Checkpoint for Friday 8 October 2021

6:34 PM.Checkpoint reporter Nita Blake Persen is in Whangārei. She talks to Lisa Owen as the region enters another level 3 lockdown.

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6:34 PM.RNZ health correspondent Rowan Quinn discusses details of the Covid-19 case that has put Northland in level 3 restrictions.

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6:33 PM.With Northland entering level 3, Auckland in level with benefits, and Waikato in level 3 restrictions, University of Otago epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker told Checkpoint there needs to be… Read more Video, Audio

6:32 PM."I'm actually quite grumpy," Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai told Checkpoint after the announcement of level 3 lockdown for Northland.

"We've got a person who really has done everything that they should… Read more Video, Audio

6:30 PM.Northland will move to alert level 3 from midnight tonight, following recent information on the risk presented by the positive case initially tested in Whangārei, Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins has… Read more Video, Audio

6:18 PM.Grounded Kiwis - a group of New Zealand citizens overseas who are struggling to get into MIQ - have launched legal action against the government over the MIQ system.

Public law specialist Paul Radich… Read more Video, Audio

6:08 PM.Taranaki health officials fear low vaccination rates in the province make delta's imminent arrival a perfect storm for Māori.

Earlier this week, only 24 percent of Taranaki Māori were fully… Read more Audio

5:54 PM.A small Southland community is rallying to save its star tourist attraction - and Australasia's last bottle house.

Made from 20,000 bottles - the focal point of Waikaia has sprung a leak that needs… Read more Video, Audio

5:50 PM.It's a rare throwback to the good old days of amateur rugby. Tomorrow afternoon in Taupō, All Blacks captain Sam Cane will team up with fencers, farmers and forestry workers when he turns out for the… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.For Aucklanders in the midst of about 50 days in lockdown and 44 new Covid-19 infections today, spare a thought for the state of Victoria which is in the thick of a serious outbreak, breaking its own… Read more Audio

5:40 PM.The government is beefing up efforts to vaccinate Māori against Covid-19 - with the Prime Minister out on the road to show support.

Jacinda Ardern is on a quick-fire tour of the eastern North Island… Read more Video, Audio

5:35 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6276109175001 Video, Audio

5:29 PM.The SPCA is facing its biggest kitten season yet after desexing was put on hold in lockdown.

Now it is desperate for foster parents and adoptions to help them catch up with the backlog and to make… Read more Video, Audio

5:24 PM.Tai Tokerau whānau are nervously waiting to see if the region has escaped any Covid spread after a positive case visited the region.

The Ministry of Health has yet to release any locations of… Read more Audio

5:18 PM.Parts of South Auckland, along with the Barrier islands and Wellsford are among the worst in the region when it comes to vaccination rates per thousand people.

Data released by the Ministry of Health… Read more Video, Audio

5:08 PM.It has been described as a lottery in human misery. The Managed Isolation and Quarantine system now faces a challenge in court.

On Friday, the Grounded Kiwis group filed documents in the High Court… Read more Video, Audio