Checkpoint for Tuesday 17 March 2020

5:07 PM.The government has administered the economy an unprecedented $12.1 billion shot to help those hit hard by the Covid-19 epidemic.

In what it calls the largest peacetime economic plan in New Zealand's… Read more Video, Audio

5:19 PM.The economic package to support the growing effects of the Covid-19 package has been welcomed by the business community. Andrew McRae reports. Audio

5:23 PM.Businesses in Wellington are welcoming the support package. Iko Iko gift shop on Cuba street has seen a sharp decline in foot traffic over the past couple of days. Co-owner Rose Bollinger told our… Read more Video, Audio

5:27 PM.There are three new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 11, along with two probable cases.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield says… Read more Video, Audio

5:34 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Video, Audio

5:41 PM.The forestry sector was the first to feel the effects of Covid-19 as ports in China prevented the offloading of logs and workers here faced the chop.

But slowly, there looks to be some signs of… Read more Video, Audio

5:46 PM.Events continue to grind to a halt due to Covid-19, with more tumbling from agriculture to theatre.

But others are trying to go ahead by sneaking under the threshold of what the government's… Read more Audio

5:54 PM.A Pike River family member says he feels betrayed by a decision not to re-enter the main workings of the mine.

The announcement was made along with an extra $11 million to complete recovery of the… Read more Audio

6:06 PM.The government is unleashing a $12.1 billion torrent of spending in what it calls the largest peace-time economic plan in New Zealand's modern history.

The rescue package - designed to cushion the… Read more Audio

6:10 PM.All bets are off as SkyCity says it cannot rule out job losses. In an effort to protect its more than 5,000 staff, the company has turned off 40 percent of its pokies on its main casino gaming floor… Read more Video, Audio

6:18 PM.In Dunedin hundreds of green-costumed University of Otago students are celebrating St Patrick's Day despite requests to limit large parties.

It comes after the university urged students not to gather… Read more Audio

6:22 PM.The jury in the trial of a police officer accused of raping his colleague has heard closing addresses from both sides in the case.

The man, whose identity remains secret on appeal, is on trial in the… Read more Audio

6:26 PM.A man who stabbed one of the country's most notorious murderers more than 40 times has been sentenced to preventive detention.

Siuaki Lisiati, himself a convicted murderer, attacked double killer… Read more Audio

6:31 PM.The government has unveiled its biggest economic plan in New Zealand's post-war history to support businesses hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The $12.1 billion package, which represents four… Read more Video, Audio