Checkpoint for Wednesday 26 February 2025

5:44 PM.UK correspondent Alice Wilkins spoke to Lisa Owen about Sir Keir Starmer's plans to boost Britain's defence spending. She also spoke about efforts to crack down on mobile phone theft in the UK and… Read more Audio

5:38 PM.The government has announced reforms granting retailers greater power to detain shoplifters. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the changes, proposed by a ministerial advisory group, will provide… Read more Audio

5:33 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:29 PM.All Black legend Ma'a Nonu is not ready to hang up the boots just yet.Nonu has signed on as medical cover for French giants Toulon. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen. Audio

5:25 PM.Foreign Minister Winston Peters has held his first bilateral meeting in China noting the two countries won't always agree. Meeting with Vice President Han Zheng this afternoon Mr Peters said he was… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.Checkpoint has reported on a litany of issues experienced by some schools during the rollout of the revamped school lunch programme this term. Unpalatable lunches, meals arriving late or missing… Read more Audio

4:46 PM.Once again a report has found the state agency meant to protect our children is failing to meet minimum standards of care for tamariki and rangatahi. 507 children and young people were abused or… Read more Audio

4:37 PM.Dairy is New Zealand's most profitable export industry, but also one of our biggest carbon emitters, so what if you could take the cow, and methane, out of the production process altogether? That's… Read more Audio

4:28 PM.The NZ Herald is reporting that NZ Rugby is courting British disruptor DAZN about making an 11th hour play to snatch the broadcast rights. It comes after Sky offered NZ Rugby a reduced offer of around… Read more Audio

4:15 PM.Asia correspondent Erin Hale spoke to Lisa Owen about Taiwan's coast guard detaining a China-linked cargo ship and a major bank in Asia looking to cut thousands of roles in favour of artificial… Read more Audio

4:06 PM.Amendments to the crimes act will mean citizens can intervene and detain someone who for example is making off with a trolley full of groceries without paying. The power will extend to any crimes act… Read more Audio