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Checkpoint with Lisa Owen is RNZ’s weekday drive-time news programme, Our people, stories and breaking news and interviews from 4-6pm.
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Trains are at last running through Auckland's long awaited City Rail Link, but passengers won't be allowed on-board for several months. Auckland Transport and its partners are running timetable tests before the stations open later this year, but it still can't put a date on when that will happen. Felix Walton went underground at the new Te Waihorotiu Station in heart of Auckland's CBD.
President Donald Trump called Pope Leo weak on crime, terrible for foreign policy and suggested he stop catering to the radical left and claimed if he wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican. The comments have drawn wide criticism from religious and other leaders. But President Trump's doubling down and said he won't be apologising. Cardinal John Dew took part in the conclave that elected Pope Leo. He spoke to Lisa Owen.
The harrowing stories of people who narrowly survived Cyclone Gabrielle and lost their loved ones are being heard in the Hastings District Court this week. Coroner Erin Woolley is investigating the deaths of 19 people who died in 2023 as a result of the cyclone and the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods. Hawke's Bay Tairawhiti Reporter Alexa Cook has the story.
Residents have been urged to shelter in place while all flights in and out have been cancelled, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded in the self-governing United States territory. Correspondent Mark Rabago was hunkering down in the capital of Saipan. He spoke to Lisa Owen.
The countdown is on to the Commonwealth Games. Tuesday marks just 100 days until Glasgow and also saw the first crop of Kiwi athletes selected. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.
It's Wellington's Willy Wonka; a local restaurant is offering the daily chance to win a golden ticket to a free lunch to supercharge enthusiasm for eating out. Diners who book lunch at Mr Go's, an Asian inspired restaurant, get to draw an envelope from a pile at the end of the meal. Score the Golden Ticket and the meal's free. Wellington's hospitality industry has taken a hit in the past year with the closure of the Leuven Belgian Beer Cafe after 25 years in business, Chocolate Fish cafe and brewery Fortune Favours. Co-owner of Wellington's Mr Go's, Tom Parsonson spoke to Lisa Owen.
President Donald Trump has faced backlash for posting, then deleting, an AI-image depicting him as a Jesus-like figure. The move has been condemned by world and religious leaders with some labelling the post blasphemous. Meanwhile, Mr Trump has become embroiled in a verbal feud with Pope Leo, the tit for tat sparked by the pontiff's vocal opposition to the war in the Middle East. United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.
The government is keeping New Zealanders in the dark during an oil crisis, publishing week-old data on fuel stocks. That's the claim from the Tax Payers union which said there should daily fuel data updates. At the moment, MBIE releases information about the country's fuel stocks twice a week. Taxpayers union spokesperson Tory Relf spoke to Lisa Owen.
United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about how the UK is responding to President Donald Trump's latest claims that the US would be blockading the Strait of Hormuz with the assistance of NATO allies. She also spoke about how police officers in Ireland have had their work cut out for them over the past week following protests over the rising cost of fuel and a school choir from Cardiff has receiving the surprise of a lifetime.
A former Boxing New Zealand board member said the organisation has been marred for too long by bullying and inappropriate behaviour. Ken Clearwater has written to the Sports Integrity Commission and the Sports Minister about behaviour that he says he witnessed during his time at Boxing NZ. It comes amid an ongoing investigation into the national body and its head coach following a string of complaints from athletes. Adam Burns reports.
News from the business sector, including a market report.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy has won golf's Masters to collect his sixth major and become the fourth repeat winner at Augusta National. It ended up being a one shot win for the Northern Irishman but it was closer than it could have been. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.
Christchurch Airport has landed a bumper summer, with international visitor numbers 22 percent on last year, pumping an estimated $860 million into the South Island economy. Between November 2025 and March 2026, 287,000 international visitors passed through the airport. Aussies were top of the arrivals list, followed by visitors from China; those numbers increased more than 100 percent on last season. Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson spoke to Lisa Owen.
More cancer patients will get treatment closer to home with the expansion of infusion centres, according to the government. But the plan could take two and a half years to roll out. The governments opening 14 new infusion centres around the country, where patients can get chemo and other targeted therapies that are given intravenously or through drips into the vein. One west Auckland clinic opens later this week. It's also expanding 14 existing infusion centres. Nicola Coom, chief executive of the Cancer Society spoke to Lisa Owen.
Over 2000 homes are still without power after Cyclone Vaianu swept across the country. All evacuation orders have now been lifted and many communities feel they dodged a bullet with the storm. The wet weather isn't over yet though - with heavy rain watches still in place for Northern Taranaki, Waitomo, Taumarunui, and Taupō west of the lake. Alexa Cook reports.
More transparency is needed around the government's multi million dollar events attraction package, including how events are being chosen, according to the country's largest venue and event management company. The 40 million dollar government fund is not contestable. Selection is by invitation only. But fund details say events are considered for their capacity to attract large audiences and international visitors. Christchurch City Council controlled, Venues Otautahi boss Caroline Harvie-Teare spoke to Lisa Owen.
Housing advocates and residents of Wellington's "Devon Street Ditch," want an independent certification system so that landlords can't just "mark their own homework" and say that their properties meet healthy homes standards. Since July last year, it's been compulsory for all rental properties to be up to scratch with the standards, which set minimum requirements for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture ingress and drainage. But with no qualification needed to tick off each of the standards, pretty much anyone is able to call themselves a healthy homes assessor. It's raised questions as to whether the standards are doing what they're meant to - ensure rental properties are safe, warm and dry. Bella Craig reports.
An update on the latest news and results from RNZ's sports team.
Smith the Grocer in The Old Bank Arcade on Lambton Quay said its raw ingredients and services have gone as a result of the war in the Middle East causing fuel prices to rocket up. The cafe has sought advice on whether it's legal to pass those costs on through a surcharge. Kirsten Saunders, the owner of Smith the Grocer Cafe spoke to Lisa Owen.
"Blown to hell." That's what the US President said will happen to any Iranians who try to stop an American blockade on ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump said the blockade will come into force overnight and affect vessels travelling to or from Iran's ports. The move comes after talks between the US and Iran - which lasted 21 hours - failed to bring an end to the war. Middle East correspondent Lou Browne spoke to Lisa Owen.
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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?