Shows / Checkpoint
Checkpoint
Checkpoint with Lisa Owen is RNZ’s weekday drive-time news programme, Our people, stories and breaking news and interviews from 4-6pm.
Episodes
- Checkpoint
Author David Walliams facing allegations of misconduct
United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about British comedian and author David Walliams facing serious allegations about his conduct…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 11 November 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
All Whites captain Chris Wood wants input on new coach
All Whites captain Chris Wood says there's been no player input requested as the search for a new coach continues. New Zealand Football didn't renew Darren…
- Checkpoint
Auckland hit with unusually large bee swarming season
Auckland is in the midst of an unusually large bee swarming season after a milder than usual winter. In October, a driver was forced to take a nap inside their…
- Checkpoint
Woman dies after hospital missed heart attack symptoms
A health watchdog has found a litany of failures in an understaffed and overcrowded ED meant by the time doctors realised a woman was having a heart attack…
- Checkpoint
Kaitāia mill closure will affect almost 160 jobs
People in Kaitāia got the news today they've been dreading - and half expecting - for months. One of the town's biggest employers, the Triboard Mill, is…
- Checkpoint
Groups gather to commemorate 108th Armistice day
Today marks 108 years since the guns fell silent after four years of brutal conflict in the First World War. Across the world armed forces, veteran's groups…
- Checkpoint
What power does the caretaker government have?
Right now we have a caretaker government in place, and the country is expected to remain in limbo at least until the end of the month, but it could be much…
- Checkpoint
'Sandpaper-gate' erupts again with claims whole team was in on it
The aftershocks of the infamous Sandpaper-gate scandal continue to reverberate through Australian cricket, eight years on. Former Australian cricketer Usman…
- Checkpoint
Fire at Hamilton park destroys thousands of dollars of football gear
Police are investigating after a fire at a Hamilton park destroyed thousands of dollars of football gear for junior players. Witnesses say people were aiming…
- Checkpoint
Iran's IRGC say it's lifted 2000km limit on missile range
Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps saying it has lifted a self-imposed 2000km limit on…
- Checkpoint
Airline waiting for decision on Kāpiti Airport closure
A regional airline says it's a painful wait for a decision on the future of Kāpiti Airport. Owners PropCo have entered into a conditional sale and purchase…
- Checkpoint
Wellington town hall redevelopment enters final phase
After 13 years closed and hundreds of millions of dollars in budget blowout, Wellington's town hall redevelopment has entered its final phase. The town hall…
- Checkpoint
Oz security guard missing after joining Russian invasion
Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about concerns for an Australian security guard who has gone missing after joining the Russian invasion…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 10 November 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Black Caps fight for survival against India
The Black Caps are fighting for survival in the One day series against India. The third match was underway in Hamilton after a rain delay. Sports reporter…
- Checkpoint
Lyttelton residents crowdsourcing for cameras to discourage boy racers
A group of Christchurch residents are crowd sourcing funds for a surveillance camera to discourage noisy street hoons. Lyttleton's had problems with loud cars…
- Checkpoint
RNZ CEO says he's 'taken responsibility' over $12m budget blow out
The CEO of RNZ who is staying on until his contract ends, says he's taken responsibility, despite the broadcaster running up an almost $12 million deficit on…
- Checkpoint
MPs converge in Wellington for first and last caucus meetings
MPs new, returning, and departing have converged on Wellington for their caucus meetings - for some of them their first, and for others their last. It's been a…
- Checkpoint
Rain doesn't put off punters at Christchurch's Trotting Cup
Rain and drizzle made for a damp and grey day at Christchurch's Addington Raceway, but punters provided the colour, turning out in some snappy outfits for the…
- Checkpoint
Dunedin wind farm set to be biggest in the country
Jackets on, shovels out as ground breaks on a $506 million wind farm in the hills west of Dunedin. The Puke Kapo Hau wind farm received fast track approval in…
- Checkpoint
Concern children being used to sell black market cigarettes
There's concern that children are allegedly being used to sell black market cigarettes. A months long RNZ investigation has found that illicit tobacco is being…
- Checkpoint
Breakers suffer another blow as Jackson-Cartwright ruled out
The struggling New Zealand Breakers have suffered another blow with influential import Parker Jackson-Cartwright ruled out for the rest of the Australian NBL…
- Checkpoint
Comedian Dai Henwood dies aged 48
TV regular and comedian Dai Henwood has died at the age of 48 after living with colon cancer for six years. His management company announced the sad news on…
- Checkpoint
Nvidia spy scandal being invesitgated by FBI, Trump says
United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the spy scandal involving the CEO of the world's second largest company, which is now being…
- Checkpoint
Canterbury University staff holding back grades over pay talks
Some Canterbury University staff are holding back student grades and exam results over deadlocked pay talks. Members of the Tertiary Education Union started a…
- Checkpoint
The pet name that takes top spot for eighth year in a row
There's one name that pet owners adore. It's been the top name for New Zealand pets for the past eight years. Sammy Carter reports.
- Checkpoint
UK military head - not enough preparation for Russia threats
United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the head of the UK military warning the country is not doing enough to prepare for the…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 9 November 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Rugby League World Cup dream over for Samoa and Tonga
The Rugby League World Cup dream is over for Samoa and Tonga. Both were eliminated from the tournament over the weekend, setting up a Kiwis vs Kangaroos final…
- Checkpoint
Manawatu secondary school's boarding hostel licence suspended
Students at a Manawatū secondary school are scrambling to arrange their final classes and exams after the boarding hostel's operating licence was suspended…
- Checkpoint
Scientists captivated by relationship between bull and donkey
Scientists have been captivated by a relationship between a male donkey and a bull in Ethiopia. Interspecies relationships in the animal kingdom aren't…
- Checkpoint
Person arrested in relation to Baby Ru investigation
A person has been arrested in relation to the investigation into the death of Baby Ru, RNZ can reveal. Last month marked three years since Bay Ru was killed…
- Checkpoint
RNZ reveals near $12m budget blowout, plans for job cuts
RNZ has revealed a near $12 million budget blowout after a litany of financial blunders, setting the stage for sweeping job cuts. In its just published annual…
- Checkpoint
Luxon says he will call Qiulae Wong as election result still unknown
After repeatedly insisting he had ruled out working with Opportunity, National leader Christopher Luxon has said he will call Qiulae Wong 'shortly'. The…
- Checkpoint
Three people dead after car crashes through BurgerFuel restaurant
Three people have died after a car crash in south Auckland last night. The car, which RNZ understands was traveling over 150kmh, lost control and collided with…
- Checkpoint
New MPs make their way to Parliament for the first time
Newly elected members of parliament have started making their way to the office. Election night results as they stand puts 35 new MPs into the house. Seven of…
- Checkpoint
All Blacks beat Scotland for win in Nations Rugby Championship
The All Blacks held on to a more than century-old unbeaten streak over the weekend. The side beat Scotland 43-21 in Edinburgh - recording another win in the…
- Checkpoint
Seven dead after trains collide in Egypt
Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about a train collision in Egypt that has killed several people and injured more than a hundred…
- Checkpoint
How much will overhang MPs cost taxpayers?
It's an expensive business running a country, and on the preliminary election results, an overhang would likely add up to 11 more MPs to Parliament. But what…
- Checkpoint
RNZ plans job cuts after shock $12m loss
RNZ has dug itself into a $12 million financial hole. Redundancies and other cuts are part of the plan to dig it out. It's just released books show an $11.8…
- Checkpoint
Hopes data centre, factory development could Ruapehu jobs
It's hoped a $300 million development could bring jobs back to Ruapehu after the devestating loss of the district's pulp mill two years ago. The proposal would…
- Checkpoint
More disruption for air travel across Europe and UK
United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about more disruption for air travel across Europe and the UK, as well as big news out of the UK…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 6 November 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
All Blacks prepare to face off against Scotland
The All Blacks are set for a clash against the Scots in the early hours of Sunday morning. It kicks off Dave Rennie's final leg of his first season in charge…
- Checkpoint
Luxon wrapping up National Party campaign as election day looms
The National Party big blue bus is on the final leg of its campaign journey, as election day looms. Political reporter Lauren Crimp and National Party leader…
- Checkpoint
Advocacy group warns it would fight freedom camping bans
An advocacy group fighting for everyone's right to freedom camp is warning it will challenge any blanket bans in court. Wanaka residents are calling for a ban…
- Checkpoint
Opportunity just above threshold to enter parliament in latest poll
Opportunity is knocking on the door to parliament, but the last poll of the election campaign suggests it will be a line call. The Fresh Water strategy poll…
- Checkpoint
Disillusionment and distrust of politicians rife in Southland coal towns
Disillusionment and distrust of politicians is rife in the Southland coal towns of Ohai and Nightcaps. Most of the miners are now long gone and the character…
- Checkpoint
Drone and AI tech helping regeneration after Tongariro fires
Drone and AI technology is helping regeneration efforts in the central North Island's Tongariro National Park after two fires tore through last year. The…
- Checkpoint
Teen breaking down barriers for people with disabilities using trikes and bikes
19-year-old Liam Carter was only five years old when he discovered the freedom a set of wheels can offer. Liam lives with cerebral palsy, and is the founder of…
- Checkpoint
Councils fear crumbling bridges could leave people stranded
Councils fear hundreds of crumbling bridges could leave rural families and businesses stranded unless the Transport Agency commits to help fund replacements…
- Checkpoint
Tonga, Fiji and Samoa take on big players in Rugby League World Cup
For generations, Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa have watched their best rugby league talent get poached by their bigger Pacific neighbours. Now, all three have the…
- Checkpoint
Violent thunderstorms move across Auckland region
Violent thunderstorms moved across the Auckland region this afternoon, with lightning strikes knocking out power supplies and disrupting travel. Metservice's…
- Checkpoint
Beau Lamarre-Condon back in witness box in his murder trial
Australia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about former Sydney police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon being back in the witness box in his double…
- Checkpoint
Electoral commission gears up to count millions of votes
The debates are done, the last polls crunched and there's just one sleep to go. Some politicians are still trekking up the country, for every last handshake…
- Checkpoint
Australian schools to get limits on screen time and AI use
Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Australia getting its biggest shake up of its school system in years, with new limits on screen…
- Checkpoint
Evening Business for 5 November 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Fundraising campaign underway to secure future of disability sports
The country's most well known sporting charity is undergoing a fundraising campaign to secure the future of disability sports. While great strides have been…
- Checkpoint
Waikato school proposes removing ethnicity based admission
New Zealand's newest medical school is reviewing its admission criteria with a proposal to remove ethnicity as a priority factor. Set to take its first cohort…