Checkpoint for Wednesday 23 December 2020

5:58 PM.This year's been a testing one for most of us, with covid-19 came travel bans, cancelled plans and uncertain times. But despite the hardships many people had something good happen amongst the madness… Read more Audio

5:51 PM.It might feel like Covid and politics have dominated the news this year - bur other things have happened - good and bad. Here's a reminder of some of the other big stories Checkpoint covered in 2020. Audio

5:47 PM.The curious case of the native Westland petrel fledglings which keep crash-landing on the West Coast. LED street lights through Punakaiki have been switched off to try to help the birds. But the seems… Read more Audio

5:40 PM.Another 58 tonnes of barely used tents and festival waste could be headed for Gisborne's local tip, if Rhythm and Vines punters don't tame their wasteful ways. A graveyard of tents and single use… Read more Audio

5:36 PM.A legal bid to stop the cutting down of exotic trees on Auckland's Owairaka has been rejected by the High Court. Tupuna Maunga Authority wants to remove 345 exotic trees to make way for the planting… Read more Audio

5:27 PM.Australia's response to its latest covid outbreak should give Kiwis confidence we're in the best possible position for a travel bubble - according to a top epidemiologist. New South Wales has today… Read more Audio

5:23 PM.The fight against Kauri dieback in Auckland has been hit by vandals - further endangering the native trees and costing ratepayers more than 100 thousand dollars. But there is good news - with upgrades… Read more Audio

5:20 PM.On Monday, we brought you the story of a Kiwi father's desperate effort to undergo isolation his mentally unwell son, who arrived back in New Zealand from Australia on Tuesday. The man, who we're… Read more Audio

5:15 PM.Police are urging people to delay their travel in and out of Wellington, after a crash caused a major snarl up on State Highway One near Otaki. No one was injured in the crash, but it's caused… Read more Audio

5:12 PM.The police watchdog has launched a nationwide probe after police in Masterton admitted illegally photographing young Maori in the district. The practice came to light after inquires from RNZ about… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.The Imam of the Southland Mosque has invited those who put anti-islamic posters on the Queenstown Mosque around for a coffee to teach them about Islam. Posters with anti-islamic images and messages… Read more Audio