Checkpoint

Asia correspondent Diane To speaks to Lisa Owen about Australia and Britain updating their travel advisories for Hong Kong, Apple CEO Tim Cook on the charm offensive in China and a street in Hong Kong… Read more Audio

The government has made its first pre-Budget announcement, with details on its Early Childhood Education fee credit. Under the FamilyBoost scheme, households earning a maximum of $180,000 can get up… Read more Audio

A record number of New Zealanders are playing professional basketball in Asia and are picking up sizeable paychecks to do so. Kiwis are featuring in competitions in China, Japan and the Philippines in… Read more Audio

High profile Chef Peter Gordon's restaurant and cooking school Homeland, needs a new home. The business that supports Aotearoa's sustainable kai producers operates out of a building near Auckland 's… Read more Audio

The Lyttelton Harbour master was called out by name by a grumpy Sir Russell Coutts. Sir Russell has called the dolphin protection policy extreme and said it's astonishing the amount of influence the… Read more Audio

One of the people killed in a mass brawl in Gisborne on the weekend, was celebrating his 21st birthday. Family and friends are paying tribute to Chrysler Stevens Mark, on social media. Police say the… Read more Audio

Rising ballet star and teen swimming sensation Hamish Giddens has mastered the art of fluid movement. The Christchurch 16 year old holds 4 national titles in the pool and is flying to New York next… Read more Audio

A group of high profile Aucklanders are hoping to sink the mayor's plans to sell the lease for the city's port, instead they want the land transformed into one of the greatest waterfronts in the… Read more Audio

The future of SailGP in Whakaraupo Lyttelton Harbour next year is in doubt after endangered dolphins cancelled a day of racing over the weekend. SailGP chief executive Sir Russell Coutts has come out… Read more Audio

The Crusaders are in uncharted territory in Super Rugby Pacific and it won't get any easier for the 13 time champions this week. For the first time in the franchise's history they have lost five games… Read more Audio

Families will be able to apply for a partial refund of their childcare costs from October, as part of National's campaign promise to ease the cost of living. Under the policy, dubbed FamilyBoost… Read more Audio

There are growing calls for tighter restrictions for e-scooters, with the number of ACC injury claims increasing by almost 40%. Four years ago the Ministry of Transport proposed changes to allow… Read more Audio