Checkpoint Podcast Options

5:27 PM.Aucklanders who've spent the year dealing with storm-affected homes are getting some relief, as the first of the council property buyouts begins. Auckland Council has been working with insurers and… Read more Audio

5:23 PM.The Black Caps are allaying fears over the fitness of captain Kane Williamson after he was withdrawn from the upcoming T20 series against Bangladesh.

Williamson and pace bowler Kyle Jamieson have… Read more Audio

5:19 PM.Emergency water tanks are selling out across Wellington, as the region moves closer to strict water restrictions. New modelling from Wellington Water shows the chance of an acute water shortage has… Read more Audio

5:16 PM.There will be security guards at 32 hospital emergency departments across the country this summer. The government is spending an extra $5.7m on short-term security after an increase in violent… Read more Audio

5:10 PM.It's a busy time on our roads and at petrol stations. Terry Collins, a Fuel Spokesperson for the AA, speaks to Jimmy Ellingham about the cost of filling up this festive season, and what tips or tricks… Read more Audio

5:07 PM.'Tis the season for reuniting with loved ones... and traffic jams and airport queues. It's the busiest day of the year for Auckland Airport, with 63,000 people expected to arrive or leave on flights… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.Christchurch's Methodist Mission has been a hive of holiday cheer today, as donated Christmas hampers were dropped off and given to those struggling to put a meal on the table. Volunteers, dressed as… Read more Audio

5:35 PM.Animal Control Officers will be out in force at Auckland's West Coast beaches , making sure nobody's breaking the rules. Piha is one of the region's worst beaches for bad behaviour from dog owners… Read more Audio

5:26 PM.Locals in a tiny Central Hawke's Bay town want a new vape store gone. A petition delivered to the council calling for the closure of the shop in Otane has gathered 500 signatures. But the shop owner… Read more Audio

5:22 PM.New All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has confirmed his management group for the upcoming season and it's a lengthy list of people. Seven remain from past coach Ian Foster's era, eight have experience… Read more Audio

5:17 PM.Latest figures show road crashes are costing the country billions of dollars. With summer holidays just round the corner, a former road safety officer is reminding people to be safe. Our reporter Emma… Read more Audio

5:09 PM.Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has ruled out expelling the Russian ambassador. This, despite his coalition partners National and ACT calling for an expulsion earlier this year. MPs had their… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.A prisoner is dead and another is in a serious condition after an assault in the kitchen at Auckland South Corrections Facility Read more Audio

5:36 PM.It's a Christmas miracle for Coromandel, with the new 124 metre Taparahi Bridge opening on State Highway 25A this morning. The Kopu-Hikuai section has been shut since January due to structural cracks… Read more Audio

5:29 PM.Wellington International Airport is fighting a constant battle to prevent online scams that use their branding to reel in unsuspecting people. It says as soon as one scam is taken down, another pops… Read more Audio

5:22 PM.Police have confirmed a man who died of gunshot wounds at a 50th birthday party in Lower Hutt on the weekend was a gang member, but they don't believe his death was "gang related". Hutt Valley has… Read more Audio

5:17 PM.There were handshakes, jersey swaps and serious talks on defence during Christopher Luxon's first official trip as Prime Minister. Mr Luxon is about to return from a whirlwind visit to Australia - one… Read more Audio

5:12 PM.Finance minister Nicola Willis speaks to Jimmy Ellingham Read more Audio

5:08 PM.The new Finance Minister has pledged a multi-billion dollar economic repair job, carving out an initial $7.5 billion of savings to help deliver tax cuts. The details of how those tax cuts will be… Read more Audio

5:40 PM.Southland Police are urging caution in the water after a woman was bitten by a shark in Riverton. The 21-year-old recieved a signifcant laceration to her leg, after walking in knee deep water in an… Read more Audio