Checkpoint for Thursday 1 May 2025

5:44 PM.Undecided voters in this weekend's Australian national elections will determine if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is able to win a majority and continue to govern in his own right. But if you believe… Read more Audio

5:42 PM.Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger speaks with Lisa Owen after a state of emergency was declared in the city. Audio

5:35 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:31 PM.The Indian Panthers have been suspended from the New Zealand National Basketball League indefinitely. The team joined the competition this season but have failed to win a game, had a coach quit and… Read more Audio

5:27 PM.Ferocious winds have cancelled all flights in and out of the capital. Reporter Kate Green spoke to Lisa Owen. Audio

5:16 PM.Senior doctors traded scrubs for placards on Thursday as thousands walked off the job for 24 hours, many braving foul weather on picket lines around the country. They are locked in a bitter dispute… Read more Audio

5:13 PM.Torrential rain and strong winds have hammered Canterbury, with states of emergency being declared in Christchurch, Banks Peninsula and the Selwyn District. Surface flooding has closed roads and… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.All flights in and out of Wellington Airport are cancelled for the rest of the day. Metservice is warning of "destructive" winds that would cause widespread damage. There's possibility of threat to… Read more Audio

4:52 PM.Despite some reservations at the time the 4 year pathway was revealed, the Coalition has told local media that they have no plans to change it. However, some Kiwis have told RNZ they're worried that… Read more Audio

4:47 PM.While in Wellington, the capital has been battered by some of the strongest winds in its recent history. Flights in and out of the city have been cancelled, and there have been no interisland ferry… Read more Audio

4:44 PM.Flights in and out of the city have been cancelled until at least 6pm, and there have been no interisland ferry crossings today. The wind warning in Wellington has been escalated to red, with… Read more Audio

4:38 PM.There's been some shocking omissions from the first Black Ferns squad of the year. Three of the biggest names from the successful World Cup in 2021, including the face of the campaign, have not been… Read more Audio

4:26 PM.After a series of mishaps and issues with the government provided school lunches last term, Associate Education Minister David Seymour said the new term would start off in "tip top shape." The… Read more Audio

4:12 PM.Days after Trump and Zelensky's Vatican meeting and months after the disastrous exchange in the oval office - the US and Ukraine have signed a rare minerals deal. United States Correspondent, Todd… Read more Audio

4:07 PM.Keeping our top medical talent on New Zealand shores, compromised care and growing wait lists. These are some of the reasons over 5,000 senior doctors have walked off the job in unprecedented 24-hour… Read more Audio

4:06 PM.Storms are causing chaos in parts of the motu, grounding flights, forcing businesses to shut and causing evacuations. A local state of emergency has been declared in Christchurch. A local state of… Read more Audio