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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

00:06:20

Wellington's Depression Recovery Centre almost...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

Wellington's Depression Recovery Centre is now almost certain to close after it received news this afternoon that Health NZ won't save it. ACC recently stopped funding clients to use Whakamatutu's services and the centre hoped Health NZ could cover the shortfall. But in an email this afternoon Health NZ told the centre it didn't have any discretionary funds available. Depression Recovery Trust's Wellington Board chair Dame Diana Crossan spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:02:11

Good weather is good news for Black Caps test

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

The sun is shining in Auckland which is good news for the Black Caps and cricket fans who have had to endure some rain-interrupted games in the early part of the international season. In a couple of hours the Black Caps and the West Indies will start their tour with the first of five T20s. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:09:19

Mental health advocates welcome funding but raise...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

Mental health advocates are welcoming a funding boost for crisis care but are concerned there's no national plan and decisions are being made based on decades old data. The government has detailed a $61.5 million dollar funding boot for mental health crisis services. It includes 40 additional frontline clinical staff for crisis asessments and treatment teams nationwide. Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:02:22

Govt confirms considerations to move homeless out of...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

Government ministers have confirmed they are considering measures to move homeless people out of Auckland's city centre, but the details remain unclear. Representatives from Auckland City Mission, and a range of other organisations working in the sector have told RNZ they believe the government is taking an urgent, "move on" approach to homelessness.

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00:03:13

Vaccination efforts ramp up as measles outbreak...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

Vaccination efforts are ramping up as part of a nationwide Measles Immunisation Week campaign amid an outbreak that's got experts concerned. There are now 17 known cases of the highly-infectious disease and thousands of close contacts. Auckland and Wellington have the highest case numbers with thousands of students exposed across three high schools. Jessica Hopkins visited a pop-up vaccination clinic in Manukau in south Auckland to see what's being done to stop the spread.

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00:06:56

Unemployment hits a nine year high

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

Unemployment has hit a near nine year high, at 5.3% in the three months ended September. That's 160,000 people out of work, the highest since early 1994. The percentage of unemployed young people between 15 and 24 years old hit 15.2%, with the total not in education or training rising to 13.8%. Chief executive at Whangarei-based tertiary education provider People Potential, Bronwyn Ronayne spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:03:42

New Blenheim dialysis unit to save patients hours...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

The opening of a new dialysis unit in Blenheim will save patients with kidney failure a four-hour return trip to Nelson for treatment. The four-chair unit, called Tātari Toto, will initially open for three days a week, and could expand as demand grows. Health sector workers say it's life changing and life saving. Samantha Gee reports from Blenheim.

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00:06:47

Watercare in negotiations with oyster farmers

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

Watercare and negotiators for oyster farmers north of Auckland have spent a second day in compensation talks after their farms were contaminated after a sewage leak, but they have yet to reach an agreement. A fault at Watercare's Warkworth plant sent sewage overflowing into the Mahurangi River last week, meaning farmers can't collect oyster for 28 days. Jim Aitken from Mahurangi Oysters spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:03:54

Heartbreak at lion park as seven big cats to be put down

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

There's heartbreak among former staff of a Whangarei lion park at news that the seven surviving big cats are due to be put down this week. Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary operator Janette Vallance says the park owners, Bolton Equities, made the difficult decision to euthanise the seven lions, saying there was no options left for them. The park is now closed to the public and the property listed for sale. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf has more.

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00:03:45

Over $60m of funding announced for mental health...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

More than $60 million of funding has been announced for mental health services across the country, to bolster what's been called a fragmented and inconsistent system. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey made the announcement in Auckland today alongside experts from Australia and New Zealand at the Hauora hine-ngaro conference. He hopes it will provide additional support for those reaching out for help, but there are those with question about its roll out. Finn Blackwell has more.

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00:03:50

Venus Williams to continue tennis comeback in Auckland

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

US tennis legend Venus Williams will continue her comeback in Auckland. Williams returned to compete in the US Open this year, at the age of 45, after a 16-month hiatus from the game. The seven-time Grand Slam champion has signed up for the ASB Classic, for the seventh time, as part of her preparation for a potential place in the Australian Open. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:05:26

New York City elects youngest mayor in over a century

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

New York City has elected its youngest mayor in over a century. Democratic-socialist Zohran Mamdani overcame former governor Andrew Cuomo in an election that saw the city's biggest turnout since 2001. The 34-year-old's social media-heavy campaign centred around taxing millionaires, freezing rents and making bus trips free. US President Donald Trump has called Mamdani a "Communist Lunatic" and threatened to cut funding to the city if he won. US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa

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00:04:56

Philippines typhoon causes devastating flooding,...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

Asia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about a typhoon sweeping through the Philippines, causing devastating flooding and killing dozens, as well as a father and son's trip to Laos that has ended tragically after the pair were killed by a swarm of hornets.

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00:06:16

Restrictions on Eden Park could cost more than $430M...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

The minister for concert regulations has stage dived right into the mosh pit floating major changes to rules around events at Auckland's Eden Park. A new report estimates restrictions on Eden Park could cost the region more than $430 million in lost revenue over a decade. It recommends upping the number of gigs allowed there to 12 large and 20 medium concerts a year. Jose Fowler lives next to Eden Park and spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:06:12

Australia's political consensus on how to deal with...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/04

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about how political consensus on how to deal with climate change continues to prove elusive with the federal opposition in turmoil over whether it will go on supporting the nation's Net Zero target.

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00:03:15

Evening business for 4 November 2025

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/04

News from the business sector, including a market report.

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00:01:16

165th Melbourne Cup winner crosses the line

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/04

The 165th edition of the Melbourne Cup has been run on a soft track at Flemington and the winner just crossed the finish line. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:10:34

Over 100 officers under investigation for allegedly...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/04

About 120 officers are now under investigation after allegedly falsifying 30,000 alcohol breath tests. The tests that were "falsely or erroneously recorded" were only discovered after the police built a new algorithm to analyse the data. It's been confirmed it happened around the country. Acting deputy police commissioner, Jill Rogers spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:03:46

Small town war museum displaying Nazi division

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/04

A small town war museum in Canterbury has caused controversy with a display depicting a Nazi division which acted as the personal bodyguard to Adolf Hitler. But the private museum's owner and locals have defended the display saying it is part of the history of World War II and New Zealand's role in the conflict. Timothy Brown has more.

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00:03:47

Efforts to find peace within Te Pati Māori look futile

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/04

Efforts to find peace within Te Pati Maori's ranks look increasingly futile - with the party's leadership pouring fuel on the fire - accusing detractors of trying to oust them. The party's national council now appears to be gearing up to expel the two MPs - who the leaders says have gone rogue. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

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1,763 results

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