Checkpoint for Friday 14 March 2025

5:54 PM.It is fast approaching the 100th anniversary of Tokelau's status as a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand. So what could this mean for the relationship between the two countries, and for the… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.United Kingdom correspondent Alice Wilkins spoke to Lisa Owen about Keir Starmer going to scrap NHS England, a significant development in the investigation into the hospital where convicted baby… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.The Transport Minister said he's not getting ahead of decisions on the second Waitemata Harbour crossing - saying history has shown where it's gone wrong. At the government's infrastructure investment… Read more Audio

5:36 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:32 PM.Liam Lawson has made a modest start to his Melbourne Grand Prix weekend, 16th in the first practice session this afternoon. World championship favourite Lando Norris, racing for McLaren, was top of… Read more Audio

5:26 PM.A Huntly school has pulled out of the government's revamped lunch programme altogether, blaming the poor quality of the meals. Meanwhile a survey by the education union's found 80 percent of the… Read more Audio

5:19 PM.Health Minister Simeon Brown rejected advice from health officials to lower the bowel screening age to 58 for the general population and 56 for Maori and Pacific people. According to projections that… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.Dozens of schools are losing their canteens some with just 24 hours notice as the fall out from a school lunch makers liquidation spreads. Libelle, that provides about 125,000 meals a day for the… Read more Audio

4:52 PM.In an effort to get thousands of roaming dogs off the streets and into forever homes - Auckland Council is opening the country's first council operated dog adoption centre in Pukekohe. The need is… Read more Audio

4:46 PM.It's New Zealand versus Wales in a best of three test series that gets underway this weekend, no not the oval ball; we're talking sheep shearing. The first clash is at the Waimarino Shears in Raetihi… Read more Audio

4:42 PM.A prolific sexual predator who attacked and abused vulnerable and sometimes unconscious woman over a decade, will remain behind bars for at least the next ten years. John Hope Muchirahondo who raped… Read more Audio

4:28 PM.While anticipation is building for Liam Lawson's start on the Grid in this weekend's Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, another New Zealand sportsman could be edging towards a huge moment on the… Read more Audio

4:23 PM."It's a legal industry. We should bank it". That was the view of ANZ Chief Antonia Watson on whether sex workers should be able to get bank loans easily. It came up as an issue during a select… Read more Audio

4:15 PM.Asia correspondent Erin Hale spoke to Lisa Owen about more details coming to light about a passenger train that was hijacked by militants in Pakistan and an update on former Philippines president… Read more Audio

4:06 PM."They were everywhere, every corner you looked in." That said by a woman on a suburban street under siege from a stray cat colony who is calling for change so residents can reclaim their properties… Read more Audio