Stories by Nick Truebridge
Audio and features
No money spent yet from government's $6 million ram raid protection fund
A $6 million fund designed to help small business owners hit by ram raids is yet to pay out a single cent.
The crime prevention fund was announced in May, by the then-Police Minister Poto Williams.
… Video, Audio
What does the new Waikato Expressway mean for the small towns?
It's a project 30 years and billions of dollars in the making. Now the completed Waikato Expressway is set to change the face of the region's towns and villages, for better or worse.
Checkpoint's… Video, Audio
Newmarket businesses, families suffer from Destiny protest disruption
Newmarket locals are frustrated at Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki, saying Saturday's protest left people cut off from sick family and businesses counting yet more losses.
Meanwhile, Mr Tamaki's… Video, Audio
School-provided lunches needed more than ever as parents struggle with costs
An Auckland school says 80 percent of its students are now asking for school-funded lunch, as parents struggle with the cost of feeding the family.
People in Māngere told Checkpoint they're relying… Video, Audio
Without a 24/7 clinic, hospital is East Aucklanders' only choice
East Auckland residents say they have been bounced between clinics and are waiting hours on end for urgent after-hours health care.
The population in the area is an estimated 140,000 people, but… Video, Audio
Completion date for Auckland's City Rail Link reassessed
The timeline for Auckland's City Rail Link project is to be reassessed, as businesses trading alongside a giant trench on Albert St continue to struggle.
Some businesses told Checkpoint upcoming rent… Video, Audio
Auckland flatmates shot at while eating dinner
A group of Auckland flatmates are lucky to be alive tonight after a gunman opened fire on their home as they ate dinner. One of the men has described seconds of terror as bullets whizzed over his head… Video, Audio
Police scramble to calm tensions after Auckland gang shootings
Seven drive-by shootings in one night have Auckland police scrambling to calm tensions and renegotiate a truce between rival gangs.
There have been 12 reported drive by shootings in Auckland since… Video, Audio
Rotorua council takes emergency accommodation motels to court after 'trying all other options'
The housing of 65 families in emergency accommodation could be under threat, as the Rotorua Lakes Council takes legal action against several motels.
They say nine emergency housing motels have… Audio
School counts cost of coaxing kids back to class after Covid-19
Fed up with students not turning up, an Auckland college has hired attendance navigators and taken out radio ads to try get kids into the classroom.
New PPTA numbers show 60,000 students are missing… Video, Audio
Housing supply and heritage - how is Auckland going to change?
The face of Auckland is set to change, as new government legislation is introduced to increase housing supply.
Nick Truebridge spoke to Aucklanders on the street and the city's mayoral contenders for… Audio
Enchanter tragedy: Waikato dad remembered as a 'true legend'
"A true legend." That's how a Waikato man is being described by his family, after he died in the Enchanter sinking off North Cape.
Mark Sanders was one of four men who died. His three children told C… Video, Audio
Businesses near Parliament increasingly frustrated at protest
Wellington businesses are becoming increasingly impatient at the demonstration that's pushing foot traffic away from them. Wellingtonians appear to be giving the Parliament protest a wide berth… Video, Audio
Police criticise 'disgraceful' protesters after early morning conflict
The behaviour by protesters outside Parliament has been condemned as "absolutely disgraceful" by police leaders today.
The confrontation between police and protesters began early on Tuesday morning… Video, Audio
Meat increasingly off the menu at home as prices surge
Shoppers say meat is increasingly off the menu in favour of cheaper alternatives.
Protein prices are on a steady climb, so we sent reporter Nick Truebridge and cameraman Nick Monro back to the… Video, Audio
Demand for Buttabean's food parcels up as more isolating
What started as a health and fitness programme has transformed into a full blown food bank because of the crushing impacts of Covid-19.
Buttabean Motivation was already delivering between 400 and 700… Video, Audio
Hundreds of unvaccinated young learner drivers barred from practical test
Learner drivers looking to lose the L plates won't be able to sit practical tests unless they're fully vaccinated.
VTNZ's line has drawn the ire of the Driving Change Network. It says hundreds of… Audio
Takapuna businesses closing after Covid-19 and roadworks
A mainstay of Takapuna's cafe scene has closed its doors for the final time, due in large part to Auckland's Covid-19 restrictions.
It's a tale of woe shared by many on Hurstmere Road, where… Video, Audio
Vaccine rollout needed more iwi, community involvement - Ōtara locals
As Auckland DHBs rocket towards the 90 percent double dose rates needed to open up the region, some of the city's suburbs are being left behind.
Locals in Ōtara's west side say the vaccination… Video, Audio
Concerns for Rotorua suburbs among lowest vaccination rates
While New Zealand's big cities continue to surge towards 90 percent fully vaccinated, parts of regional New Zealand are getting well and truly left behind.
Lakes DHB has identified Rotorua's western… Video, Audio
King Country family survived weeks in wild on 'bush food' - Tom Phillips' sister
A King Country father and his three children missing in bush for 17 days survived on 'bush food' and rice.
Tom Phillips and his children had not been seen for 17 days until they returned home out of… Video, Audio
Dog returns, family births in reasons denied at Auckland border
Puppy returns and family births are among the invalid reasons that've been given for crossing Auckland's southern border today.
With Auckland and Northland at alert level 4, and the rest of the… Video, Audio
'A serious problem': Vaccination rates not tracked at east Auckland border facility
A public health expert is flabbergasted the government cannot provide specific vaccination information for a new Auckland border facility.
It comes as questions remain over how many workers at… Video, Audio
Auckland CBD businesses still waiting for govt help over CRL
An Albert Street business owner, struggling to turn a profit alongside ongoing City Rail Link works, has let rip in the blame game being played by the government.
Transport Minister Michael Wood… Video, Audio
Govt using shed at busy Auckland marina to ferry foreign shipping crew offshore
The government has quietly established a transfer zone for foreign shipping crew in a busy commercial area in Auckland.
Crew are transferred from international flights or a short MIQ stay to a… Video, Audio
