Checkpoint for Thursday 5 June 2025

5:46 PM.Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Australians being warned to prepare for the threat of war reaching their shores with the nation's most senior military figure saying troops… Read more Audio

5:42 PM.Wild weather swept across the nation and had one small settlement next to Lake Taupo on edge this morning. Homes next to the Taupo-Tauranga River were preparing to evacuate as the waters rose after… Read more Audio

5:37 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:34 PM.After toying with the idea of challenging him for the top job, Auckland's deputy mayor has instead endorsed Wayne Brown in his bid for re-election. In a joint press conference Desley Simpson said she… Read more Audio

5:30 PM.When injury strikes who do professional netball teams call? More often than not, someone who has retired from the game. Former Silver Fern Casey Kopua had not played elite netball for six years when… Read more Audio

5:13 PM.Cherida Fraser, Wellington co-ordinator for the Aotearoa New Zealand sex workers collective spoke to Lisa Owen about how the Prime Minister has ordered a review of vetting processes for parliamentary… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.The Prime Minister is demanding answers about the Beehive's vetting and disclosure processes after the shock resignation of his deputy chief press secretary. Michael Forbes quit after accusations he… Read more Audio

5:06 PM.Accused triple mushroom murderer Erin Patterson has told an Australian court how she tweaked a beef wellington recipe for what turned out to be a deadly meal, adding dried mushrooms because it tasted… Read more Audio

4:51 PM.More than 360 pieces of stolen pounamu will be returned to West Coast hapū, in what has been described as a small win against the greenstone black market. Police haven't laid any charges after a… Read more Audio

4:47 PM.Parliament has been debating the proposed punishment for Te Pati Maori MPs who stood in front of ACT MPs and performed a haka in protest of the Treaty Principles Bill during its first reading. The… Read more Audio

4:37 PM.Early childhood teachers and managers have said centres are struggling with teacher shortages, low enrolments and insufficient government funding. Some are alarmed by surprise changes to pay parity… Read more Audio

4:30 PM.History beckons for Kiwi MMA fighter Kai Kara-France as the UFC flyweight is preparing for the biggest bout of his life. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen. Audio

4:23 PM.The Prime Minister has ordered a review of vetting processes for parliamentary staff after his Deputy chief press secretary quit following allegations he recorded intimate audio of sessions with sex… Read more Audio

4:12 PM.US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the latest orders to get Donald Trump's signoff, travel bans and international student restrictions. As well as the fall out between Elon Musk… Read more Audio

4:06 PM.Car rego plates and letters or bills with peoples names on them could be used to track down and fine offenders illegally dumping rubbish. So called fly tippers can cost councils hundreds of thousands… Read more Audio