask manufacturer is offering… Video, Audio
Auckland's huge waste water tunnel project starts dig under Manukau Harbour
For the first time, tunneling has begun under a major harbour in Tāmaki Makaurau. It's part of Watercare's giant waste water tunnel, which is expected to make the city's polluted beaches a thing of… Video, Audio
Food prices rise at fastest annual rate in 13 years
Food prices have risen at their fastest annual rate in 13 years. Data from Stats NZ shows food prices were 8.3 percent higher this month compared to the same period last year.
And Countdown says… Video, Audio
First training cafe for young people with disabilities opens doors
The country's first training cafe for young people living with disabilities has opened its doors.
Checkpoint reporter Louise Ternouth and camera operator Nick Monro have the story. Video, Audio
Student with debilitating Long Covid losing months off school
Children and teenagers battling Long Covid are having to take months off school with debilitating symptoms.
More than 1.7 million New Zealanders have contracted the virus since the pandemic began… Video, Audio
Pressure mounts for buy now pay later schemes to be regulated
Pressure is mounting for buy now pay later schemes to be regulated, with fears they're a 'ticking time bomb' for vulnerable people.
Services like Afterpay, Laybuy, and ZipPay are interest free with… Audio
All Waitakere dams full after Auckland's second wettest July
All of Auckland's western dams are full after the country's wettest July on record. Video, Audio
NZ healthcare workers feel sidelined as govt seeks recruits
New Zealand health care workers say the government's health recruitment service has disregarded retaining their own workers. And with better pay and working conditions offered overseas many are now… Video, Audio
Renters stuck in cold, damp homes as compliance with law lacking - advocates
The winter chill is still with us, and property inspectors are urging landlords to ensure their rentals are warm and dry.
Compliance with healthy homes standards is still lagging, more than two years… Audio
Public-facing staff call for more support to stop Covid reinfections
Workers who deal with the public are calling for more support as they fight an uphill battle to make sure they don't get Covid again.
The Ministry of Health says 16,000 people have been reinfected… Audio
Popular community garden's growth stunted by bureaucracy
It's not just chopping onions that'll make your eyes water these days, but paying for them too.
As the price of fruit n veges hits harder, many Kiwis are growing their own. On the Hibiscus Coast a… Video, Audio
More support urged for many struggling to keep warm in winter
New Zealand is known for its cold homes, and as winter bites, calls are growing for more support for those who can't keep warm.
Charities say more and more people are struggling to pay their power… Audio
Long Covid researcher skeptical of study suggesting Omicron causes less disease
New research from a UK study shows Omicron may be less likely to cause long Covid than its predecessor, Delta.
But here in New Zealand, researchers and long Covid sufferers say that's not the case… Audio
$190m of KiwiSaver funds invested in weapons, figures show
Figures from Mindful Money show $190 million of KiwiSaver funds are invested in companies involved in the manufacture of weapons like firearms, missiles and ammunition.
That's despite over 80 percent… Audio
Teens launch skateboarding charity with hopes to go global
A pair of 12 year-old schoolgirls with big dreams have launched a skateboarding charity that they're hoping to take global.
What started out as a plea for skateboard donations has now become an… Video, Audio
On demand public transport service on trial in Auckland suburbs
Who needs Uber when public transport will pick you up pretty much right outside your place? In Auckland, a trial is underway where travellers can order an electric van or car to pick you up and take… Video, Audio
MIQ transport cost near $10m after facilities 'no longer justified'
Checkpoint can reveal it cost $9.1 million to transport returning New Zealanders to MIQ facilities after health officials deemed it "no longer justified".
MIQ was maintained for three months despite… Audio
Omicron tail hitting businesses struggling to recover
Businesses battling to make up for lost earnings due to Covid, are now grappling with a second wave of the virus side-lining staff.
Some are resorting to hiring 'Covid fill-ins' to cover staff… Audio
Big Budget boost for Pharmac, but advocates call for more
Pharmac's been given its biggest ever Budget allowance - $191 million - but it falls well short of what patient advocates wanted.
The drug buying agency would've needed around $400 million to clear… Audio
Antibody testing underused to help long Covid sufferers - expert
Experts say antibody testing is being under-utilised as a tool to help long Covid sufferers - who never tested positive on a RAT.
One in five people who've had Covid are still experiencing symptoms… Audio
Children eligible but less than a quarter fully vaccinated for Covid
It's been four months since children aged between 5-11 year olds became eligible for Covid vaccinations but latest data shows less than a quarter have received both jabs.
And with that age group… Audio