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
Trump takes swipe at NATO for lack of assistance in Iran war
While the shaky US-Israeli truce with Iran hangs in the balance, Donald Trump has taken a swipe at NATO for its lack of assistance in the war - saying it…
- Checkpoint
Kaikohe residents desperate for work amid job shortage
Some residents in the Far North town of Kaikohe say a dire jobs shortage means they have no choice but to leave to find work or else languish on the benefit…
- Checkpoint
Thailand weighs up changes to petrol station operating hours
Asia correspondent Chris Gilbert spoke to Lisa Owen about how despite recent news of a tentative ceasefire in the Middle East, relations between the US and…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for Wednesday 8 April 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Rural football club takes legal action over 'unsustainable' fees
A small South Island football club is taking legal action against its local federation, alleging it is being charged excessive fees. But Mainland Football…
- Checkpoint
Winston Peters welcomes ceasefire between US, Israel, and Iran
Winston Peters has welcomed a ceasefire between the US, Israel, and Iran, but is warning people not to get ahead of themselves. Donald Trump had imposed a…
- Checkpoint
Northland locals prepare for Cyclone Vaianu's impact
MetService is warning of a cyclone heading our way from the tropics. This one, forecasters say, could get wild, with the possibility of winds like New…
- Checkpoint
Air Chathams looks to cut schedule with soaring jet fuel prices
Air Chathams is reviewing its schedule. It's the only airline flying to its name sake Chatham Islands, providing a vital freight link and connection to the…
- Checkpoint
Circus Arts class launched for over 60 year olds
If you ever dream of running off to the circus but worry you've left it too late - never fear. In Christchurch there is a now a Circus Arts class specifically…
- Checkpoint
Reserve Bank forecasts inflation could crack 4% in June quarter
In March, Nicola Willis said treasury was forecasting a peak of 3.7 percent. The Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee left the official cash rate unchanged…
- Checkpoint
Calls for more support for parolees after suspected suicides
The Coroner says 14 people died in suspected suicides after their release from prison over the last three years. Parolees have described being thrown into the…
- Checkpoint
Uncertainty for when NZ's Sail GP team will be back on water
Uncertainty surrounds when New Zealand's Sail GP team will be back on the water following their horror crash on home water in February. Black Foils skipper and…
- Checkpoint
Conflicting advice for coffee machines during boil water notice
Thousands of households and businesses in parts of Hillsborough, Mt Roskill, Royal Oak and Three Kings were under a boil water notice after a test showed water…
- Checkpoint
Is domestic travel worth it with weather events and fuel crisis?
Travel can be a game of jeopardy at the moment; between war in the Middle East, cancelled or delayed flights or any number of conceivable mishaps. Uncertainty…
- Checkpoint
Trump hits pause on plans to destroy 'a whole civilisation'
The last minute reprieve comes after Pakistan appears to have brokered a two week ceasefire between the US and Iran. But there are extensive terms and…
- Checkpoint
Australian soldier arrested over war crime allegations
One of Australia's most decorated soldiers, Ben Roberts-Smith, has been arrested over allegations of war crimes. Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for Tuesday 7 April 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Former All Black flanker Shannon Frizell returning to NZ
Shannon Frizell is coming home. The former All Black flanker will return to Aotearoa later this year with an eye on next year's Rugby World Cup. Sports…
- Checkpoint
Watercare on Auckland boil water notice
Watercare suspects a tap might be the cause of a positive E coli test that prompted a boil water notice across several Auckland neighbourhoods. The notice…
- Checkpoint
Controversial Hawke's Bay dam project gets $18m loan
A government loan of 18 million dollars for a controversial dam in Central Hawke's Bay has its opponents vowing to halt the project yet again. The Tukituki…
- Checkpoint
Businesses hesitant to hire or invest with oil price surges
It's the whirlpool of war, with prices spiralling upward while confidence is turning in the opposite direction. That's according to a new survey from the…
- Checkpoint
Auckland cafe forced to close for day after boil water notice
A well known Auckland cafe was forced to take an unwanted, all day, coffee break after E coli was found in the water supply to several suburbs in the city…
- Checkpoint
Kaikohe residents using Afterpay to buy fuel, groceries
In the small, predominantly Maori town of Kaikohe, residents struggling with high living costs are using Afterpay to buy everday things like gas. The buy now…
- Checkpoint
Taxpayers Union-Curia poll shows National below 30
The Prime Minister said he's focused on his core job navigating the fuel crisis and won't talk about polls. The latest Taxpayers Union-Curia poll shows…
- Checkpoint
NCAA title won by New Zealand basketballer
Taranaki teenager Oscar Goodman has reached the heights of American college basketball. A freshman with the University of Michigan, his team known as the…
- Checkpoint
Calls for $4 million in fines from bus lane to be refunded
There's a call for more than four million dollars in fines for a notorious Wellington bus lane to be refunded, with claims its almost impossible for drivers to…
- Checkpoint
Iran could be 'taken out' if Strait of Hormuz not opened
US President Donald Trump says Iran has until 12:00pm tomorrow to reach a deal, otherwise civilian infrastructure in the country will be destroyed. But despite…
- Checkpoint
Schools planning for possible hybrid teaching with fuel crisis
Some schools are planning for the possibility of a hybrid teaching model in the face of the fuel crisis, with a combination of distance and onsite learning…
- Checkpoint
Top tips to avoid egg peeling pandemonium
Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about some top tips to peel the perfect boiled egg.
- Checkpoint
Anthony Albanese calls for calm in national address
Australians are continuing to grapple with the fallout from the Iran War, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese making a rare national address urging calm and…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 2 April 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Final game of NZ's summer of cricket in Wellington
With the White Ferns and South Africa deadlocked at 1-all in the one-day series, the 39th game of the season could be another nail-biter. Sports reporter…
- Checkpoint
Hato Hone St John turns tap off on alternative milks for staff
In a memo sent last month, the ambulance service said it was becoming "increasingly difficult and costly" to supply speciality milks for staff. Hato Hone…
- Checkpoint
Maori All Black Shane Christie had CTE
A pathologist has diagnosed former Maori All Black and Highlander Shane Christie with a brain disease likely to be connected with repeated head knocks. They…
- Checkpoint
Student nurses on unpaid placements hit by fuel costs
Sudent nurses on unpaid placements, while also studying full time are feeling the petrol pain and it's feared some may drop out because of it. A nursing degree…
- Checkpoint
Home and community support workers get 30% mileage increase
The workers who use their own cars to travel between jobs will get a 30 percent increase in their mileage rates to help offset rising fuel costs. But other…
- Checkpoint
NZ signs defence pact with Cook Islands after tense year
New Zealand and the Cook Islands have normalised relations after more than a year of tense disagreement. Winston Peters' very brief trip to Rarotonga concluded…
- Checkpoint
Police told documentary crew Tom Philips was shot before family
Police told a documentary crew they had shot fugative Tom Phillips before they told his parents he was dead. Hundreds of documents released under the Official…
- Checkpoint
Palmerston North Hospital to welcome surgical robot
Palmerston North Hospital is a step closer to welcoming a new surgical team member - a robotic one. In less than a month, more than $500,000 has been raised to…
- Checkpoint
Crusaders prepare for final game at Addington
A shortened but emotional weekend of Super Rugby awaits. One of just two kiwi sides in action, the Crusaders will play their final game at Addington, the…
- Checkpoint
Is there room to haggle power and fuel prices?
In hard times is there room for haggling over price? It's a question Checkpoint was keen to answer when it feels like absolutely everything is going up. Food…
- Checkpoint
Astronauts blast off for historic NASA Moon mission
Four astronauts are strapped into their seats taking a ten day journey through space where they'll whip-round the moon before returning home. Nasa launched the…
- Checkpoint
Greenpeace, Fonterra settle over misleading 'grass fed' butter
Greenpeace is claiming victory after an out of court settlement with Fonterra over what it said is an open and shut case of greenwashing. A label on the diary…
- Checkpoint
NHS faces shortages as result of Iran war
United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about how Donald Trump has taken aim again at the UK and how the National Health Service is…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 1 April 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
White Ferns take on South Africa Women
Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen about the White Ferns taking on South Africa Women for the second of three ODI matches.
- Checkpoint
ACT MP questions government funding of football match
Is it an own goal for the government's $70 million major events and tourism fund? The Tourism Minister has announced the fund is backing a football festival…
- Checkpoint
Easter alcohol restrictions could be gone by weekend
Some restrictions on Good Friday and Easter Sunday alcohol sales could be gone as soon as this long weekend - if a member's bill gets the support of enough MPs…
- Checkpoint
Is the minimum wage enough to survive on?
Mind the growing gap between the minimum and living wages, the difference between the two is now about $6 an hour, with official increases on Wednesday. The…
- Checkpoint
Concerns with rehoming greyhounds after industry shutdown
There's growing concern about the rehoming of hundreds of greyhounds with the dog racing industry due to be shut down in just four months time. A bill banning…
- Checkpoint
Waka Kotahi consults on how it will pay for Expressway
NZTA Waka Kotahi is consulting on how it's going to pay for the first section of the multi-billion-dollar Northland Expressway. Many motorists accept they'll…
- Checkpoint
Wellington car-share service in voluntary administration
Users of car sharing service Mevo are gutted the company's gone into voluntary administration, saying it's a cost-effective and climate-conscious choice that's…
- Checkpoint
White Ferns face record chase to level series with South Africa
The White Ferns are facing a record run chase to level the one-day cricket series against South Africa in Wellington on Wednesday. The visitors posted a…
- Checkpoint
Wearing sports gear to school could boost activity - expert
New research suggests there's a simple way to get students match fit; let them wear sports gear all day rather than traditional uniforms. A study in…
- Checkpoint
Cuba receives large oil delivery from Russia
America correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about how after a months-long fuel crisis and regular blackouts, Cuba has received a large oil delivery…
- Checkpoint
Loosening easter drinking rules will do more harm - expert
Families already struggling with alcohol harm will be worse off if Easter alcohol restrictions are loosened acording to a public heallth adviser. Currently…
- Checkpoint
Police hunt for anyone who assisted Dezi Freeman
Australian police are hunting for anyone who might have assisted the notorious fugitive Dezi Freeman who was shot dead on Monday by officers attempting to…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 31 March 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Barnardos celebrates new whare for at-risk rangatahi
Barnardos is celebrating the opening of a new whare at its residence for at-risk rangatahi. The whare would have cost about 700-thousand dollars if not for the…
- Checkpoint
Braxton Sorensen McGee re-signs with NZ Rugby
New Zealand Rugby has locked in one of its brightest stars. Teenage Black Ferns fullback Braxton Sorensen McGee has recommitted to Aotearoa, with sevens set to…