Checkpoint for Wednesday 16 October 2024

5:45 PM.Africa correspondent Elna Schutz spoke to Lisa Owen about a controversial African activist being arrested in Paris, the impacts of the drought across Southern African countries on people and a long… Read more Audio

5:30 PM.Police have netted several fishers allegedly, illegally taking whitebait from Southland's Waiau river. The bust was part of a joint operation between Police, the Department of Conservation, Fisheries… Read more Audio

5:24 PM.Villages along the South coast of Upolu in Samoa near the shipwrecked Manawanui are demanding compensation from the New Zealand government, saying the maritime disaster has affected their livelihoods… Read more Audio

5:15 PM.In an open letter to the Prime Minister, more than 40 southern senior doctors are warning any cost cut cutting or down sizing of the Dunedin Hospital rebuild could leave it in a precarious state… Read more Audio

5:05 PM.A closed door crisis meeting of the Wellington City Council has broken up in the last hour. The government has signalled it could intervene, with one minister describing it as a shambles. Some… Read more Audio

4:45 PM.A Dunedin solo mum is at breaking point, with her family spread across three temporary homes, after her Clyde Hill house was red stickered following the flood earlier this month. Krystal Brens' house… Read more Audio

4:44 PM.The era of crushing price rises is over, that's the victory cry from the Finance Minister today, as inflation drops back into its target range. Figures show prices are still up - but just by 2.2… Read more Audio

4:31 PM.Cyclone Gabrielle still feels like yesterday for some Far Northerners struggling with damaged and dangerous homes. But for a few, there could be a way out at last, as the council considers a buy-out… Read more Audio

4:28 PM.The British lawyer leading a multi-million dollar concussion lawsuit against rugby's governing bodies has been accused of pressuring a player to lie about his dementia diagnosis. More than 200 former… Read more Audio

4:25 PM.Mayor Tory Whanau said she won't be resigning despite claims Wellington city council is a shambles and the government is considering intervention. Councillors are still in a closed door urgent meeting… Read more Audio

4:15 PM.Asia correspondent Erin Hale spoke to Lisa Owen about China surrounding Taiwan with a series of military drills earlier this week, North Korea blowing up roads linking it with South Korea and some… Read more Audio

4:05 PM.Hikes in outdoor dining fees are hitting already struggling hospitality businesses hard according to their Association. Yesterday, Checkpoint spoke to a Queenstown business owner who says his outdoor… Read more Audio