Checkpoint for Friday 28 February 2020

5:07 PM.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has ramped up her rhetoric during her visit to Australia, telling her counterpart Scott Morrison that his government's policy of deporting convicted Kiwis to New Zealand… Read more Audio

5:11 PM.UPDATE 17:35: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed the Covid-19 case being tested in NZ is positive. A person in their 60s is in Auckland Hospital. They are a permanent resident to NZ and had… Read more Video, Audio

5:14 PM.Ethnic Communities Minister Jenny Salesa has dined out for lunch on Auckland's Dominion Road today in a bid to drive up falling trade in the Asian restaurant sector.

Some restaurants are reporting as… Read more Video, Audio

5:24 PM.The State Services Commissioner says Treasury officials doing their best was "not good enough" ahead of last year's leak of information on a government website.

However he didn't point the finger at… Read more Audio

5:27 PM.The Serious Fraud Office will now look at the electoral spending of Mayors Lianne Dalziel and Phil Goff, after referrals from police.

A former Christchurch Mayoral candidate John Minto complained… Read more Video, Audio

5:37 PM.The Prime Minister has confirmed New Zealand has its first case of Coronavirus.

Health correspondent Rowan Quinn joins Lisa Owen live in the Checkpoint studio. Read more Video, Audio

5:41 PM.The suppliers of a common anti-depressant medicine are keeping Pharmac on month-to-month rations.

Pharmac operations director Lisa Williams tells RNZ health correspondent Rowan Quinn the problem… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Video, Audio

5:47 PM.Plans to commemorate last year's terror attack on March 15 risk re-opening emotional wounds, say Christchurch's Muslim community, as they explain there's no tradition of marking anniversaries in… Read more Audio

5:50 PM.Tauranga's Mayor Tenby Powell calls for "bold leadership to take the city forward" and delayed rate rises in recent years has forced him into some difficult decisions to pay for its rapid growth.

… Read more Audio

5:54 PM.A new project is poised to turn around Eastern Bay of Plenty's social and economic woes, promising thousands of jobs.

It is part of a dozen projects announced by the government on Friday, with $80… Read more Audio

6:06 PM.The Prime Minister has confirmed New Zealand has its first case of Coronavirus.

RNZ health correspondent Rowan Quinn joins Lisa Owen live in the Checkpoint studio. Read more Audio

6:11 PM.Political reporter Jo Moir joins the programme live from Sydney, where Jacinda Ardern has met with Scott Morrison to condemn Australia's treatment of Kiwis there - both those who follow and transgress… Read more Video, Audio

6:21 PM.The Chair of Wellington Rugby Club says "every club is bust" and the game has changed too fast for clubs to adapt.

This comes as New Zealand Rugby flags changes to save up to $20 to 30 million. Harry… Read more Audio

6:24 PM.Christchurch residents forced away from their redzone homes returned today for the unveiling of the the Avon loop pathway - the first redevelopment, nine years on from the deadly earthquake.

Reporter… Read more Audio

6:30 PM.One case of Covid-19 coronavirus has been confirmed in New Zealand. Health Minister David Clark and Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield have held a press conference discussing the case.

Dr… Read more Video, Audio

6:50 PM.Professor Michael Baker speaks to Lisa Owen regarding the corona virus. Video, Audio