Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the Newtonian heating and slip effect on mixed convective flow near a stagnation point in a porous medium with thermal radiation in the presence of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD), heat generation/absorption and chemical reaction. Design/methodology/approach - The governing nonlinear coupled equations are converted into ordinary differential equations by similarity transformation. These equations are solved numerically using a Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method with shooting technique and analytically using the homotopy analysis method (HAM). Findings - The effects of different parameters on the fluid flow and heat transfer are investigated. It is found that the velocity and temperature profiles increase on an increase in the Biot number. The velocity and concentration profiles increase on decreasing the chemical reaction parameter. Practical implications - This paper is helpful to the engineers and scientists in the field of thermal and manufacturing engineering. Originality/value - The two-dimensional boundary layer flow over a vertical plate with slip and convective boundary conditions near the stagnation-point is analysed in the presence of magnetic field, radiation and heat generation/absorption. This paper is helpful to the engineers and scientists in the field of thermal and manufacturing engineering. © Emerald Publishing Limited.