Checkpoint

For two and a half years Far North folk have faced long detours, isolation from friends and family, higher costs and fewer customers. This week, however, that's coming to an end, thanks to the… Read more Audio

The government opened its books today - revealing the economic outlook for the near term is looking pretty bleak. A lower tax take and higher Crown expenses deliver continued budget deficits - with a… Read more Audio

MPI is asking people to keep a close eye on their backyard chooks after a bird flu scare in the forced killing of 200 thousand birds. A mainland egg farm near Moeraki tested positive for an aggressive… Read more Audio

A massive 7.3 earthquake has hit Vanuatu, at a depth of 10 kilometres. The quake struck 37 kilometres west of the capital Port Vila just before 1:00pm local time. A local journalist has told the ABC… Read more Audio

A woman whose holiday home was at the centre of an online scam said it has taken weeks for the host site to take the property offline. Meanwhile she's worried people will have been fleeced for a… Read more Audio

The below-inflation lift of 1.5 percent, which comes into effect in April, brings the minimum wage up to $23.50. But the Employers and Manufacturers Union said the small increase reflects the… Read more Audio

Black Cap Tim Southee's Test career is over following a big win over England in Hamilton today. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen. Audio

The National Emergency Management Agency says there is no Tsunami threat to New Zealand. Locals on social media are reporting landslips and say its the biggest quake to hit the island  in up to two… Read more Audio

Auckland Zoo's had a pre-Christmas delivery, they've welcomed a bruiser of a baby southern white rhino calf. He arrived on Friday, following a speedy labour; a remarkable three minutes give or take… Read more Audio

United States correspondent Zach Montellaro spoke to Lisa Owen about a school shooting Madison, Wisconsin where a teacher and student have been killed, President-elect Donald Trump holding his first… Read more Audio

One north island council's revealed its roll of recycle shame, the items people stuff into bin pretending they can have a second life, when they know full well they can't. A deer carcass was found… Read more Audio

Pounamu is a prized taonga for both Maori and non-Maori alike and increasingly its gifted for significant life events and celebrations. But as interest around pounamu grows, what are the tikanga… Read more Audio