Checkpoint Podcast Options

5:14 PM.The Prime Minister has defended the government's bail out decision, saying it's a pragmatic decision to keep the ski field going for this season. Visual journalist Marika Khabazi went to ask people… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.The long term fate of Whakapapa ski field may be on the downward slide. In what it's described as a last chance saloon; the government's kicking another seven million dollars into the failing venture… Read more Audio

4:46 PM.A dental charity working in some of the motu's poorest communities desperately needs more volunteer dentists to keep up with demand. It's a nationwide problem, but its being acutely felt on the east… Read more Audio

4:41 PM.Businesses that rely on Mt Ruapehu's Whakapapa slopes are popping the corks after the government announced a 7 million dollar cash injection for the ski field. Meanwhile, those on the other side of… Read more Audio

4:33 PM.Labour MPs have met for their belated caucus retreat, where the focus was on re-building after the party's election drubbing. But there were also questions about Labour's position on tax, with one MP… Read more Audio

4:29 PM.The name of New Zealand's newest sports franchise has been revealed. The Auckland side to play in the men's A-League football competition from next year is starting to form an identity and after… Read more Audio

4:24 PM.It's official, there's a drought at the top of the South Island; something farmers have known for weeks but said the government has been too slow to act. Agriculture Minister, Todd McClay today… Read more Audio

4:17 PM.United States correspondent Todd Zwillich speaks to Lisa Owen about the bill to "ban" TikTok passing through the US House of Representatives, one of Donald Trump's top aides heading behind bars and a… Read more Audio

4:06 PM.Statistics NZ data shows domestic airfares increased 7.4% in February compared to January. Earlier this year, Air NZ CEO Greg Foran told Checkpoint the airline was facing significant cost increases… Read more Audio

5:55 PM.A growing family needs more room - and for giraffes that's no exception. Baby Nia was born four months ago and now Wellington Zoo is building a bigger home for her, mum, dad and great aunt Zahara. As… Read more Audio

5:53 PM.Earlier we heard from the mayor of Yarra, in Melbourne, where they're looking at pinging bigger, more emitting vehicles for higher parking prices. Would you support the same happening here? Visual… Read more Audio

5:31 PM.Protesters made their feelings clear today outside a hearing reconsidering an application to mine the seabed in the Taranaki Bight. The Environmental Protection Authority is revisiting Trans-Tasman… Read more Audio

5:26 PM.Canoe slalom paddler Luuka Jones has joined a select group of New Zealand Olympic athletes. A Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist, Jones will become just the third New Zealand woman to compete at five… Read more Audio

5:17 PM.The government is stumping up another 7 million dollars for Ruapehu Alpine Lifts to ensure the ski season can go ahead on Whakapapa. Cabinet has also agreed to provide three million in equity and loan… Read more Audio

5:13 PM.Squeezed household budgets are putting a big dent in how much money people can spend at the shops and retailers are struggling to stay afloat, some closing doors. Retailers are looking at another… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.A post mortem is underway on humans remains found in a rubbish bag floating on Gulf Harbour north of Auckland. Police say their priority is to identify he person and cause of death. They've completed… Read more Audio

4:45 PM.Thieves are dicing with death and causing significant power cuts scaling high voltage lines to pinch copper for scrap metal and the police need help identifying them. A 42 year old man is facing theft… Read more Audio

4:41 PM.Former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman has pleaded guilty to four shoplifting charges. Ghahraman is accused of stealing over $8000 worth of goods from two boutique stores in Auckland and one in Wellington… Read more Audio

4:30 PM.SANZAAR's drive for a 20 minute red card to be introduced across the international game is headed for a crucial vote. The potential rule change, which has been trialled in Super Rugby since 2020, was… Read more Audio

4:28 PM.A post mortem is today being carried out on an unidentified body found wrapped in plastic and floating in Auckland's Gulf Harbour yesterday. A recreational fisherman made the grim discovery yesterday… Read more Audio

4:22 PM.An agency driving work to rid Aotearoa of pests, is warning the country's 2050 predator free goal could be an endangered species itself, with areas that are already pest free at risk of being… Read more Audio

4:05 PM.Is the great Aussie ute and its close cousin the SUV no longer welcome in the big smoke? The Melbourne council of Yarra is investigating higher parking fees and costs for drivers of chunkier vehicles… Read more Audio