Checkpoint for Thursday 18 May 2023

6:22 PM.In Wellington, police have begun recovering bodies from the scene of the deliberately-lit Loafers Lodge fire. The fire broke out in the Newtown building just after midnight on Tuesday, but it's still… Read more Video, Audio

6:15 PM.ACT says the government is adding pressure on the cost of living - not relieving it. Party leader David Seymour talks to Lisa Owen. [embed]… Read more Video, Audio

6:07 PM.Grant Robertson's sixth budget headlines with a pitch to young families - extending 20 hours free early childcare to two-year-olds. Continuing with the young person theme - the government's also… Read more Video, Audio

5:36 PM.National is calling Budget 2023 a "blowout budget". The party's deputy leader and finance spokesperson Nicola Willis talks to Lisa Owen. [embed]… Read more Video, Audio

5:35 PM.Finance Minister Grant Robertson says there's something in Budget 2023 for everyone. He joins Lisa Owen, live from Parliament. [embed]… Read more Video, Audio

5:32 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6327721986112 Video, Audio

5:17 PM.The government's making prescriptions free - saying an estimated three million people will no longer have to worry about the cost of collecting their medicine. It says there were more than 135,000… Read more Video, Audio

5:11 PM.Early Childhood Council chief executive Simon Laube is welcoming the extension of 20 free hours to two year olds in early childhood education. He told Checkpoint there'll be a lot of two-year-olds in… Read more Video, Audio

5:07 PM.Young families are the target of Budget 2023, with a promise to extend the 20 free hours subsidy to two year olds - but only from March 2024. Children under 13 will travel free on public transport… Read more Video, Audio