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
Evening business for 14 September 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Warriors forced to take long road to NRL glory
The side were stunned at the weekend by a loss to the Dolphins, leaving them needing to win three in a row to clinch a maiden title. Sports reporter Jonty Dine…
- Checkpoint
Taskforce Kiwi helping disaster-stricken communities Nepal
It's been almost three weeks since a devastating flash flood ripped through villages on the Nepal-Tibet border. Approximately 1,300 people are known to have…
- Checkpoint
Traumatised CHCH family seeks answers over woman's death
The family of a Christchurch woman murdered by a patient who absconded from a psychiatric hospital have asked why it took their mother's death for changes to…
- Checkpoint
Coroner describes death of student as 'senseless'
A coroner's described the death of an Otago University student as "senseless" and a "woeful illustration" of the country's youth drinking culture. The 20 year…
- Checkpoint
Verb Wellington literary festival returns
The capital city's annual literary festival is back, bigger than ever, after last year's hiatus. Verb Wellington is active again, much to the delight of…
- Checkpoint
Politics update with deputy political editor Craig McCulloch
Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen about the latest news from the Beehive.
- Checkpoint
Spike in copper thefts causing millions of dollars in damage
A spike in thefts of copper and other recyclable metals is causing millions of dollars of damage to important infrastructure. The risk of having high-voltage…
- Checkpoint
Silver Ferns World Cup squad named
Sports reporter Bridget Tunicliffe talked Lisa Owen through the Silver Ferns squad heading to next year's World Cup.
- Checkpoint
Secondhand jeans far more eco-friendly than new pair - research
The environmental cost of a new pair of jeans could be enough to make a shopper blue. Brand new jeans can have an environmental footprint that is 180 times…
- Checkpoint
Price of oil ramps up along with hostilities
Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about the price of oil rising as hostilities ramp up between the Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi…
- Checkpoint
Auckland's CRL faces first commuter day
So far so good for Auckland's City Rail Link, which had its first full weekday in operation today. Auckland Transport says trains ran smoothly and that by 9am…
- Checkpoint
SafeTravel warns Kiwi travellers amid Fiji HIV outbreak
New Zealanders travelling to Fiji are being warned of an increased risk of HIV transmission, with the Fiji government declaring the epidemic a national crisis…
- Checkpoint
A shipwreck, a missing thumb and an unlikely connection
Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about a largely forgotten story about a yacht grounding which happened almost five decades ago at the…
- Checkpoint
MPs in England and Wales to vote on assisted dying legislation
United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the future of assisted dying legislation in England and Wales hanging in the balance, with…
- Checkpoint
Fish discovered in Fiordland could uncover new ecosystem
An Otago university researcher has landed what could be a significant scientific catch using a 2km line and a blob of marmite. What's believe to be a new…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 11 September 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Warriors to kick off finals series at sold out Mt Smart
The Warriors kick of their NRL finals series at a sold-out Mt Smart stadium tomorrow. While the home side have the upper hand in finals experience the visiting…
- Checkpoint
Businesses hope for end to suffering as CRL set to open
The road cones are gone, the sculptures unveiled and 23 new trains are set to start carrying commuters on Auckland's very own City Rail Link. Although trains…
- Checkpoint
Government agencies risk leaving door open to hackers
Government agencies that haven't beefed up email security could be leaving the door open to hackers, according to an international cyber security company. It…
- Checkpoint
Warriors fans furious as tickets being re-sold for hundreds more
Warriors fans are furious that some tickets snapped up for tomorrow's sell-out playoff against the Dolphins at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium are now selling…
- Checkpoint
Labour MP ties himself in knots explaining tax policy
One of Labour's most senior MPs has tied himself up in knots trying to explain the party's Capital Gains Tax policy. Willie Jackson seemed unaware whether the…
- Checkpoint
Orana Wildlife Park in need of $4 million to stay open
A 50-year-old Christchurch zoo is in financial crisis. There's a $4 million hole in its budget for this year and cash reserves will dry up by March. That is…
- Checkpoint
Richie Mo'unga back on the field after three-year hitatus
After a three-year hiatus Richie Mo'unga will be back in black in the last Test against the Springboks in Baltimore. Mo'unga is one of five players who will…
- Checkpoint
Auckland City Rail link prepares for opening
The Auckland City Rail Link is about to open after a decade of construction and a spend of almost $5.5 billion. Auckland Transport's Stacey van der Putten…
- Checkpoint
Netanyahu takes legal action against newspaper
Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about major developments involving the Iran-backed Houthi militant group in Yemen, as well Israeli…
- Checkpoint
Outdoors programmes combatting youth crime
Is sport the answer to cutting youth crime and re-offending by tamariki? This week the government announced it is giving almost $2.5 million to six community…
- Checkpoint
Party leaders hit the streets to campaign early
There was milk, Turkish Delight, and talk of the price of mince as National's Christopher Luxon and Labour's Chris Hipkins tried to win over business owners…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for Thursday 10 September
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
All Blacks gear up for stateside Springbok test
The All Blacks continue their journey in America this weekend with the fourth and final test match in the Greatest Rivalry tour against South Africa in…
- Checkpoint
Student creates Takahe documentary in bid to make it Bird of the Year
One university student's love for the Takahe is so deep that he is on a mission to get it voted supreme winner in the hotly contested Bird of the Year. Sam…
- Checkpoint
Multi-national company seeking fast track to prolong life of Otago gold mine
A multi-national company is seeking to fast track plans to prolong the life of its Otago gold mine for the next decade. OceanaGold's fast-track application…
- Checkpoint
Grey Power wants assurance of no more MSD botch ups
Grey Power wants assurances there will be no more MSD botch ups, following a report into winter energy payments being wrongly suspended. An MSD review has…
- Checkpoint
Convicted murderer reveals more details about what happened
A convicted murderer has revealed how he and another man accused of the killings shot two people in their Auckland home. Lok Fung Lorrence Li has admitted…
- Checkpoint
Decapitated dolphin washes up in the Coromandel
A decapitated dolphin has washed up in the Coromandel, and DOC investigators want to know how it happened. The grisly find at Pauanui Beach was reported on…
- Checkpoint
Early morning finish at US Open spotlights scheduling
Another early morning finish at the US Tennis Open has put grand slam scheduling under the spotlight again. But others argue marathon matches provide peak…
- Checkpoint
Locals protest against a fourth vape store in small town
Vape store number four has arrived near the small, far north town of Awanui and some residents are not happy. The town only has a population of about 420 and…
- Checkpoint
Oil prices top $100 as attacks ramp up between US and Iran
United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about oil prices topping $100 as attacks ramp up in the Gulf between Iran and the US, as well as a…
- Checkpoint
MSD wrongly suspended 30,000 benefits despite concerns raised
MSD wrongly suspended 30,000 benefits and other payments, despite concerns being raised for months. More than 16,000 pensioners were caught in the winter…
- Checkpoint
Israel closes British consulate in response to new sanctions
United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Israel closing the British consulate in Jerusalem in response to new sanctions on Israeli…
- Checkpoint
New report on high nitrate levels in Canterbury
Almost a year on from the previous Canterbury Regional Council declaring a 'nitrate emergency', a new report pointing to high nitrate levels across the region…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 9 September 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
NFL coming Down Under to start the season in Melbourne
Some of America's leading athletes will be testing jet lag, customs processes and the appetite for the NFL in this part of the world when they start the season…
- Checkpoint
Quenching a thirst for knowledge with free lectures at bars
Food for thought is what's on offer at a not so ordinary lecture series. Raising the Bar is twenty free talks across ten pubs on one night, in Canterbury this…
- Checkpoint
Labour calls government stance on Israel an 'embarrassment'
Labour is calling the government's stance on Israel an embarrassment to the country, and falls short of its responsibilities under the genocide convention…
- Checkpoint
Government workers across the country walk off the job
Thousands of government workers walked off the job today, some over stalled pay talks, others because of safety concerns. Gisborne Hospital Emergency…
- Checkpoint
Thousands take part in public service strikes for fair pay
Thousands of public servants took to the streets across the motu today, chanting their messages for the Government. The Public Service Association says workers…
- Checkpoint
Support service honoured for empowering youth with disabilities
A rangitahi-led advocacy and support service is among those honoured for its outstanding work empowering people with disabilities to live their best lives. The…
- Checkpoint
Convicted murderer returns to court as a witness
A convicted murder in a high-profile case has returned to court, this time as a witness. Prosecutors say Shu Man Poon schemed with his church friend Lok Fung…
- Checkpoint
Big-hitting Americans make US Open semi-finals
Some big hitting Americans have reached the semi-finals of the US Tennis Open. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.
- Checkpoint
National falls foul of advertising standards with flyer aimed at Labour
The National Party has fallen foul of advertising standards with a flyer that makes a false claim about a Labour tax policy. The brochure that was mailed…
- Checkpoint
Houthis up attacks against Saudi Arabia
Middle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about conflicts between the US and Iran continuing, and now the Houthis have upped attacks against…
- Checkpoint
Waikato Uni asking for ratepayers subsidies to fund medical school
Waikato University is asking for millions of dollars in ratepayer subsidies for its new medical school. It wants Hamilton Council to waive more than $5 million…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for Tuesday 8 September
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Otago Peninsula celebrating being possum free
The Otago Peninsula is cementing its reputation as a birdwatcher's delight, after it was officially declared possum free in March. The milestone marked more…
- Checkpoint
Warriors-Dolphins NRL qualifying final tickets sell out
Tickets for Saturday's Warriors-Dolphins NRL qualifying final have sold out within minutes of going on sale to the general public. The sell out sets the scene…
- Checkpoint
Man in court after woman and two children killed in Rotorua
A man has appeared in court this afternoon after a woman and two children were killed in Rotorua. Police earlier said they arrived at a property in the suburb…
- Checkpoint
Bed tax alternative a 'good start' but 'more needed'
A bed tax alternative that would see councils get millions of dollars to spend on strained infrastructure is a "good start" according to one mayor. If…
- Checkpoint
National provides alternative after dumping bed tax plans
The National Party is trying to patch things up with councils after dumping plans for a bed tax. Its alternative would give towns and cities a bigger cut of…