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
Australian surfer describes how shark bit off his leg
Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a surfer who has lived to tell the tale of how a shark bit off his leg last month.
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 8 October 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
All Blacks name their side to defend Bledisloe Cup
The All Blacks have named their side to defend the Bledisloe Cup. Richie Mo'unga was a late withdrawal from the side, with Damian McKenzie given the nod for…
- Checkpoint
Which party wants the best for your pets?
Elections can be overwhelming with a tsunami of policies that leave you wondering who has got your best interests at heart. But you might also want to consider…
- Checkpoint
Salvation Army hit back at National's drug testing proposal
National is promising to introduce random drug testing for those on the jobseeker benefit to ensure they're "ready for work". The proposal has sparked backlash…
- Checkpoint
Opposition reacts with fury to National's proposal to drug test
Politicians on the left have reacted with fury to National's proposal to randomly drug test beneficiaries, while National says it's about fairness. It's part…
- Checkpoint
Some seafood harvesting from Auckland and Coromandel coastlines to be banned
From next month, harvesting some sealife from large parts of the Auckland Coromandel coastlines will be banned. Fisheries Minister Shane Jones made the…
- Checkpoint
What do voters think of drug tests for beneficiaries?
National is promising to introduce random drug testing for people on the jobseeker benefit. Too many failed tests could result in their benefit being cut…
- Checkpoint
RNZ Chief Financial Officer resigns and leaves job on same day
RNZ's Chief Financial Officer has unexpectedly resigned and walked off the job the same day, prompting an emergency board meeting. CFO Hilary Parker quit last…
- Checkpoint
NZ Breakers embarking on tour of Australia
In the space of a fortnight the New Zealand Breakers will travel to just about every corner of Australia that has an NBL team, and one that doesn't. A schedule…
- Checkpoint
Chiefs in showdown with PNG's new rugby league team over identical name
The Chiefs are in a showdown with Papua New Guinea's new rugby league franchise team over their name, The PNG Chiefs. NZ Rugby has asked the Aussie NRL to…
- Checkpoint
Death row inmate Christa Pike wakes up after surviving two lethal injections
US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about more details coming about about the condition of death row inmate Christa Pike, who is awake after…
- Checkpoint
Beneficiaries will face random drug tests, have some payments cut if National re-elected
Beneficiaries will face random drug tests and have their payments docked if they continue to fail those tests if National is re-elected. It will initially do…
- Checkpoint
Over 250,000 take to streets of France to protest school conditions
Europe correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about a quarter of a million people taking to the streets of France to protest school conditions, as well…
- Checkpoint
One of a kind immersion te reo course turns 40
A one of a kind Rotorua te reo course turns 40 next month. He Kainga Mo te Reo is a free full time immersion language course for adults. It's funded through…
- Checkpoint
NZ Cricket opens up about decision to pursue privately owned league
New Zealand Cricket is finally opening up about how it arrived at the decision to pursue a proposal for a new privately-owned T20 franchise league. It comes…
- Checkpoint
David Tamihere has murder charges thrown out after three decades
After nearly 36 years, David Tamihere has had the charges against him for murdering a pair of Swedish backpackers thrown out. Tamihere already had his…
- Checkpoint
Huge fire continues to engulf Walter Peak near Queenstown
Firefighting efforts resumed from the air and the ground at Walter Peak near Queenstown as a vegetation fire continues to burn. The fire above the shores of…
- Checkpoint
Concern over wait times for results of critical cancer tests
There's growing concern over wait times for the results of critical cancer tests. An Auckland woman, who had been diagnosed with cancer, told Checkpoint she…
- Checkpoint
Union calls out Waste Management on redundancy plan
A union is calling out a rubbish deal that could see more than a dozen workers made redundant, only to be hired back as contractors. Workers First is accusing…
- Checkpoint
Netsafe offers free counselling as sextortion at highest level ever
Online safety organisation Netsafe says sextortion is at its highest ever level in Aotearoa, and the number of people falling victim to online harm is rising…
- Checkpoint
Lionel Messi makes final appearance for Argentina
Lionel Messi has just made his final appearance for Argentina. Messi's departure from the international game comes three months after Argentina fell short in…
- Checkpoint
Hunt for vaccine to save hoiho penguin as numbers tank
The hunt is on for a vaccine to save hoiho, or yellow eyed penguin, with numbers tanking over past years. There are now fewer than 115 hoiho breeding pairs on…
- Checkpoint
Entire independent newsroom facing terrorism charges in Egypt
Middle East and North Africa correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about an entire independent newsroom in Egypt facing terrorism charges. The six…
- Checkpoint
Should international artists have to use a local support act?
As we head into summer concert season, the leaders of the two main parties are not completely in tune when it comes to the arts. Christopher Luxon and Chris…
- Checkpoint
Australian soldier dies in training exercise gone wrong
Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a training exercise gone wrong which resulted in the death of a soldier.
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 6 October 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Russian tennis player disqualified after striking spectator with ball
A tennis player has made a costly error at an ATP event in China. Russian Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the China Open after hitting a ball into the…
- Checkpoint
Australian trick rider ready to wow audiences at Hamilton Equifest
An Australian horse trainer and entertainer is expected to wow audiences at an upcoming festival in Hamilton. Joe Gardiner specialises in trick riding, the…
- Checkpoint
First televised debate of the campaign set to begin
National's Christopher Luxon and Labour's Chris Hipkins have only a few more hours to cram before they go to head-to-head in their first televised debate of…
- Checkpoint
National re-commits to failed health promises it failed to deliver this term
National has resuscitated health promises it failed to deliver on this term. It has also made a new commitment, to give more than $600 million of additional…
- Checkpoint
Student helping young people tackle online misogyny with alphabet tool
Experts say online misogyny - veiled under the cloak of the manosphere - is creeping into social media feeds in ways that are difficult to spot. The help…
- Checkpoint
Vape store fined for selling vapes to under 18s
A specialist vape store has been fined tens of thousands of dollars following a first of its kind prosecution by health authorities. Discount Mall Vape Ltd…
- Checkpoint
Eating disorder residential facility struggling to attract government funding
A North Canterbury eating disorder residential facility says it still can't attract government funding despite saving the lives of those admitted there…
- Checkpoint
All Blacks looking to flush three defeats to Springboks with Australia match
The All Blacks are looking to flush their three defeats to the Springboks as they prepare to host Australia in Auckland. Despite a slew of injuries, the All…
- Checkpoint
AI tool helping people with dyslexia to write
For the past 94 days Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has been wearing a t-shirt promoting a different start up. Capiche is one of the companies featured. It's an AI…
- Checkpoint
Trump promises to fund own TV ads following backlash over taxpayer funding
United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the US president saying he'll fund his own TV advertisements from now on, following backlash…
- Checkpoint
Patient says National's promise to lower bowel cancer screening age falls short
National has again made the promise, if re-elected, to lower the free bowel screening age to 50 by 2029. Christopher Luxon committed to lowering the age to 50…
- Checkpoint
US military withdraw bombers from RAF Fairford
United Kingdom correspondent, Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the American military withdrawing its bombers a week after an alleged terror plot was…
- Checkpoint
Evening business for 5 October 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
South Islanders waiting longer for colonoscopies
South Islanders are waiting longer for bowel cancer diagnostic procedures than people in the North Island. A patient advocate says the stark regional divide is…
- Checkpoint
Scott Barret back in the All Blacks after 10 months on sideline
Scott Barrett is back in the All Blacks, albeit no longer as skipper. Barret has been recalled to the team after 10 months on the sideline ahead of the first…
- Checkpoint
Lifeline extended to volunteer service supporting people in the ED
A lifeline has been extended to a volunteer service supporting people in the ED at Palmerston North Hospital. Last year Hato Hone St John announced it would be…
- Checkpoint
Fuel edging to record prices off back of Middle East conflict
Fuel is again edging to record prices, off the back of ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile the government is giving regional airlines a share of…
- Checkpoint
Teen surfer captaining country's youngest longboarding squad
South Island surfer Jack Tyro is preparing to paddle out for New Zealand at the world champs. It's far from the 19 year old's first international competition…
- Checkpoint
Near miss with train interrupts Greens announcement
A near miss caused by a car racing to beat a train today caught the Greens off guard as they touted a plan to get rid of level crossings in Auckland. Labour…
- Checkpoint
Boost in demand for ADHD diagnoses through telehealth
Telehealth services are offering assessments for ADHD, as some people seeking a diagnosis for the condition don't want to wait months for an in-person…
- Checkpoint
Fifth Black Cap turns back on central contract
A fifth Black Cap has turned his back on a central contract just weeks before the international summer starts. Michael Bracewell has opted to move to a casual…
- Checkpoint
Search for relatives of soldier after missing WWI medals uncovered
An amateur sleuth is close to finding the whanau of a young WWI soldier whose medals were discovered recently during a police raid. Two medals, belonging to…
- Checkpoint
Staff from independent Egyptian media organisation arrested
Middle East and North Africa correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about backlash after staff members from the newsroom of one of the country's few…
- Checkpoint
Auckland Council pledging to repair potholes
Auckland Council is pledging to repair 95 percent of potholes on Auckland's roads within 24 hours of being reported. The quick fixes are reserved for the…
- Checkpoint
"Freedom" - 82yo amputee on first para ice hockey experience
Checkpoint producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Lisa Owen about Jessica Elworthy. She's an 82-year-old double amputee who gave para ice hockey a go for the…
- Checkpoint
Arrest made over RAF Fairford incident
United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about an arrest being made in relation to the incident at RAF Fairford, as well as hundreds of…
- Checkpoint
Evening business news for 2 October 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report.
- Checkpoint
Sir Richard Hadlee hits out at NZ Cricket
Sir Richard Hadlee has released a statement, taking aim at New Zealand Cricket, the game's governing body. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.
- Checkpoint
What does it take to be crowned the country's best sausage roll?
Judges have been working hard to find the winner of the legendary sausage roll competition. They nibbled their way through dozens of sausage rolls, with just…
- Checkpoint
Three people found dead at south Auckland home
Residents of a south Auckland street are feeling deeply traumatised after a number of people, including children, saw a body on the doorstep of a suburban…
- Checkpoint
Renewed calls to scrap death penalty after failed execution of Christa Pike
There are renewed calls to scrap the death penalty, after the botched execution left a convicted murderer in hospital when efforts to kill her by lethal…
- Checkpoint
Some MPs pause campaigning to attend former Speaker's funeral
Some MPs have paused campaigning today, to attend former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe's tangi - but not Christopher Luxon, who announced his party's energy policy in…