Checkpoint for Friday 8 March 2024

5:43 PM.Asia correspondent Per Elinder Lilijas speaks to Lisa Owen about Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the United States urging allies to impose harsher sanctions against China's microchip sector, and the… Read more Audio

5:35 PM.US President Joe Biden has just finished delivering a one hour state of the union address,  his final speech to congress before the election later this year. Washington DC is CNN's Julia Benbow speaks… Read more Audio

5:30 PM.The government has launched an ambitious set of health targets, with an admission it might not hit them. The final step of the coalition's 100 day plan aims to cut wait times for emergency… Read more Audio

5:25 PM.The Black Caps' struggles against Australia are continuing in Christchurch. After winning the first Test by a big margin, Australia have the upper-hand on day one of the second Test. Sports reporter… Read more Audio

5:18 PM.Parents have been left scrambling after their before and after school care providers closed their doors with little warning MASH and its sister company Caspa, run more than 40 programmes across the… Read more Audio

5:15 PM.A tough day ending in tears at TVNZ. The broadcaster has confirmed Sunday, Fair Go, and two news bulletins, Midday and Tonight, are to be axed. Chief executive Jodi O'Donnell delivered the news to her… Read more Audio

5:07 PM.The government has been asked to fund an Auckland based police training college to help reach its target of 500 additional officers in two years. Figures released to Checkpoint show it will be almost… Read more Audio

4:42 PM.Another crushing blow for the media industry today, with the confirmation that long running consumer affairs show Fair Go is being axed alongside current affairs programme Sunday, News at Midday and… Read more Audio

4:33 PM.Milk bottle tops and aerosol cans are now a "no" for the recycle bin. But pizza boxes are fine, just take the pizza out. New recycling rules came into effect on the 1st of February. Are we complying… Read more Audio

4:29 PM.Auckland police are ramping up patrols at petrol stations in response to a recent spate of robberies and burglaries. According to one Auckland councillor, the boost in police visibility is just what… Read more Audio

4:26 PM.It's a massive weekend of sport coming up, with rugby, league, cricket and boxing on. Jamie Wall speaks to Lisa Owen. Read more Audio

4:13 PM.The government's unveiled its health targets as its final move in its 100 day plan. It's announced five major health targets relating to cancer treatment, child immunisation, ED wait times, specialist… Read more Audio

4:06 PM.The government is targeting childhood vaccinations with a goal of 95% of all children to be fully immunised by age 2. Right now only 83% of kiwi kids are up to date with their shots by age 2, lagging… Read more Audio