Checkpoint for Friday 7 May 2021

5:07 PM.The Ministry of Social Development [MSD] has a system for beneficiaries to repay debt, but getting MSD to pay money owed is a bureaucratic nightmare, one south Auckland social worker says.

When the… Read more Video, Audio

5:16 PM.A man wanting to visit New Zealand for his mum's funeral, is among hundreds of travellers in limbo either side of the Tasman.

A 48-hour pause has been put on travel between New Zealand and New South… Read more Audio

5:21 PM.Labour is forging ahead with the most radical overhaul of labour laws in decades, unveiling details of its promised Fair Pay Agreements.

The agreements would set minimum employment conditions for an… Read more Audio

5:24 PM.Cold case closed: Almost 34 years after Chris Bush was shot dead at the Red Fox Tavern in Maramarua - two men have finally been jailed for life for the crime.

Mark Hoggart and another man with name… Read more Video, Audio

5:28 PM.Covid-19 forced some people to part with their pets for more than a year. But the wait is finally over.

A 'Noah's Ark' charter flight from Canada, filled with dozens of beloved cats and dogs has… Read more Video, Audio

5:34 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6253029316001 Video, Audio

5:39 PM.It is time to revive the trans-Tasman bubble with New South Wales according to infectious disease specialist Professor Peter Collignon, who says he would not have shut it down in the first place.

The… Read more Video, Audio

5:45 PM.New Zealand became a refuge for top-level women's sports teams during Covid-19, hosting international netball and cricket matches when other countries couldn't or wouldn't.

But not every women's… Read more Audio

5:50 PM.A Canterbury woman is still waiting to find out if she can get mental injury cover from ACC following a traumatic injury suffered more than two years ago.

Laura Roberts suffered an injury to her arm… Read more Video, Audio

5:55 PM.Whangārei's highly anticipated Hundertwasser Art Centre is a step closer to completion with the golden globe which will sit atop the building nearly finished.

Real gold has been sent over from Italy… Read more Video, Audio

6:08 PM.A grandparents' support group is calling on the Ministry of Social Development to lift its game when it comes to coughing up what it owes carers.

Checkpoint heard from a woman caring for her nephew… Read more Video, Audio

6:16 PM.Trustees of Christchurch's Linwood mosque say they have been completely sidelined by a secret deal to build a brand new masjid on the site.

Money for the $10 million mosque, which will be the biggest… Read more Audio

6:20 PM.They say it's long overdue, but survivors of sexual harm are welcoming a new government initiative aimed at hearing their voices.

It's as figures show half of wāhine Māori have experienced some form… Read more Audio

6:24 PM.The government has announced a boost in funding for mental health in the north but even the Minister concedes that for some people it will feel overdue.

Andrew Little has announced $4.5 million will… Read more Video, Audio