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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

00:03:39

Prestigous Michelin Guide sets its sights on local...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/06

Some restaurateurs are starry-eyed at the prospect of the prestigious Michelin Guide setting its sights on eateries across the country. For the first time in 125 years the Michelin guide will include restaurants from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown in an inaugural New Zealand edition to be released next year. But not everyone in the industry is fizzing, with one leading chef warning that there is a dark side to the star. Finn Blackwell dishes the details.

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00:06:20

Teen boys feeling pressure to conform to toxic...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/06

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about a major survey of young people finding that many teenage boys feel pressure to conform to toxic notions of masculinity.

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00:03:35

Uneasy truce between Netball NZ and Taurua already...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/06

The uneasy truce between Netball New Zealand and Dame Noeline Taurua already appears under strain. RNZ understands the board of the national body have "started a process" to talk to Taurua about comments made during a media blitz earlier this week. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:06:38

Health officials expect more measles cases

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/06

There are no new cases of measles today, but 16 cases are showing symptoms of the highly contagious disease, and health officials say there will be more cases. Health Minister Simeon Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:15:38

70,000 vehicles fitted with unsafe breaks, caused six...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/06

Tens of thousands of trucks in New Zealand are fitted with unsafe brakes that could fail at anytime. That is according to a damning coroners report into the death of an Auckland worker nearly eight years ago. Graeme Rabbits was crushed to death in 2018 when the brakes failed on a telehandler and it rolled down the slope it was parked on and pinned him against a concrete mixer. His death is one of six known fatalities caused by vehicles with cardan shaft brakes since 2010. There are up to 70,000

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00:02:37

McSkimming pleads possessing child exploitation and...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/06

Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming has pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material. The 52-year-old appeared in the Wellington District Court on Thursday before Judge Tim Black. National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood was there and spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:02:41

Lifeline calls on government for support as it faces...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/06

A mental health helpline is calling on the government for financial support as it plans to cut back its services. Lifeline Aotearoa says its facing a funding shortfall, which means it will have to stop running as a 24 hour, seven day a week operation. It comes a day after a depression treatment centre in Wellington says it will be forced to close. Nick James reports.

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00:05:17

Firefighters worry ageing vehicle fleet could let...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/06

Firefighters say they no longer have confidence in their ageing vehicle fleet, and fear they could let them down in life or death situations. They say they have learned to get by, but worry they won't be able to continue plugging the gaps. Fire and Emergency New Zealand says new trucks are on the way, and insists the current trucks are being well maintained. Despite this, the firefighters' union is planning further industrial action, saying FENZ needs to do more. On what's typically one of the

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00:05:32

All Blacks gearing up for second test of end of year...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/06

The All Blacks are gearing up for the second test of their end of year tour. After a nervy win over Ireland last weekend in Chicago, this week they're in Edinburgh to face Scotland. The All Blacks have never lost to the Scots and look to continue that streak when they kick-off at Murrayfield this Sunday. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:05:43

Auckland transport extending Ponsonby parking charges

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/06

Auckland Transport wants to extend parking charges in the popular Ponsonby dinning district to end the current "free for all". It is looking to extend paid street parking out to 9pm on Thursdays to Saturdays in busy streets around Ponsonby. Auckland Transport network planning group manager Andrew McGill spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:06:39

Death toll rises in Kentucky cargo plane crash

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/06

US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about the death toll from a cargo plane crash in Kentucky rising, as well as Supreme Court hearing on whether Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs were justified.

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00:06:43

Over $6 million being spent on bringing Michelin...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/06

Michelin stars could apparently guide more tourists to Aotearoa. The prestigious stars are awarded to restaurants offering quote " outstanding cooking" and the guide of the same name reviews and recommends restaurants. Tourism Minister Louise Upston has revealed $6.3 million from the tourism levy is being spent on getting Michelin into New Zealand. Tourism NZ CEO René de Monchy spoke to Lisa Owen.

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00:06:11

England train attack accused linked to multiple other...

Checkpoint ·

2025/11/05

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about British Police linking the train-attack accused to multiple incidents, as well as a debate among rsidents of "Prince Andrew Road" about whether the street needs a name change.

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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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1,696 results

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