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

Australian government vows to improve safety in childcare

July 3, 2025 • 6 mins
Australia Correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about the Australian Government vowing to move quickly to improve safety in childcare, in the wake of distressing revelations about the potential abuse of an unknown number of young children in childcare centres in Melbourne.
Mark as Played

Evening business for 3 July 2025

July 3, 2025 • 2 mins
News from the business sector, including a market report.
Mark as Played

NZ Para-skier selected for sixth Paralympic Winter Games

July 3, 2025 • 2 mins
New Zealand Para skier Adam Hall has been selected for a record-equalling sixth Paralympic Winter Games. He enters the record books alongside Graham Condon and Michael Johnson who competed at six Paralympic Summer Games. Hall, who was born with spina bifida, will compete in Slalom Standing and Giant Slalom Standing at the Games in Milano Cortina next year. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.
Mark as Played

IRD using 'stand over tactics' for student loan repayments

July 3, 2025 • 5 mins
Some former students now living overseas have told Checkpoint they are too scared to come home because they could be arrested for being behind in payments, with heavy penalties adding up. Students loans are interest free unless people head off shore for more than 6 months. In April the interest rate went up to 4.9% and the late payment interest rate for all borrowers is 8.9%. IRD emailed more than three and half thousand stude...
Mark as Played

Finance Minister on tackling the cost of living crisis

July 3, 2025 • 9 mins
The Prime Minister has promised to take action in the coming months to tackle the cost of living crisis. Christopher Luxon has acknowledged it is still tough out there for too many kiwis and the government's focus is on unlocking economic growth. According to Stats NZ the price of food has gone up 4.4% in the last year. Electricity is up almost 9% and gas is up more than 15%. As of March last year house insurance was up almost...
Mark as Played

States of emergency remain for Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough

July 3, 2025 • 2 mins
States of emergency remain in place for Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough this afternoon, but the sodden regions appear to have received less rainfall than feared. Torrential rain in Taranaki has caused widespread surface flooding, leaving parked cars submerged in water. The region has been under a red severe thunderstorm warning for much of the afternoon. Emergency operations centres have been set up in New Plymouth and Hāwera. ...
Mark as Played

Phone and internet services restored to most places

July 3, 2025 • 4 mins
Chorus have said phone and internet has been restored to most homes and businesses in Golden Bay, after a day-long outage affecting 111 emergency calls. Technicians found a severed fibre line running over Takaka Hill, knocking out more than a thousand connections. Reporter Keiller MacDuff was following developments and spoke to Lisa Owen.   
Mark as Played

MSD staff walk off the job due to 'unsafe' office

July 3, 2025 • 7 mins
More than a dozen Ministry of Social Development staff have walked off the job, refusing to return to what they say is an unsafe office with ''strong mould and sewerage smell'. Staff in the ministry's Thames office walked out of the office on Monday, leaving more than 10,000 clients without a face-to-face service. The office was supposed to be a temporary space, after MSD closed its main office in November 2023 due to damage. ...
Mark as Played

Locum doctors cost to plug staff shortages could reach $200 million

July 3, 2025 • 4 mins
The amount of money Health NZ is spending on locum doctors to plug staff shortages is increasing and could reach $200 million this year. Checkpoint has obtained figures that show the spend on fill-ins is rising fast. A frontline doctor and the senior doctors union have said it is frustrating to see the increasing pot for temporary workers, when officials are saying money is so tight. Jimmy Ellingham reports.
Mark as Played

Khandallah murder trial: 'Blood looked staged' - forensic scientist

July 3, 2025 • 2 mins
A forensic scientist has told the jury in the Khandallah murder trial that, in her opinion, the blood in the hallway looked staged. Julia DeLuney is accused of murdering her 79-year-old mother, Helen Gregory, who was killed at her Wellington home in January 2024. Kate Green reports.
Mark as Played

All Blacks team named to play France in Dunedin

July 3, 2025 • 5 mins
The first Dutch All Black, four debutants, a backline shuffle and a lock at loose forward are the talking points of the All Blacks team named to play France in this weekend's first test in Dunedin. Fabian Holland will become the first All Black from the Netherlands and joins captain Scott Barrett in the second row. RNZ rugby reporter Joe Porter spoke to Lisa Owen.
Mark as Played

Kiwis worried about arrest over student loan debt crackdowns

July 3, 2025 • 5 mins
A former IRD prosecutor is calling for changes to the student loan system so that Kiwis living overseas aren't put off coming home because they're worried about being arrested at the border. In April, interest rates for overseas borrowers was lifted from 3.9% to 4.9% and the late payment interest rate for all borrowers to 8.9%. Tax barrister Dave Ananth says this is putting people off returning to New Zealand at a time we shou...
Mark as Played

Sean 'Diddy' Combs acquitted of most serious charges, denied bail

July 3, 2025 • 5 mins
United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the latest updates in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial - Combs has been acquitted of the most serious charges in his criminal federal trial. However, the music mogul is set to remain behind bars after the judge overseeing the case denied him bail.
Mark as Played

Thousands of households unable to call 111 amid wild weather

July 3, 2025 • 4 mins
More than 1000 households have been left without internet or mobile coverage in Golden Bay during today's wild weather, with residents even unable to dial 111. So far, the weather doesn't appear to have been as bad as was feared for the already-sodden Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough regions still recovering from the weekend's floods. But wild weather has battered the rest of the country, thunderstorms ringing out in Taranaki, a...
Mark as Played

Three staff arrested at hospital where Lucy Letby worked

July 2, 2025 • 7 mins
United Kingdom correspondent Edward O'Driscoll spoke to Lisa Owen about three former senior staff members of the hosptial where convicted murderer Lucy Letby worked, who have now been arrested. As well as how Europe is coping as it remains gripped by a record-breaking heatwave.
Mark as Played

Immigration visit law change doesn't go far enough - advocates

July 2, 2025 • 4 mins
Pacific advocates say a proposed law change for out-of-hours immigration visits, like dawn raids, doesn't go far enough. The contentious enforcement practice involves immigration officers searching homes for people they have reasonable grounds to believe are liable for deportation between 6pm and 8am. It has been criticised for targeting Pacific people, particularly in the wake of the dawn raids era. Teuila Fuatai reports.
Mark as Played

Evening business for Wednesday 2 July 2025

July 2, 2025 • 4 mins
News from the business sector, including a market report.
Mark as Played

Evening Sport for Wednesday 2 July 2025

July 2, 2025 • 4 mins
The countdown is on until the official return of the Warriors women. After five years in the wilderness, the Wah-hines are finally back in the NRLW and will mark their return against the Roosters this weekend. Sports reporter Jonty Dine joined Lisa Owen
Mark as Played

Jaffa lovers disappointed by discontinuation

July 2, 2025 • 2 mins
Jaffa fans are coming to grips with the news the orange-coated chocolate treat will soon be no more. Confectionery company RJs has this week confirmed it stopped making the long-time Kiwi favourite earlier this year, and they'll soon vanish from shop shelves. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham visited the home of the Jaffa, the RJs outlet store and factory in Levin, to ask sweet-toothed visitors stocking up on packets of the sweeties ho...
Mark as Played

Tasman residents voice frustration at flood response

July 2, 2025 • 3 mins
Residents voiced their frustration at the official response to last week's flooding at public meetings held in the Tasman district today, as the region preps for more heavy rain due to start falling overnight. Many felt the council could have done more to keep rivers and culverts clear, and decried the ongoing telecommunications blackouts in some areas. It meant some residents took matters into their own hands. Keiller MacDuff...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    United States of Kennedy

    United States of Kennedy

    United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    Crime Junkie

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Mobile

Wearables

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.