Checkpoint Podcast Options

5:25 PM.One of the worlds best golfers has defected to the Saudi Arabia backed LIV Golf tour. Reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm will leave the PGA for a reported $920 million. Sports reporter Jonty Dine… Read more Video, Audio

5:18 PM.The Prime Minister has been told there needs to be action in Wairoa to get the cyclone-hit town back on its feet. Christopher Luxon drove crumbling State Highway 2 with a handful of MPs this morning… Read more Audio

5:15 PM.Auckland Transport plans to spend the summer holidays working on the city's pothole problem. But the agency says it needs more funding to get ahead of its massive backlog of damaged roads. Felix… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.New Zealand's joined its five eyes partners calling out Russia for malicious, sustained and politically targeted cybers attacks on the UK. The United Kingdom's National Cyber Security Centre claims… Read more Video, Audio

5:53 PM.Rampaging raptors are causing havoc along some popular walkways. There's been several falcon or Karearea attacks, the most recently on a track at Pareora Gorge near Timaru where a man was left… Read more Video, Audio

5:49 PM.After years of waiting there are finally plans to move some of the crumbling old Auckland commuter trains blighting the main street of central North Island town Taumarunui. The local mayor says once… Read more Video, Audio

5:44 PM.More than 10,000 businesses have defaulted on $177 million worth of loans given out as part of the previous government's Covid support package. Two years on from the pandemic, IRD's now calling for… Read more Video, Audio

5:26 PM.The police commisioner has been put is on notice, with the government outlining its expectations around law and order. In a letter to Andrew Coster the new police minister Mark Mitchell says the force… Read more Video, Audio

5:23 PM.Former US Open tennis champion Emma Raducanu will have her fingers crossed for a sunny start to the new year in Auckland. The 21 year old British star has been given a wildcard to the ASB Classic, a… Read more Video, Audio

5:14 PM.The previous government's plans for a second Waitemata Harbour Crossing have been roundly rejected by Auckland council. The draft business case was for the construction of two underwater road tunnels… Read more Video, Audio

5:07 PM."No person with any ounce of moral courage can see this as anything but horrific." Labour's Damien O'Connor has made an impassioned speech in the house saying Israel's actions in Gaza constitute… Read more Audio

5:55 PM.The future of flying could be electric. Air New Zealand has purchased its first battery powered electric aircraft to pursue emissions free flying on all small regional flights by 2030. According to… Read more Video, Audio

5:45 PM.New Zealand Rugby has called referee abuse unacceptable and chief executive Mark Robinson has met with leading officials this week to try to come up with solutions. Sports reporter Felicity Reid joins… Read more Video, Audio

5:39 PM.Hundreds of dollars of counterfeit notes have been palmed off in Waikato, with retailers being warned to keep a sharp eye out during the Xmas rush. Since October police say there's been seven… Read more Video, Audio

5:33 PM.Aotearoa's craft beer industry is hoping for a profitable summer as it continues to wrestle with high brewing costs. A fourth craft beer business has hit major financial trouble this week as importer… Read more Audio

5:23 PM.Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins re-entered the Parliamentary ring this afternoon, exchanging vicious blows in the first debate of this term. It followed the pomp and pageantry of this morning's… Read more Audio

5:17 PM.Auckland Council is no closer to deciding on its Budget, after a full day of debate on what parts to put out for public consultation. The plan proposes rates rises, overhauling public transport to… Read more Audio

5:07 PM.The government has partially walked back comments that it's looking to put a stop to bonuses for public servants proficient in te reo Māori. Public Services Minister Nicola Willis told RNZ she was… Read more Audio

5:53 PM.For 10 years Granny's Christmas Grotto in the Rangitīkei town of Marton has brought the joy of Christmas to thousands of visitors. But after it closes its doors this year, everything will be auctioned… Read more Video, Audio