Stories by Zac Fleming
Audio and features
Massive NZ feedlot non-compliant for months
New Zealand's only large-scale American style, intensive, grain-fed feedlot farm is non-compliant. And it has been for more than three months. Environment Canterbury says the Ashburton feedlot is yet… Video, Audio
Immunologist slams anti-vaccine billboard as 'almost organised terrorism'
An anti-vaccine billboard erected alongside Auckland's southern motorway has been pulled down less than a day after it went up following an unprecedented number of complaints to the Advertising… Audio
Girl's death prompts upgrade of ageing Ruapehu shuttle buses
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts will retire its ageing bus fleet in response to a deadly accident on Mt Ruapehu earlier this year. Meanwhile, a former bus driver says two-wheel drives should never have been used… Video, Audio
The human face of Auckland Council's consent botch-up
Gary Pont's neighbours were granted resource consent to build a two-storey property in their backyard, but potentially should never been granted the consent as their application was one of 430 that… Video, Audio
Penny Bright: 'I wouldn't change anything'
Activist Penny Bright has been fighting for Auckland Council to open its books for more than a decade, and she's still fighting from her hospital bed, knowing she has just days to live. She spoke to… Video, Audio
Landlord's 'swamp house' may be deemed unliveable
Zac Fleming attempts to talk to landlord Aven Raj, who has been renting out a "third world swamp" property to an Auckland family, who say it's making them sick. Auckland Council is considering issuing… Video, Audio
SAFE calls for end to feedlots
Animal rights group SAFE says New Zealand's biggest feedlot puts our international reputation at risk and is calling on the Environment Minister to ban the practice. Video, Audio
Students ‘totally broken’ after NZQA withholds results
Tasman International Academies students say they're considering going on a hunger strike because their results are being withheld as NZQA investigates the college over "serious concerns" about its… Video, Audio
Zac filed an OIA and it came painted black
RNZ reporter Zac Fleming finally received a 99-page Official Information Request from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment ... and it was completely blacked out. Video, Audio
Two people die after being swept off rocks into sea
Two people have died after being swept off rocks at Muriwai Beach in north-west Auckland. Our reporter Zac Fleming and cameraman Nick Monro join us live from the beach. Video, Audio
Inside a Vietnam-based New Zealand merino factory
New Zealand's merino industry is world leading and the third-biggest producer on the planet, but it's processed largely in Asia. To investigate, Zac Fleming visited a processing compound in Namh Dinh.
…MFAT refuses to front up about Vietnam aid
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is refusing to be interviewed about a $2.8 million aid project it funds in Vietnam, which was visited by Checkpoint's Zac Fleming. Video, Audio
'The way beneficiaries are being treated is close to sadistic'
The government receives 9000 allegations of benefit fraud a year - that's one an hour, every day. About two thirds are investigated, and 20 percent are found to have legitimacy. Zac Fleming reports. Video, Audio
'I've got nothing left' - homeowners who bought on EQC paperwork
Christchurch homeowners who bought their properties based on EQC paperwork saying they'd been scoped, assessed and repaired, but later discovered significant damage, explain why they're taking the… Video, Audio
MPI, MSD botch Thompson and Clark OIA
Both MPI and MSD told Checkpoint earlier this year their staff had no correspondence with security firm Thompson and Clark, but have since admitted that was wrong - their staff did have dealings with… Audio
Meet the 88-year-old running his 84th marathon
Ray Urbahn is 88-years-old and staring down his 84th marathon. He's fitter, healthier, and more active than many people half his age, and credits it all to his running. Video, Audio
The two Kiwis helping save Vietnam's moon bears
Zac Fleming travelled to a remote, mountainous region of northern Vietnam, to visit two New Zealanders helping to rescue and rehabilitate the country's ill-treated, vulnerable moon bears. He travelled… Video, Audio
MPI refuses to explain Thompson and Clark decisions
Ministry for Primary Industries says it has evidence of serious staff misconduct in dealing with Thompson and Clark but is refusing to release that evidence. State Services Minister Chris Hipkins… Audio
Thompson and Clark used SIS contact to seek govt contracts
The Security Intelligence Service has launched an internal investigation into concerns of biased and unprofessional dealings with controversial security firm Thompson and Clark. Audio
DOC withholds information after demands from Thompson and Clark
The Department of Conservation withheld official information after demands from controversial security firm Thompson and Clark, internal emails show. Zac Fleming reports. Video, Audio
Taxpayers funded meth decontamination for private homes
The taxpayer has paid potentially millions of dollars in free renovations to private homeowners as a result of Housing New Zealand's botched campaign against methamphetamine contamination. Audio
Fast fashion kills Auckland shoemaker Minnie Cooper
It's too expensive for women's shoe label Minnie Cooper to make shoes in New Zealand, it's had to close. Workers have been made redundant, everything's for sale, and owner Sandy Cooper believes fast… Video, Audio
Kiwifruit packing company describes jobs as 's*** work'
After pointing to "welfare dependency" as a reason for its worker shortage a fortnight ago, a kiwifruit packing company has now admitted its jobs are "shit work". Video, Audio
Kiwifruit ‘crisis’ – how hard is picking really?
The kiwifruit industry is making big, big money, yet it hasn't been able to fix its self-described worker 'crisis'. Zac Fleming went kiwifruit picking and packing to try and figure out why. Video, Audio
Auckland librarian claims she wasn't paid to cash up
A former Auckland librarian says she was never paid for cashing up and tidying after closing time. Zac Fleming continues his investigation into companies that are making their staff work for free. Audio