The Coromandel's getting an early Christmas, with State Highway 25A opening three months ahead of schedule.
But holding back their cheers are some in Cathedral Cove, who will miss out on the usual summer trade.
Checkpoint Monday 20 November 2023 | Coalition talks: Luxon 'relieved' policy agreements made
The coalition of confusion; Christopher Luxon says talks have reached a "significant milestone"
That's apparently news to Winston Peters; so how's that strong stable government looking?
We're live with the latest.
A ground breaking mulch to prevent ground baking this El Nino Summer.
Previously unusable fibrous green waste is being minced into an environomentally friendly ground cover, with Auckland council teaming up with private company Greencycle to make it happen.
Checkpoint Friday 17 November 2023 | Luxon's leadership skills under fire as negotiations continue
The difference between running a company and a country, Christopher Luxon's negotiating skills come under fire.
A hostage abducted by Hamas has been discovered dead near Gaza's Al Shifa hospital.
We'll have the latest.
A new Victoria university policy could see fewer students turning up in person for lectures, so will it become a ghost campus?
The students association is live.
#Watch The worst year for business in over 20 years.
That's how one business owner describes the last ten months living without the Coromandel Peninsula's vital link, State highway 25A.
#Watch A scorching day in the Garden city brought masses of people to the second day of the New Zealand Agricultural show.
Tens of thousands have flocked to see animals big and small, as the event marks its 160th anniversary.
Checkpoint Thursday 16 November 2023 | Coalition korero in 'final stages' as leaders continue talks
Police shoot a man dead after he allegedly held a weapon to a woman's throat and threatened to hurt her.
Coalition talks are apparently scooting along; one of National's negotiators arriving by Lime and Winston Peters finally squeezed for a few words.
In Gaza, Israeli Military continues to search Al Shifa hospital for militants.
Meanwhile the diseases of war are claiming victims too, the World Health Organisation is live.
#Watch Two young school kids have discovered actual treasure, potentially worth thousands of dollars, at a secret spot on a coromandel beach.
Nine year old Callan and seven year old Eva discovered a chunky lump of kauri resin or gum while out wandering the shore.
Checkpoint Wednesday 15 November | Coalition talks: Luxon, Seymour & Peters meet for the first time
Thirty minutes of quality time; the leaders of National, ACT and NZ First finally get face to face for a coalition korero.
So how did it go? David Seymour is live.
The israeli military is raiding Gaza's Al Shifa hospital where its alleges Hamas is hiding.
Almost two years on the run with their fugutive father, what does that do to three young children? We talk to a psychologist.
Christchurch cup day: Fascinators & colourful suits on display
#Watch The fascinators, colourful suits, and high heels were out in force in Christchurch today as about 13,000 people headed to Addington raceway for Harness Racing's biggest day.
#Watch Aucklanders hopping to and from Waiheke Island are celebrating a new competitor offering trips on the route, with Island Direct setting sail for the first time on Monday.
Checkpoint Monday 13 November 2023 | ANZ records record profit, but warns of tough times ahead
The "jagged edges" on tax dragging out the coalition talks, what might Christopher Luxon have to change in his plans?
The country's biggest bank posts a big $2 billion profit, the CEO is with us, live.
Christmas comes early for the Coromandel, its vital state highway is set to open ahead of time and under budget.
Travelling the blue highway to Waiheke with the new operator, why locals are happy to see some competition.
#Watch A family's worst fears were confirmed this morning when the body of Mei Han Chong was found abandoned in bush in suburban Auckland.
Police commenced a desperate search for Ms Chong after her husband, Fuk-Fu Kwok, known as Joseph Kwok, was found dead in their Ellerslie home on Monday after a brutal stabbing.
#Watch Police have grave concerns for the wife of a man killed in his Auckland home, saying she too may be the victim of foul play.
Mei Han Chong is still missing in a complicated homicide investigation the lead officer has described as a jigsaw puzzle.
Checkpoint Thursday 9 November | Ellerslie homicide: Police concerned wife is victim of foul play
Police have grave concerns for the wife of a murdered man in Auckland, they say Mei Han Chong may be a victim of foul play, too.
Labour MP Ginny Andersen is accused of bullying a teenager over a period of three years.
Will the wheels on the bus fall off the highly anticipated Auckland eastern link - we look into Wayne Brown's suggestion the council could pull funding.
Speaking of getting from A to B, the plan to revive a passenger rail service between Christchurch and Dunedin.
Kiwi video game developer hits 1 million downloads on Android
#Watch A video game developer has just reached the major milestone of 1 million downloads on Android mobile.
Battlecruisers is an explosive strategy game, has rave reviews from players and is set to expand to other platforms.
10 months in a cabin: Homeowners wait for fate of flood-damaged home
#Watch "A nightmare camping trip that doesn't stop."
That's how one home owner has described their living situation after ten months sleeping in a tiny cabin waiting for the fate of their flood-damaged house.
Checkpoint Tuesday 7 November | 10 months in a cabin: Homeowners wait for fate of flood-damaged home
A search for a missing wife and family's car, after the husband is found dead at the couple's Auckland home.
The Detective leading the homicide investigation joins us with the latest.
A nightmare camping trip that doesnt stop: that's the reality for an Auckland flood victim, who's one of many still in limbo.
The chips fall in favour of Chris Hipkins, who's confirmed as Labour's leader and all the taxes are back on the policy menu.
Checkpoint Monday 6 November | Man's cancer 'not survivable' after waiting 20 weeks for MRI scan
An unacceptable wait for an MRI scan leaves a patient with terminal cancer.
The senior doctors union is live.
The electronic public transport cards that are about to run out of gas, tune in because you could have one.
We visit the High school students learning how to build houses.
And she's dressed a future Queen, now Emelia Wickstead's soaring to new heights designing Air New Zealand's next uniforms.
Checkpoint Friday 3 November 2023 | Winston Peters back in kingmaker position after special votes
It's not his first rodeo, it's his fourth.
The final election vote count confirms Winston Peters as kingmaker again: So what does that mean for coalition talks?
The main players are live and we'll have reaction from the flip flop electorates.
Te Pati Maori scooped up another two seats, toppling some of labour's big guns.
John Tamihere joins us too.
Checkpoint Wednesday 1 November 2023 | Resounding failure for Gloriavale school in latest ERO report
Shut it down: Calls to close the Gloriavale christian school following a damming ERO report.
We speak to a former student and teacher who claims it's an abusive environment that's damaging kids.
The grim financial forecast; thunderous interest payments and a rising tide of mortgage defaults.
So how bad and for how long? ASB's chief economist is live.
#Watch There are growing concerns for the Hauraki Gulf's penguins with ten chicks found starving and dozens dead on Waiheke Island in the past few weeks.
It has conservationists worried that we could be seeing a repeat of the mass die-off of Kororā in the summer of 2017-2018.
Checkpoint Tuesday 31 October 2023 | Former director of Supie won't say when he knew it was in trouble
"Lots of people have lost money, some people have lost their jobs - no-one is happy."
A former Supie director who resigned days before the company went under speaks out.
The company managing Whakaari/White Island is convicted over failings in the lead up to the fatal erruption.
Should some dog breeds be completely banned off the back of recent fatal attacks?
A photo exhibition's been set up to warn people to be extra vigilant of scams by sharing the stories of those who have been caught out.
Nine out of ten New Zealanders were targeted by some kind of scam in the last year.
#Watch New Zealand's best and brightest gamers are gearing up for the Global Esports championships.
The Women's DOTA 2 team and an E Football player qualified for the games in Saudi Arabia where they'll represent the E Blacks on the world stage.
Photo exhibition shares stories warning the danger of scams
#Watch A photo exhibition's been set up to warn people to be extra vigilant of scams by sharing the stories of those who have been caught out.
Nine out of ten New Zealanders were targeted by some kind of scam in the last year.
Checkpoint Monday 30 October 2023 | Severe weather warning for Coromandel extended till tomorrow
Roads are awash, power's out in some places and don't be fooled coromandel there's more dodgy weather on way.
We are live with the latest.
The online grocer that took on big supermarkets chains has checked out owing $3 million and leaving more than a hundred staff in the lurch.
We talk to a supplier who is out of pocket and the voluntary administrator joins us too.
