Andrew Mc Rae
New $100m Waikato mental health facility welcomed
The family of a man who took his own life after walking out of Waikato Hospital's mental health unit supports plans for a new centre at the hospital, but wants more to be done in the community.
The… Audio
Paula Southgate victorious in Hamilton - new mayor in Tauranga
Hamilton has a new Mayor this evening. Paula Southgate has beaten incumbent, Andrew King by nearly 2500 votes. At the last election Ms Southgate was beaten to the top job by Mr King by a meagre six… Audio
Hamilton challenges other cities to a Vote Off
Hamilton City is challenging other councils around the country to a Vote Off to see who can get the most residents to vote. They are hoping to turn around what is traditionally appallingly low-voter… Audio
Demise of the 'rhodo lawn' shocks
Grass verus tarseal. A row is brewing in Hamilton over what is known as the Rhododendron Lawn at the Hamilton Gardens. The council wants to turn the lawn into a carpark. Waikato reporter Andrew McRae… Audio
Farm owners angry over length of time for report to be done
Eight cattle were found dead on Paula and Mark Stone's farm near Te Kuiti, after 1080 was dropped as part of a DOC pest control operation. The Stones say the delay in the investigation, which… Audio
Eight vie for mayoral chains in Hamilton
The fight is on for the mayoral chains in New Zealand's fourth largest city. While eight candidates are vying for the top job in Hamilton, the contest looks likely to come down to a contest between… Audio
Witness describes awful first minutes after tour bus crash near Rotorua
A witness has described the awful first minutes after arriving at the scene of the tour bus crash near Rotorua, in which five Chinese tourists died. The police say the bus driver failed to navigate a… Audio
Free lunches in school trial announced in Rotorua
A programme to feed hungry kids with a free lunch at school each day is going to be trialled in 30 schools next year.
The Prime Minister announced the initiative at the launch of the Child and Youth… Video, Audio
Council launches fund to help with controlling stray cats
The days of stray cats roaming free and causing havoc in Hamilton are numbered with the launch of a 100-thousand dollar fund to desex and rehome them. Organisations that can show proof of a cat… Audio
Concern over Māori being pushed aside in Oranga Tamariki inquiry
A hui deciding how an inquiry into Oranga Tamariki will run says Maori have every right to live to their potential and must not be relegated to the B-team. The people at the Hamilton meeting made it… Audio
Whānau Ora members blast govt over Oranga Tamariki
Members of Whānau Ora have blasted the government at a hui in Hamilton on Monday, with some saying it's "totalitarian" and others calling out Māori MPs for not speaking out enough.
Whānau Ora is… Audio
Man on run after Australian tourist killed in Raglan
Police have launched a manhunt after an Australian tourist was shot dead in a campervan near Raglan.
The thirty-three-year-old man was asleep with his fiance when a gunman smashed into their van in… Audio
First growth partnership between govt, councils and iwi signed
The first urban growth agreement between government, local councils and mana whenua has been signed. It will manage development in the area between the country's two fastest growing cities, Hamilton… Audio
Early Business News for 15 August 2019
A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio
Bleak outlook for farmers after Fonterra forecasts 675-million dollar loss
"How the hell did it get like this?" - that's the question from farmers supplying to Fonterra as it forecasts a loss of up to 675-million dollars this year. Audio
Markets Update for 2 August 2019
A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio
Parents deliver strong message to son's killer during sentencing
Simon Walker was today sentenced to seven years in jail after pleading guilty to the kidnapping and manslaughter of 26-year old Mitchell Paterson in July last year. Video, Audio
Four killed in head-on crash with logging truck
Four people were killed this morning when the van they were in collided head-on with a logging truck in the Kaingaroa Forest. Reporter Andrew McRae joins Checkpoint with the latest. Audio
Campaign launched to highlight issues of winter cropping
A campaign to highlight environmental and animal welfare issues around winter cropping on farms has been launched this morning.
Winter cropping, or winter grazing is where cattle are strip fed a… Audio
