Checkpoint

A rule for the rich and a different rule for everyone else. Green MP Ricardo Menedez March is calling out what he sees as a double standard around strict english tests for immigrant bus drivers, but zero language requirements for people on the so called Golden Visa. Green MP Ricardo Menedez March spoke to Lisa Owen.

With interest in residential solar skyrocketing, a green energy advocacy group is renewing its call for the government to support a loan scheme with councils targeting home owners wanting to convert to rooftop solar. In the past year,10,344 residential properties were hooked up to solar, up about four percent on the previous twelve months. A breakdown by region showed Canterbury led the pack, with...

Sustainability experts say environmental damage from cruise ships far outweigh any economic benefits for local businesses. Studies have found cruise passengers spend less money than other tourists and the ships themselves cause pollution. But business leaders say cruise ships bring tens of millions of dollars. Felix Walton has more.

The NRL's newest expansion team have been splashing the cash. Papua New Guinea-based club, which will join the competition in 2028, announced its first signings. luring some big names on big contracts. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

A mainland colony of sealions is roaring ahead, hitting a major milestone after a stellar breeding season. For the first time in more than a century the Otago Pakeke sealion population has delivered more than 35 pups. Shaun McConkey, chair of the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust spoke to Lisa Owen.

The sidekick of a notorious drug lord who had an $8-million NZD bounty on his head has been arrested. Earlier this year, Mexico's most wanted man, a top cartel leader known as "El Mencho," was killed in a military operation. His death triggered a wave of violence across the country. Now, one of his top aides, nicknamed "The Gardener," has been captured after authorities found him hiding in a ditch...

Getting a day off in lieu for working any part of a public holiday could be a thing of the past if a new law goes ahead. The PSA said the government's Employment Leave Bill will reduce the pay of hundreds of thouands of workers along with their leave allowances. Senior employment lawyer Gerard Elwell spoke to Lisa Owen.

After a mammoth three-day rugby extravaganza at Christchurch's new stadium, fans and central city business-owners are delighted with how the weekend went. Around 75,000 people went to Super Round matches, with bars having some of their busiest days ever. Rachel Graham has more.

It was the worst mass shooting in modern Australian history and as the country marks the 30th anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre, survivors and their families having been reflecting on the event that changed Australia. Correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

While the Wellington Phoenix are firmly focused on next season with the appointment of a new head coach, Auckland FC are still fighting to keep their A-League season alive. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Rooftop residential solar is having a moment in the sun, with one company reporting a 50 percent increase in sales. Lightforce Solar, a nationwide installer, is opening a new branch in Queenstown. The company says its sales are up 50 percent this month on the same time last year. Figures from the Electricity Authority also show in the 12 months to March, there have been 10,344 new residential sola...

Forestry, horticulture and sheep meat, those are some of the big winners of New Zealand's historic free trade agreement with India. The deal, which has been the Government's flagship trade policy was signed last night, with the public now able to read the full text. But there are key omissions, like New Zealand's biggest export dairy, and the government's own modelling shows economic benefits will...

The government has signed a deal with Z energy to supply and manage an emergency diesel reserve, that will be stored in tanks being refurbished at Marsden Point. Earlier this month, the govenrment anounced it would pay Channel Infrastructure more than $21.5 million to get the storage tanks up to scratch. Associate Minister of Energy Shane Jones spoke to Lisa Owen.

A trio of Christchurch flatmates have gone all Sherlock Holmes on tracking down and reclaiming a trolley load of belongings stolen from their house in a burglary. The Waltham flatmates, two from a small Scottish village and the other from Northern Ireland came home last week to find their place ransacked. They called the police, but a bit of intel from a neighbour saw them launch their own investi...

Parents, whose three-year-old twins played in asbestos-contaminated sand, are accusing Kmart of downplaying the risk. In November last year, the retail giant issued a recall notice for some coloured play sand products prompting dozens of day cares and schools to close. Now, Elle Chrisp and David Dingwall are taking Kmart to the Disputes Tribunal after their children played with the contaminated pr...

Some residents of the tiny King Country settlement of Ōhura say they have no plans to move despite the spectre of climate change and the village's history of flooding. About 50 homes were damaged during a flash flood earlier this month and five left uninhabitable. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin was in Ōhura.

Chris Greenacre has officially taken on the top job for the Wellington Phoenix men's team following four stints where he temporarily took charge of the team in a caretaker role. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

118,000 job applications for fewer than 14,000 vacancies. That was the reality for Student Job Search in the first three months of the year. The Charity is hoping a new app will stream line the search for students desperate for work. The tech will allow students to share video with their potential employer and see real time mapping of situations vacant. Student Job Search boss Louise Saviker spoke...

A 31-year-old man has been charged with attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at an event in Washington over the weekend. Cole Tomas Allen, a part time teacher and video game developer from California, made his first appearance in court. He's accused of rushing the lobby at the White House correspondents' dinner, armed with guns and knives and opening fire before being tackled to the gr...

The threat of prosecution for truancy is effective at getting absent students re-enrolled at school, according to the Associate Minister of Education. It's been revealed the parents of an alleged chronic truant are being taken to court by the government as part of crackdown on absent students. The Minister responsible for school attendance David Seymour said 34 cases have formally been notified to...

On the eve of ANZAC Day, bugle players will be dusting off the brass to play The Last Post at services here and across the world. But what does it take to prepare for such an important moment? Checkpoint's Johnny Sutherland tracked down a bugler who takes his practice to another level. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent spoke to Lisa Owen about how the private health records of half a million Britons have been caught up in a massive data breach involving China.

The Prime Minister has pulled out of his regular Monday morning interview on TVNZ's Breakfast programme after National lodged a complaint about the network's Press Gallery team. RNZ's deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

News from the business sector, including a market report.