Stories by Zac Fleming
Audio and features
Prime Minister no longer shops at SaveMart
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she no longer shops at second hand clothing chain SaveMart after Checkpoint revealed the unsafe and unsanitary conditions workers endured. Video, Audio
Nosh reborn as Grocer's Market, but under the same premise
Grocer's Market owner Aaron Drever is convincing workers and suppliers, collectively owed more than a million dollars, to get back on board by promising to sell his house if he has to. Video, Audio
Sky World remained open despite 'high risk' to public
One of New Zealand's busiest buildings, Sky World, was allowed to stay open despite Auckland Council acknowledging it was a high fire risk. Zac Fleming reports. Video, Audio
Destiny Church founders move into new 'resort' home
Two of Destiny Church's charities have until next Friday to file financial returns or face being deregistered. Meanwhile, Brian and Hannah Tamaki have bought a new car and moved into a new luxury… Audio
Auckland Council criticised from within over budget blowout
Auckland Council spent 42 million dollars more on staff wages and salaries than it had budgeted, meanwhile the number of staff paid more than $200,000 a year went up by a third. Video, Audio
Living in energy hardship: 'We couldn't make it through the winter'
New Zealanders are choosing to shiver through the cold months instead of heating their homes - because they can't afford to. Zac Fleming investigates what it's like to live in 'energy hardship'. Audio
Pensioner in poverty: Life in a caravan
Lynette Haines, 69, lives in the Bay of Plenty and says she has no choice but to live in a caravan at a campground because her pension is not enough. Video, Audio
How do lunches at different decile schools compare?
A simple social experiment: Go to a decile one school, and go to a decile 10 school, and ask to see what the children are having for lunch. Zac Fleming reports. Video, Audio
Nearly a third of households struggle to heat their home
New research shows 29 percent of New Zealanders struggle with "energy hardship" - paying their power bills, heating their home, mould and dampness. Zac Fleming reports. Audio
State owned Airways spent $11,417 on farewell book
Airways has apologised to the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises following revelations it spent $11,417 on a farewell book instead of a card for outgoing chief executive Ed Sims. Video, Audio
EQC blamed for Edgecumbe insurance delays
The Earthquake Commission is being blamed for delays in settling insurance claims resulting from April's Edgecumbe flooding, with three staff assigned to deal with all 271 claims received. Video, Audio
‘We’re more than just a dollar sign’ - US family kicked out of NZ
An American family of six has been forced to leave New Zealand for not meeting financial visa requirements, despite owning a profitable business. Video, Audio
'This is going to set a precedent' - council applying to evict homeowners
A precedent enabling councils and the government to evict victims of climate change from their homes may be about to be set. Video, Audio
Shelf stackers feel singled out as 'unskilled' immigrants
A supermarket owner says he would struggle to fill jobs if Labour's immigration policy became a reality. Labour wants to crack down on low-skilled immigrants, including supermarket workers. Video, Audio
Auckland building given WOF despite fire safety risks
One of the busiest buildings in Auckland was given a Warrant of Fitness last year despite it having inadequate fire safety systems. Video, Audio
'In the event of a fire, injury or death ... is likely'
Auckland Council has allowed a commercial CBD building to remain open for nearly a year despite acknowledging it's likely someone will die if it catches fire. Video, Audio
ACC rejects tourist driver's refund offer
A guilt-ridden tourist who killed two men in a car crash tried to pay back ACC for his medical costs, but was told it couldn't take his money. Audio
Protesters to live like caged animals for the weekend
Forty people will voluntarily spend 40 hours in a tiny cage, with nothing to do, eating nothing but cereal, to bring attention to factory farming. Video, Audio
Warning for rodeo cowboy caught electric-shocking calves
A rodeo cowboy who was caught abusing animals earlier this year has escaped formal punishment - a decision animal welfare activists say is ludicrous. Video, Audio
Supermarket sells bottles of wine for $1 due to 'typo'
Riverstone Chardonnay was sold for just $1 at Countdown in the Auckland suburb of Northcote on Friday. The supermarket says it was a mistake, but alcohol harm experts say it shows supermarkets can't… Audio
Avocado injuries cost ACC nearly $70,000 last year
Nearly one person every second day filed avocado-related ACC claims last year, costing taxpayers almost $70,000. Video, Audio
Dairy owners blame cigarette price hikes for robberies
With a retail price of over $20 a packet, there's a growing black market in stolen cigarettes. Footage provided to Checkpoint shows the people stealing them work very fast, and sometimes brutally… Video, Audio
Majority of religion in state schools not regularly checked
More than 600 state schools teach Christianity, but not other religions. Zac Fleming investigates what schools offer religious education and what is taught. Audio
Government rejects call to ban smoking in cars
The government has rejected a recommendation by its own health select committee and health officials to ban smoking in cars where children aged under 18 are passengers. Audio
Questions raised about how rodeo rules work
An internal memorandum written by a senior animal welfare investigator at the Ministry for Primary Industries has raised questions around how rodeo legislation works. Video, Audio