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
Review quietly launched into health impacts of nitrate
New Zealand has quietly launched a review into the health impacts of nitrate in drinking water, RNZ has learned. It follows moves by Denmark to drastically…
- Checkpoint
Taranaki mayors say disability support changes will put unfair burden on the district
A group of Taranaki mayors want urgent changes to a proposed disability support law they believe will put a disproportionate and unfair burden on their…
- Checkpoint
Using fermentation to turn difficult food waste into living soil
A Taranaki-based startup using fermentation to turn difficult food waste into living soil is gaining momentum. Green Loop collects not only organic waste but…
- Checkpoint
Climate change may cause increase in bacteria infected water
New Zealand researchers are warning climate change may mean an increase in bacteria infected seafood and the water itself. The group of waterborne bacteria…
- Checkpoint
Fourteen staff members take time off after patient assaults at new mental health ward
Fourteen staff members have had to take time off work after being assaulted by patients at Palmerston North Hospital's new mental health ward, Ngā Wai Ngāro…
- Checkpoint
Day one of FIFA world cup ends with more red cards than in two decades of matches
The final whistle has blown on day one of the Football World Cup - and the opening of the 23rd edition of the tournament will be remembered for discipline…
- Checkpoint
By-law sought to stop people feeding Kea
Conservations are calling for the Selwyn District Council to consider a by-law to stop people feeding Kea at Arthur's Pass, something they say can be fatal. It…
- Checkpoint
Iran peace agreement could be reached this weekend says Trump
Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about a peace agreement with Iran that could be reached this weekend accord to Donald Trump after…
- Checkpoint
Calls for improvements to fatal intersection gaining momentum
A nurse is calling for improvements to a fatal intersection on a popular holiday highway between Auckland and the Coromandel. There have been a number of fatal…
- Checkpoint
Australia's One Nation polling ahead of governing Labor Party
Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Australia's major political parties continuing to grapple with a surge in support for One Nation…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 11 June 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Otago principal running to raise money for school camp
A determined Otago school principal is not one to run from a problem, instead he is literally running towards a solution. Rob Taylor from Dunedin's Musselburgh…
- Checkpoint
Government won't pay billions to meet climate commitments
The Prime Minister has said he will not paying the billions of dollars Treasury estimates is needed for New Zealand to meet its climate commitments. Treasury…
- Checkpoint
Children should have a say in a potential social media ban - Children's Commissioner
The Children's Commissioner is calling for young people's voices to be heard in discussions around banning social media for under-16s. The government has…
- Checkpoint
Mystery defecator shuts down Masterton fernery again
A mystery defecator has struck again - closing a much-loved fernery in Masterton while cleaning teams wiped up their mess. The Queen Elizabeth park attraction…
- Checkpoint
FIFA World Cup tipped to be most environmentally damaging sports event in history
Three countries, 16 cities, more teams and more matches. A University of Auckland researcher says it all means the FIFA World Cup is predicted to be history's…
- Checkpoint
Unpaid placements leaving professions decades behind
"It's psychologically demoralising to be working for nothing". That from advocates who say having to do hundreds of hours of unpaid on the job training is…
- Checkpoint
Agritech showing huge growth at Fieldays
It's not just traditional agriculture exports that are booming at the annual Fieldays expo at Mystery Creek this year. Agritech - from drones to virtual…
- Checkpoint
Malicious fake social media posts targeting sportspeople
More malicious fake social media posts are targeting sportspeople. The latest victim of the phenomenon is Warriors coach Andrew Webster a false post announcing…
- Checkpoint
Bad music driving customers away
Bad music is literally driving customers away according to new research. The study by One Music NZ, the agency that collects royalties and licenses music for…
- Checkpoint
Tensions erupt in Middle East with US launching more strikes
US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about tensions erupting again in the Middle East with the United States launching more strikes against Iran…
- Checkpoint
More than a thousand young people without homes in Gisborne
It is estimated more than 1000 young people in Gisborne don't have a home to go to. The area is one of the worst for severe housing deprivation according to a…
- Checkpoint
Protests erupt across Northern Ireland after knife attack
Europe correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about anti-immigration protests in Northern Ireland after a vicious knife attack in Belfast. As well as…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 10 June 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe named in Time magazine
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has made more history as the first New Zealander named in Time magazine's inaugural 100 most influential people in sport. Sports…
- Checkpoint
New Queenstown housing development targeted at locals
A thousand new homes in Queenstown are being targeted at "high quality, long term" renterns, with seasonal workers warned not to apply. Housing developer…
- Checkpoint
Politics of climate change front and centre at Field Days
The politics of climate change and the environment is front and centre at the annual Field Days agricultural showcase as Hamilton's Mystery Creek. National and…
- Checkpoint
Minister spent almost $17k on parking fees over two years
Expense records show a government minister spent almost $17,000 in airport parking fees over two years. Credit card records show between February 2024 and…
- Checkpoint
Blood Cancer patient forced to Australia now receiving therapy
A New Zealand blood cancer patient who was forced to leave his children behind and make a last chance dash to Australia to access funded drugs has now been…
- Checkpoint
Hope for ICE detained Everlee Wihongi
The sister-in-law of a woman detained by ICE in the US has described the quashing of her 2016 conviction as a huge relief. Everlee Wihongi's lawyer has told…
- Checkpoint
Labour promising $20 fare cap on public transport
The Labour Party is promising cost-of-living relief for public transport users - pledging to cap their fares at no more than $20 a week if elected. National…
- Checkpoint
Artistic gymnast set to compete at sixth Commonwealth Games
One of New Zealand's most enduring sporting careers is set to reach another remarkable milestone. Twenty years on from making his Commonwealth Games debut…
- Checkpoint
Cork unscrewed on wine bottle saved for over two decades
It was a bottle of wine sure to get people talking. A group of friends indulging in a bottle worth $400,000 over dinner a few nights ago. The 1996 bottle was…
- Checkpoint
Fresh wave of strikes between US and Iran
Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen about a fresh wave of back and forth strikes between the United States and Iran. The latest flare up…
- Checkpoint
Aotearoa lacking a clear approach to reducing risks of hazards
Aotearoa lacks a coherant complete approach to reducing the risk of natural hazards, according to a new report commissioned by on the country's largest…
- Checkpoint
Councillors debate over where Auckland high rise housing should be
Auckland Councillors have been deep in discussion about exactly where high rise housing should be built to allow for close to another million and a half homes…
- Checkpoint
Australians unhappier with what they have in life than ever before
Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about new data, which has revealed that Australians are more miserable about their lot in life than ever…
- Checkpoint
Former Warrior opens up about off-field struggles
A former Warrior has opened up about his off-field struggles with depression and substance abuse as he battled with his sexual identity. Kane Evans has become…
- Checkpoint
Rules proposed to lock in back supply of electricity
The government is proposing to raise the penalty for power companies if they come up short in supply, from $2 million to $10 million. It is also investigating…
- Checkpoint
Wānaka GP fears community could lose after-hours service
A Wānaka GP fears the community could lose its after-hours service within weeks if proposed changes to rural healthcare funding are introduced. Under changes…
- Checkpoint
Blind Low Vision to swamp Disability Minister with complaints
An advocacy group is hoping to swamp the Disability Minister's electorate office with complaints about cuts to a transport subsidy. The Total Mobility Scheme…
- Checkpoint
Healthy homes breaches found in Dunedin rentals
Living in poor conditions shouldn't be seen as a rite of passage for university students, according to the boss of MBIE's tenancy investigations team. The team…
- Checkpoint
Pumice pouring onto shores of PNG island a 'disaster'
A crocodile hunter in Papua New Guinea has described masses of pumice arriving on the shores of Manus Island as a "disaster". The huge rafts of pumice were…
- Checkpoint
11 meter waves batter Wellington as evacuation orders in place
Hundreds of residents on Wellington's south coast are being warned to stay away from their homes until tomorrow morning, with the area under a state of…
- Checkpoint
Chatty Cafes combatting loneliness to hit NZ
A cup of coffee and a chat at a local cafe could be the key to combatting loneliness. The Chatty Cafe scheme aims to reduce social isolation but creating…
- Checkpoint
Routliffe to face off against Serena Williams in return to tennis
Former world number one doubles player Erin Routliffe will face off against tennis royalty in the early hours of tomorrow morning. The New Zealander and her…
- Checkpoint
Massive price jump for US visa ruled unlawful
US Correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about a dramatic six-figure price jump on a popular work visa which has been blocked. Last year Donald Trump…
- Checkpoint
Charities fear new tax policy may break them
A group of charities have serious concerns that a new tax rule may break them. They group is writing to the Minister of Finance to express serious concern over…
- Checkpoint
Zelensky meets with European leaders in London
Europe correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Ukraine's president meeting with European leaders at Downing Street. Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary…
- Checkpoint
State of emergency declared for parts of Wellington amid heavy swells
Wellington's mayor Andrew Little has declared a state of emergency for the city's Southern and Eastern wards. It comes as a heavy swell warning is issued, with…
- Checkpoint
No Australian teams to make Super Rugby Pacific semi-final
The Super Rugby Pacific semi-finalists have been found. In an historic low for the Australian teams, not a single one will feature after both hopes were…
- Checkpoint
Tourism industry in need of staffing boost
There are concerns that without attracting more staff to the tourism and hospitality industries, the workforce won't be big enough to meet growing plane loads…
- Checkpoint
Kiwis dominate the world competition in extreme timbersports
Kiwi athletes have dominated the world competition in extreme timbersports, taking top spot on what was the most glamorous podium in sport at the weekend…
- Checkpoint
'Untenable' for Labour's new candidate to continue as superintendent - Police Commissioner
A new Labour candidate has ruffled some feathers after leaving it to the last minute to notify his employer - the police - about his plans to stand. Political…
- Checkpoint
Government action over Run It Straight is 'too slow'
A brain injury charity is describing the government's lack of action over full contact collision games like Run It Straight as "too slow". The government has…
- Checkpoint
Age verification tantamount to 'state surveillance' says former Judge
A former District Court Judge says New Zealand should forget about implementing age verification on social media platforms because it doesn't have sufficient…
- Checkpoint
Student's death at mental health ward was preventable, coroner rules
The parents of a 21-year-old university student who died by suicide in Palmerston North Hospital's mental health ward hope their long wait for the coroner's…
- Checkpoint
National promises to double funding for Queen Elizabeth II National Trust
National has promised to double the funding for the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust if re-elected. The Trust is a charity that uses 'covenant' agreements to…