Claim OwnershipCheckpoint
Subscribed: 2,610Played: 153,235
Subscribe
© (C) Radio New Zealand 2025
Description
Checkpoint with Lisa Owen is RNZ’s weekday drive-time news programme, Our people, stories and breaking news and interviews from 4-6pm.
4983 Episodes
Reverse
No support and a lot of stress. That's how some clients of K9 Search Medical Detection feel after getting disability assistance dogs from the Manawatu trainer. As previously revealed by Checkpoint, it was last year stripped of its right to train such dogs, which have access rights to public places. But the dogs it certified before are allowed to keep their assistance status. While some clients feel abandoned, there is also support for the organisation's work. Jimmy Ellingham reports.
The All Blacks have named their squad for the upcoming end of year tour. Coach Scott Robertson has resisted the urge for many changes and largely stuck with the same squad that completed the Rugby Championship. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.
The Prime Minister has doubled down on his claim there are jobs for young people across the country, and they should take any work. Despite youth unemployment sitting at nearly 13%. Taranaki is top of the table when it comes to 15-24 year olds not in employment education or training, or NEETs. In the second quarter of this year 18.5% of people in that age group in region were NEETs. Nelson Pulotu is the general manager of Tutaki, a NGO in Stratford which is running a pilot programme to help young people on benefits into work, he spoke to Lisa Owen.
Middle East correspondent Perry Wilton spoke to Lisa Owen about the fast approaching release of the remaining Israeli hostages. It is part of the first phase of what is a fragile peace deal between Israel and Hamas - that will also see nearly 2000 Palestinians prisoners and detainees freed. US President Donald Trump is making his way to Israel for the release, before heading to Egypt for a summit to try and finalise an end to the war in Gaza.
Ignoring your tax debt wont make it go away - that message from IRD as it cracks down on people owing relatively small amounts. The department is phoning people who owe more than $1000 and have had the debt for more than 6 months. IRD Customer Segment leader Tony Morris spoke to Lisa Owen.
Lisa Owen, Susana Lei'ataua and producer Johnny Sutherland taste Durian coffee for the first time.
United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer weighing in on Trump's Gaza Ceasefire deal, as well as the Princess of Wales who has issued a warning about the damage smartphones can cause.
News from the business sector, including a market report.
The White Ferns are dancing with the danger zone at the Cricket World Cup. Following back to back losses to kick off their campaign, the Kiwis face a crucial match against Bangledesh's army of spinners in Guwahati tonight. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.
Medical disinformation is a growing concern for doctors and scientists, but what happens when it comes from people in the highest authority who are shaping health policy? Recently US President Trump claimed a link between austism and the pain killer tylenol, or paracetamol as it is known here. The US Health Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Junior has also blamed vaccines for autism when there is no evidence to support his claims. Dr Ashani Weeraratna is a leading cancer researcher and was a guest speaker at this week's New Zealand Society for Oncology annual meeting. She spoke to Lisa Owen.
Northland's community is grappling with the imminent closure of its leading hospitality training provider. The shutting of the QRC Te Tai Tokerau will force school leavers to travel large distances to seek qualifications, and leave hotels and restaurants scrambling for staff. With the region's polytechnic also facing an uncertain future, it couldn't have come at a worse time. Peter de Graaf reports.
They're older and slower, but just because the arthritis is kicking in, that doesn't mean they can't have fun with a group of buddies. No, it's not an ad for a retirement village, it's the ethos of Wellington professional dog-walker, Justin Meade. The pooch-obssessed pack-walker has just started a new dog-walking service, one-day-a-week, for senior dogs. Mary Argue tagged along.
There is a renewed call for a ban on pop up pools following the drowning of another toddler in a temporary backyard pool. It is at least the second drowning of an under two year old in a temporary pool in just over a year. Water Safety New Zealand wants the sale and use of above-ground cheap temporary pools banned altogether, because people are unware of the rules or don't fence them. Auckland Council licensing and environmental health manager Mervyn Chetty spoke to Lisa Owen.
Newly-graduated scientists are finding it next to impossible to find work amidst a perfect storm of economic hardship and a major sector shakeup. Some of the young scientists, who are applying for hundreds upon hundreds of jobs, are beginnning to think they'll have to abandon their dreams of pursing the careers they've studied so long and hard for. In July, the seven Crown Research Institutes were merged into four new Public Research Organisations, while $212 million was cut the from the science sector in this years budget, instead going to commercially-focused science and innovation schemes. Experts say this has the country's scientists worrried, with some even being driven overseas to find work. Bella Craig reports.
The New Zealand activists detained by Israel for trying to break the blockade of Gaza have today returned home to an enthusiastic welcome. Rana Hamida, Samuel Leason, and Youssef Sammour were released on Wednesday after being aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla.
While the All Blacks are on a break, there has been plenty of intrigue in the rugby world this week. The rebel R360 competition has been making headlines again, however there is still a lot of conjecture about whether the ambitious project will even make it to a single kick-off. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.
If you're in a relationship with an age gap, it may affect your financial planning, particularly when it comes to retirement. Currently there are over 3000 people who are receiving NZ Super despite being under 65, because their partners qualified and added them before the rules changed in 2020. A handful of them are aged in their 20s and 30s. But what does an age gap mean for your finances more generally? Money correspondent Susan Edmunds spoke to Lisa Owen.
Asia correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen about a massive parade which is expected in North Korea as the ruling party turns 80, as well as an Indian state that is set to introduce a day of paid menstrual leave every month.
Hundreds of thousands of students are skipping out on school early, as school attendance rates drop sharply in the days leading up to school holidays. It is thought cheaper airfares and accommodation are driving parents to let their children play truant. Auckland's St Peters College headmaster, James Betley spoke to Lisa Owen.
The people behind a new mental health initiative directed at Wellington's Asian community say language and cultural barriers are limiting the community's access to mental health services. They say stigma, a lack of cultural awareness and the fear of an invasion of privacy is causing many Asian people to wait until they reach crisis point before they ask for help. Bill Hickman reports.
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States
thank you
disgusting :'(
Religions have been getting everything for free for far too long. A lot of people are sick of archaic religions having different rules than everyone else.
Has NZ received a official proof of the alleged chemical attack from independent international investigation organisations such as OPCW?