Checkpoint for Wednesday 4 December 2024

5:44 PM.Chinese national Tingjun Cao has been found guilty of murdering Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao by a High Court jury. The jury delivered its verdict after deliberating for two hours… Read more Audio

5:41 PM.Africa correspondent Elna Schutz spoke to Lisa Owen about United States President Joe Biden currently on his first trip to African nations, Namibia's election last week and Zimbabwe changing some laws… Read more Audio

5:35 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:33 PM.The verbal war between Auckland FC and the Wellington Phoenix is intensifying. With Auckland kicking off the mind games yesterday, the Phoenix have fired back ahead of their derby this weekend. Sports… Read more Audio

5:25 PM.South Korea's president has sent shockwaves through his country by trying to impose martial law in the middle of the night. The decision was met with disbelief in the people in the streets - who… Read more Audio

5:21 PM.A man who was 14 when he said he was raped by a well-known local figure on trial for sexual abuse said the accused knew how old he was when the pair met through a dating website.The man admits that… Read more Audio

5:11 PM.The local council issued a Do Not Drink notice on Monday after nitrate levels exceeded the acceptable levels of 50 milligrams per litre of water, posing a risk to people particularly pregnant women… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.A leading virologist said she won't be surprised if the Otago bird flu virus continues to spread to other farms in the way it did in the devastating outbreak in the Australian state of Victoria. A… Read more Audio

4:48 PM.Tickets for some Air New Zealand flights could be more expensive next year, with the airline running fewer flights on some domestic routes. Authorities and businesses in Gisborne and Rotorua fear the… Read more Audio

4:42 PM.Friends and family of three climbers lost on Aoraki Mount Cook have been told to expect the worst with equipment found on the mountain suggesting the group may have suffered a catastrophic fall. One… Read more Audio

4:29 PM.The Black Caps now have an even tougher path to the World Test Championship final. The side was deducted three competition points for a slow over rate against England in Christchurch. Sports reporter… Read more Audio

4:22 PM.The Commonwealth Bank in Australia has caused a ruckus with its plans to charge some customers to withdraw money through a branch. It's moving a number of customers to a new kind of account that comes… Read more Audio

4:12 PM.Calls are growing for South Korea' president to be removed from power after he declared martial law - and then lifted it hours later. It was the first time in 50 years martial law had been declared… Read more Audio

4:06 PM.A second Otago free range chicken farm is in isolation and testing is underway after birds started showing signs of illness and a number have died. The property has about six thousand birds and is not… Read more Audio