Mary Wilson
Checkpoint Top Stories for Thursday 21 May 2015
Bill English announces the first real increase in benefits in more than forty years. Dean Barker signs with the Japanese America's Cup challenger and closing addresses at Blessie Gotingco trial. Audio
Checkpoint Top Stories for Wednesday 20 May 2015
Scott Watson goes to court for the right to tell his story; Scott Watson's father on what his son wants to tell people; Tempers flare in Parliament ahead of Budget; Budget Analysis from our political… Audio
Today's market update
The New Zealand dollar rallied this afternoon, after the Reserve Bank's survey of inflation expectations showed an unexpected rise, suggesting that a cut to interest rates might not happen as soon as… Audio
Police have footage of man tampering with headstones
In news just to hand, the police say they have CCTV footage of a man tampering with graves at the Papakura Cemetery on Saturday night. Audio
Checkpoint Top Stories for Monday 18 May 2015
Cooling down Auckland's runaway housing market. A Polish gardener caught smuggling plants in his underpants and distressed families visit descecrated graves in Auckland. Audio
Any fix ahead for flood-wary commuters?
The capital's transport network is up and running again but flood-wary commuters are questioning whether the chaos of last night is bound to happen again. Audio
New Plymouth rejects Mayor's call to set up a Maori ward
The Mayor of New Plymouth is to make a complaint to the UN after a referendum overwhelming rejected his idea of introducing a Maori ward to the district. Audio
Kiwirail driver left traumatised
Three schoolboys playing chicken with a freight train have brought back traumatic memories for the train's driver, who's seen at least one level crossing accident before. Audio
Today's market update
The New Zealand dollar is down about half a US cent from this time yesterday, unsettled by continued volatility in commodity markets. The senior foreign exchange strategist at ANZ, Sam Tuck, says the… Audio
Desperate scenes on migrant boat off Thailand
A fishing boat carrying hundreds of Myanmar migrants that had been stranded in the Andaman Sea for over week is now nowhere to be seen. Audio
Kaikohe men risk lives to stop gang brawl
Police in Kaikohe are full of praise for two local men who risked their lives by stepping into a brawl between rival gangs in the town and stopping the fight. Audio
Regional council responds
Fran Wilde is the Chair of the Greater Wellington Regional Council. Audio
The Capital's transport woes
The Capital's highways and most rail lines are back up and running but 24 hours on from yesterday's deluge people are questioning whether the transport tangle's bound to just happen again. Audio
Checkpoint Top Stories for Friday 15 May 2015
The Capital's transport woes;Residents start returning to flooded Kapiti Coast homes;Regional council responds;Kaikohe men risk lives to stop gang brawl;Desperate scenes on migrant boat off… Audio
Today's market update
The New Zealand dollar has jumped following contrasting reports about consumer spending in the United States and New Zealand. Audio
Checkpoint Top Stories for Thursday 14 May 2015
Chaos in Wellington with flooding and highways shut; Weather: Trains aren't running; Weather on the Kapiti Coast; Weather: latest from the Hutt City Mayor; 194 people losing their jobs as old prisons… Audio
Today's market update
The New Zealand dollar fell today following the release of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's twice yearly review of the financial system, pointing to increasing risks. Audio
Checkpoint Top Stories for Wednesday 13 May 2015
A crackdown on property investors is forecast to cut Auckland house prices. Nepal's big aftershock cuts off villages again and Prince Harry learns the haka. Audio
Thousands of dolphins killed by Solomon Island villages
Thousands of dolphins are hunted in Solomon Islands each year for their teeth and marine scientists are worried the mass culls could wipe some species out. Audio