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Checkpoint

Checkpoint with Lisa Owen is RNZ’s weekday drive-time news programme, Our people, stories and breaking news and interviews from 4-6pm.

news

All Episodes

00:05:03

Evening business for 29 October 2025

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/29

News from the business sector, including a market report.

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00:04:39

Silver Ferns banking on win to force series decider...

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/29

The Silver Ferns need to win tonight's final Test against Australia in Christchurch to force a series decider, if they want to hold on to the Constellation Cup. The Silver Ferns have never won back to back Constellation Cups against their arch-rivals. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:06:01

Dozens of Southland farmers struggling to milk cows...

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/29

Tired, cold and cut off from communications - dozens of Southland farmers are struggling to milk their cows and have had to rely on generators. Last week's devastating storm collided with peak milking season, adding another layer of complexity and frustration. More than 4000 customers in the districts are still without power. Fonterra has been helping co-ordinate efforts, and Group Director of Farm Source Anne Douglas spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:04:03

Principals and teachers 'disgusted' at government's...

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/29

"Disgusted, absolutely ridiculous and past being disappointed". Those are just some of the reaction from Principals and teachers to the government's proposed primary school curriculum. The overnight publication of draft curriculums for six learning areas and recent changes to the already-published maths and English curriculums have prompted a virtual revolt by the Principals Federation. It says it does not trust the Education Ministry or Education Minister, Erica Stanford. Education

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00:09:12

Line companies call for law change to prevent trees...

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/29

Trees are one of the root causes of power outages, it is costing customers big time and the line companies want urgent law changes to deal with the problem. About 95 percent of the outages in Southland and Otago during last week's storm were caused by trees taking out lines. In 2024 alone, lines companies spent $67 million on tree management, a cost passed on to customers. The government is planning law changes, but the lines companies dont think it's going far enough, fast enough. Electricity

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00:06:54

Queen hornet found for first time in New Zealand

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/29

Hornets are causing a biosecurity buzz in Auckland. A queen yellow legged hornet was found in the early stages of building a nest in Glenfield on the North Shore on October 17, while two males were spotted earlier in the year in Grafton and Albany. It is the first time a Queen has been found in Aotearoa. Biosecurity Neew Zealand northern commissioner Mike Inglis spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:03:01

Experts warn measles outbreak likely to grow

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/29

Health experts are warning that the measles outbreak will likely grow due to low vaccination rates and new cases that aren't linked to overseas travel. There are currently 11 known measles cases throughout the country, and the number of close contacts is about 2000.The historically low immunisation rates among children mean we are especially vulnerable to a large outbreak - and one expert says if we don't act fast then we could be hurtling towards a national epidemic. Alexa Cook reports.

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00:03:19

Residents meet with officials to discuss weather damage

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/29

Battered by last week's gales and weary from six days without power, rural Clutha residents have finally had the chance to sit down with officials - and with each other. At community events in some of the worst hit areas, authorities have been pleading with residents to be patient and cautious. Katie Todd went along to one of the meetings in Lawrence, and filed this report.

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00:03:59

Sky secures rights to summer and winter Olympics...

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/29

Sky has beaten out TVNZ to secure the broadcast rights for the summer and winter Olympics through to 2032. The announcement comes after Sky lost out to TVNZ earlier this year to secure rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, signalling renewed competition for domestic broadcast rights for major sporting events. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:08:30

Police doubling down on recruitment drive as deadline...

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/29

The police are doubling down on their recruitment drive as the deadline for bolstering the front line looks set to come and go. The government pledged to have 500 more front line officers in two years, which is by next month. The force is up against an aggressive recruitment drive by Australian police looking to coax officers across the ditch, but has just launched its own campaign. Acty Deputy Commissioner Tusha Penny spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:07:45

Weather and power cuts take down cell towers

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/29

In the face of more frequent and extreme weather events, and our heavy reliance on mobile phones, is the network robust enough? Last week's storm wiped out cell phone comms for great chunks of Southland and the Power is still out to thousands of homes there. 130 cells towers were knocked off line after the power went down in the strong winds, and with limited battery back ups there was a scramble for generators. Telecommunications Forum CEO Paul Brislen spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:06:18

Paedophiles using the dark web access to childcare...

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/28

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about an investigation that has found paedophiles are using the dark web to learn how to gain access to childcare centres and abuse children while avoiding detection. If you are affected by any of the issues in this story you can free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason. You can also call Youthline: 0800 376 633,free text 234, or email talk@youthline.co.nz

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00:01:47

Silver Ferns in with chance of retaining...

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/28

If the Silver Ferns beat Australia in the last game of netball's Constellation Cup tomorrow night - they'll be headed for over-time to decide the series winner. The Diamonds are ahead 2-1 but the Silver Ferns are still in with chance of retaining the trophy in Christchurch. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:04:18

Evening business for 28 October 2025

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/28

News from the business sector, including a market report.

en

00:05:49

Doctors concerned about increased demand to come with...

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/28

A leading doctors group is backing Labour's policy of a capital gains tax to fund three free GP appointments. However, they are concerned that already overstretched GPs and practices won't be able to keep up with the increased demand. Royal New Zealand College of GPs President Dr Luke Bradford spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:04:48

Labour releases captial gains tax policy early

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/28

Labour's long-awaited tax policy has finally arrived, and a little earlier than expected.The party will campaign on a capital gains tax covering property excluding the family home and farms to help fund three free doctor visits for everyone each year. RNZ was leaked details of the highly anticipated policy over the long weekend, prompting Labour to pull its scheduled announcement forward to today. Anneke Smith reports.

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00:04:45

Southland farmers grappling with damage after huge storm

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/28

Aside from the struggle to get power back on, farmers and contractors in Southland are grappling with huge amounts of damage from the devastating storm. Some say it will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix the damage done to their properties and could take as long as a year to get sorted out. Charlotte Cook has been in Winton, near Invercargill.

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00:07:28

Thousands in Southland could be waiting days for power

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/28

Thousands of people are still without power in Otago and southland after the region was hammered by last weeks high winds, and it could be days before the lights are back on. Reinforcements on the way to the region with more than 200 field staff expected to be on the ground by tomorrow. But on going bad weather is making repair work challenging. Powernet chief executive Paul Blue spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:05:06

Prime Minister in Malaysia to deepen ties with ASEAN...

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/28

The Prime Minister is trying to drum up some good vibes in Malaysia as part of a week long trip to the Indo-Pacific region. The aim of the trip is to deepen ties with ASEAN countries, in the hope the good relations will turn into future economic opportunities. Political reporter Lillian Hanly spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:03:23

Southland mayor says region was unprepared for...

Checkpoint ·

2025/10/28

Southland and Clutha remain under states of local emergency and there are almost 7000 homes still without power, with some people now heading into their sixth night cut off. The Southland mayor says his region wasn't prepared for last week's fierce storm that hammered Southland and South Otago, knocking out power, water and communications. Anna Sargent reports.

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