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
Wild weather set to batter North Island
The wild weather has jumped the Cook Strait with a large swathe of the North Island in for a drenching. Orange heavy rain warnings are in place for Wairarapa…
- Checkpoint
Australian police investigating death of four year old boy
Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about police investigating the death of a four-year-old boy, in circumstances that can only be described…
- Checkpoint
All Blacks star Sititi reveals mum wanted him to quit rugby
All Blacks star Wallace Sititi has revealed his mum wanted him to quit rugby after suffering a severe concussion last month. Footage showed Sititi visbly…
- Checkpoint
Former police officers on trial over conviction of Alan Hall
A key witness who saw someone running from the scene of Arthur Easton's murder in 1985 says he still believes the person he saw was Māori. The ethnicity of the…
- Checkpoint
Outbreak of highly contagious horse disease spreading among thoroughbreds
An outbreak of a highly contagious horse disease is spreading among thoroughbreds in the North Island , raising concerns about exports. Strangles is a serious…
- Checkpoint
Nine person rescue team save driver in South Island flood waters
Emergency services, including a specialist water rescue team, spent more than three hours freeing a driver trapped in his car, in rising flood waters near…
- Checkpoint
State of emergency remains for Kaikōura district
A state of emergency remains for the Kaikōura district after the Kowhai River breached its banks, with the evacuation area extended and evacuation centres…
- Checkpoint
PM concerned about China missile test in Pacific
The Prime Minister has expressed concern over China's missile test - saying it's inconsistent with Pacific values. Shortly after Australia and Fiji inked a new…
- Checkpoint
Alcohol industry group calls to be consulted over drinking health advice
An alcohol industry group says it has a "fundamental right to be consulted" over a review of official health advice on so called "low risk drinking". The…
- Checkpoint
Retirement village residents win battle to lower speed limit
Residents of a lower North Island retirement village lost their first battle to stop the speed limit on the highway outside their gate returning to 100km/h…
- Checkpoint
Over 50 child protection and sexual assaults cases re-opened over handling concerns
More than 50 child protection and sexual assault cases are being re-opened following concerns about how a senior police officer handled them. It follows a…
- Checkpoint
Wellington Rugby Union throws support behind boycotting referees
The Wellington Rugby Union is throwing its support behind referees who are boycotting club games due to ongoing abuse. All college to club level games are…
- Checkpoint
Fans outraged out Trump's call to FIFA to postpone player ban
United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about President Trump calling FIFA's boss over a US player's suspension, which has some critics…
- Checkpoint
Wairoa Mayor campaigning for councils to have powers over vape stores
A Wairoa Mayor is campaigning for councils to have more legal powers to deal with the proliferation of vape stores. Craig Little is concerned vaping is being…
- Checkpoint
Evacuations in Kaikoura as river breaches its banks
Kaikoura is under a State of Emergency, and a red heavy rain warning remains in place for Marlborough, parts of Canterbury and the Kaikoura Ranges until 6am…
- Checkpoint
Wildfires tear through Europe as UK heatwave looms
United Kingdom correspondent Grace Thomas spoke to Lisa Owen about how wildfires are tearing through Europe while another heatwave looms for the UK. She also…
- Checkpoint
Former officers on trial for attempting to obstruct justice
A former High Court judge said it was for a jury, not the police, to decide whether a witness who saw a man running from a murder scene was relevant to the…
- Checkpoint
All Blacks hint at rotating before facing Italy
It's the word All Black fans dread; Rotation. After surviving the French in Christchurch, the side has hinted at rotating the team for the Italians in…
- Checkpoint
Small southland town fundraising to keep nurse
A small southland community that doesn't have a permanent doctor is fundraising to keep a nurse at the local medical centre. The Nightcaps Medical centre has…
- Checkpoint
Campaign underway to save Donald the runaway pig
A campaign is underway to save a runaway pig that prompted a police chase after apparently escaping from a stock truck and wandering on a state highway near…
- Checkpoint
China planning to fire missile into South Pacific Ocean
New Zealand has been warned that China plans to fire a missile into the South Pacific Ocean within the next 24 hours. Political reporter Lillian Hanly spoke to…
- Checkpoint
Homes north of Whangarei still cut off after storm damage
Hundreds of homes, in a cluster of coastal settlements north of Whangarei, are still cut off due to storm damage, almost six months on. In January, Russell…
- Checkpoint
Waitaki locals are cleaning up after heavy rain
Waitaki locals are cleaning up the mess after being battered by heavy rain overnight. The Waitaki District Council declared a state of emergency early this…
- Checkpoint
NZ’s guide to low risk drinking to be reviewed
How much alcohol is too much, when it comes to health risks like cancer and is Aotearoa's official guide to low risk drinking dangerously out of date? The…
- Checkpoint
West Coast critical minerals projects getting up to $50 million
Two critical minerals projects on the West Coast are getting up to $50 million from the Crown to co-fund the construction of processing facilities. The money…
- Checkpoint
Decision to suspend match ban for US player divides opinions
The rare decision to suspend a one-match ban for an American player at the Football World Cup has divided opinion. While the USA coach said he had no role in…
- Checkpoint
Millions set to attend six-day funeral for Iran's late leader
A massive six-day funeral for Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is underway. Khamenei was killed by a US-Israeli strike at the beginning of the…
- Checkpoint
Wellington rugby referees pull out of games after ongoing abuse
Wellington rugby referees have pulled out of all games around the capital this coming weekend due to ongoing sideline abuse. The Wellington Rugby Referees…
- Checkpoint
Threat to life from river conditions and slips
A red heavy rain warning is in place for Marlborough and parts of Canterbury, including the Kaikoura Ranges. due to flooding. But attention is turning to…
- Checkpoint
UK PM issues formal apology for historic forced adoptions
United Kingdom correspondent Grace Thomas spoke to Lisa Owen about Prime Minister Keir Starmer issuing a formal government apology for thousands of historic…
- Checkpoint
Devices for tracking down missing people get increase in interest
A charity called WanderSearch has noticed a big increase in interest in devices it provides to help authorities track down vulnerable, missing people in an…
- Checkpoint
Christchurch to host All Blacks for first time in four years
Christchurch will host the All Blacks for the first time in four years tomorrow night. The first test of the Dave Rennie era sees his side take on France at…
- Checkpoint
DOC to vaccinate threatened species against bird flu
DOC is about to start vaccinating some of New Zealand's most threatened species against a highly virulent strain of the bird flu that's shown up in Australia…
- Checkpoint
Cancer Control agency release plans to tackle the disease as diagnosis rates set to increase
The Cancer Control agency is planning to reduce cancer risk due to alcohol, poor nutrition and sun exposure. It's part of its three year strategy for tackling…
- Checkpoint
What costs will a new highway linking Auckland and Whangārei bring?
You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in Northland who doesn't want a better road linking Whangārei to Auckland - but at what cost? Apart from the hefty price…
- Checkpoint
Dunedin's Wakari hospital inspected under crimes of torture
An inspection into a Dunedin forensic facility for people with intellectual disabilities has found 'some of the worst practices observed' according to the…
- Checkpoint
Test rugby to return to Christchurch at new Te Kaha stadium
Christchurch rugby fans are fizzing over the return of test rugby to the city after four years. The new Te Kaha stadium is sold out for the All Blacks opening…
- Checkpoint
Tall Blacks coach back from Japanese club side to coach Kiwis
Tall Blacks head coach Judd Flavell made a big money move a couple of months ago to link up with a Japanese club side, though he insists he hasn't lost sight…
- Checkpoint
Virtual reality headsets get kids moving
Screen time and kids sport might seem like a mismatch but a trial across several school appears to be proving otherwise. GameFit, a Sport Waikato programme…
- Checkpoint
Major anti-immigration protests across South Africa
There have been major anti-immigration protests across South Africa this week, attracting thousands of demonstrators. Several political parties and vigilante…
- Checkpoint
Gardening business pushing up wages to attract workers
The owner of an Auckland gardening business is frustrated at how difficult it seems to get workers despite high numbers of people apparently needing jobs. She…
- Checkpoint
In Tasmania, Neil the seal causes more destruction
Neil the Seal is causing more destruction - officials say to admire from afar. Australia correspondent Nick Grimm joins Lisa Owen on Checkpoint.
- Checkpoint
New All Black team named
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie's first team of the year has two debuntants on the bench and a new first-five. Rugby reporter Joe Porter spoke with Lisa Owen.
- Checkpoint
Whanganui's poisonous dress
A hand-made silk victorian frock, coloured with arsenic-based dye, is going on display for the first time at Whanganui regional museum. Museum acting director…
- Checkpoint
Airborne asbestos found in children's play sand
Every option, as soon as possible. It's what the Consumer Affairs Minister is demanding after findings this morning showed asbestos in contaminated children's…
- Checkpoint
Drastic action needed to save Tarakihi:environmental group
One of Aotearoa's most popular fish is on the verge of extinction and drastic action is needed to save it, according to an environmental group. Tarakihi is…
- Checkpoint
Nelson underwater hockey players to represent NZ
Six underwater hockey players from Nelson are representing New Zealand at the age group world championships in Turkey later this month. The minority sport has…
- Checkpoint
Former Te Pati Maori co-leader calls for leadership change
Te Pati Maori's troubles have resurfaced, with a former co-leader calling for a change in leadership. It comes after the party faced a period of turmoil and…
- Checkpoint
Palmerston North getting fourth McDonalds
New Plymouth has one, Tauranga three and Palmerston North? Well, it's getting a fourth McDonalds. But not everyone is lovin' it. Locals have been debating…
- Checkpoint
Two NZ coaches may face homicide charges in Philippines
Two NZ coaches potentially face homicide charges in the Philippines over the tragic deaths last month of two basketball players, who were on a training…
- Checkpoint
Top chef questions Michelin awards selections
Not everyone is eating up Aotearoa's new Michelin status. One top chef has described the award night as an absolute joke and questioned how some winners were…
- Checkpoint
Trump’s finances for last year revealed
United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about how the US president's finances for last year have been revealed and how the US is trying to…
- Checkpoint
Massive waste levels in govt's school lunch programme
Enormous amounts of packaging waste from the government's school lunch programme is going straight to the dump. An Audit Office report has highlighted high…
- Checkpoint
Government continues road cone crackdown
From today Council's are required to take a common sense, risk based approach to temporary traffic management. That should mean less rows of bright orange…
- Checkpoint
Handling of OIA request by PM’s office unreasonable, watchdog finds
An independent watchdog has found the handling of an official information request by the Prime Minister's office was unreasonable. It comes after a court…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for Wednesday 1 July 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.