Checkpoint for Friday 11 April 2025

5:56 PM.In a twist the Bard himself would've be proud of, a Javanese shadow theatre is a star turn at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Taranaki. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin went to a… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.United Kingdom correspondent Alice Wilkins spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK's Deputy Prime Minister issusing some stern words to the Union representing the striking Birmingham rubbish workers, a police… Read more Audio

5:36 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:31 PM.Three-time America's Cup winning helmsman Peter Burling will not sail in the next America's Cup in 2027. Burling has split from Team New Zealand in an outcome that neither Burling or team CEO Grant… Read more Audio

5:28 PM.A former Auckland funeral director has been sentenced to two years and three months in jail for interfering with human remains and obtaining money by deception. Audio

5:17 PM.This afternoon we heard from the minister of health Simeon Brown, who says he understands his predecessor Dr Shane Reti met with the doctors in Tairawhiti last year and developed a recruitment plan… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.Doctors warning of crisis at Gisborne hospital say it's demoralising to reach out for help only to be told there is no crisis. A group of more than 30 Tairawhiti doctors wrote to the government last… Read more Audio

4:46 PM.The government is shopping for business elsewhere as New Zealand exporters face three months in tariff limbo land. President Trump yesterday backed down suspending what he calls reciprocal tariffs for… Read more Audio

4:42 PM.The man who brutally murdered 18 year old Ariki Rigby in 2022 has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 12 years. She was killed following an argument sparked by her… Read more Audio

4:35 PM.More than 20,000 roaming dogs were reported to Auckland Council last year - a 78 percent increase since 2021. But the council said that's just snapshot of the real problem. Because with roaming dogs… Read more Audio

4:30 PM.The Blues and Moana Pasifika, who both call Auckland home, take the field tomorrow in Super Rugby Pacific's ninth round. After plenty of friendly jabs between the two sides the time for talk is over… Read more Audio

4:24 PM.Four pups have been born at Auckland Zoo and it's their first meerkat litter in more than a decade. The tiny quadruplets have brought the Meerkat mob numbers to seven. Adia, a first time mum is doing… Read more Audio

4:13 PM.Asia correspondent Erin Hale spoke to Lisa Owen about Hollywood films becoming the latest target in the tariff trade war, a New Zealander being arrested in Thailand for alleged drug smuggling and… Read more Audio

4:08 PM.It's getting to that time of year where some of us may be adding the odd easter egg or in the trolley. But if you are one of those people, you may have noticed Easter chocolate has increased in recent… Read more Audio