About this podcast
Checkpoint with Lisa Owen is RNZ’s weekday drive-time news programme, Our people, stories and breaking news and interviews from 4-6pm.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 1,000 episodes
- Beekeepers busy rescuing swarms that have come early · 4 minEarlier this week Checkpoint spoke to the president of the Auckland Beekeepers association about the swarms of bees out and about in the supercity. The mild winter means there's…
- UK creating first role dedicated to climate security · 5 minUnited Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK government creating what's believed to be the world's first dedicated role focused on climate security…
- NZ chasing double glory at Rugby League World Cup · 4 minNew Zealand are chasing double glory at the Rugby League World Cup. Sunday sees the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns clash with the defending champion Kangaroos and Jillaroos in Brisbane…
- Travel tech firm making it easier to get into airport lounges · 6 minA travel tech firm making it easier for globe trotters to get behind the frosted glass doors of an airport lounge says business is soaring. LoungePair was founded in Aotearoa…
- Global Microsoft outage could cost billions · 8 minExperts say the global Microsoft outage could costs billions in lost productivity globally, with Outlook, Teams and other services out of action for hours. The number of users…
- Evening business for 13 November 2026 · 5 minNews from the business sector, including a market report.
- Pitch to replace bridge destroyed by Cyclone Gabrielle knocked back by NZTA · 4 minTokomaru Bay landowners with limited access to their properties are fuming after a $14.5 million pitch to replace a bridge destroyed in Cyclone Gabrielle was knocked back by…
- Microsoft outage rasies serious questions about resilience · 8 minA major Microsoft communications outage is a stark reminder that we need a back-up plan in case of disaster, according to Auckland's acting Mayor Desley Simpson. Microsoft…
- Motorcycle club on mission to raise money for children's toys · 4 minThey're born to be wild, but philanthropy is the force behind a lower North Island motorcycle club on a mission to raise money for children's toys, and support tamariki. The…
- Australian cricket captain says sandpaper-gate claims are 'nonsense' · 5 minAustralian cricket captain Pat Cummins says claims he was involved in sandpaper-gate eight years ago are 'utter nonsense'. Cummins spoke at length with media today to respond to…
- Christchurch teen grabs major prize at worlds largest student film festival · 7 minA Christchurch teenager who scooped a major prize at the world's largest student film festival hopes it fast tracks him into the industry. Kenta Lord's short film Trace took out…
- Teen lost in Australian bush for six days speaks out · 3 minAustralia correspondent Adam Hancock spoke to Lisa Owen about how the Microsoft outage has had an effect over the ditch, as well as the 17 year old boy in Victoria who was…
- NZ's biggest vape retailer allegedly operating in advertising grey area · 6 minThere's a call for tougher rules around advertising and selling vapes online, following allegations one major retailer has found a work around. Regulations that came into force…
- Microsoft outage causes issues across health, banking and more · 4 minHealth, banking, government ministries and local councils, just a few of many services facing issues following a global Microsoft outage. Microsoft has confirmed issues impacting…
- Large crowds flock to Canterbury A&P show · 3 minA scorching day in the Garden City has brought large crowds to the second day of the Canterbury A&P show. The three-day event is the largest agricultural and pastoral event in…
- Australian banks overcharging customers, underpaying workers · 7 minAustralia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about Australian banks facing scrutiny, as they're criticised for over-charging customers, under-paying workers and cutting…
- Evening business for 12 November 2026 · 5 minNews from the business sector, including a market report.
- NZ Breakers coming to terms with losing player to injury · 3 minThe New Zealand Breakers are still coming to terms with losing one of their best players. The club announced two days ago that Parker Jackson-Cartwright will miss the rest of the…
- Tiny transmitters used to track critical bat species · 6 minResearchers plan to GPS track sixty long tailed bats, recording their every move using tiny trasmitters. They hope the information will help boost survival chances for the…
- Online version of biggest NCEA exams fails for many students · 13 minThe online version of the biggest NCEA exam of the year failed for an unknown number of students this morning. They either could not log into the level two English exam or lost…
- Warehouse workers strike over fears tech will take their jobs · 4 minThe Warehouse Group is denying allegations staff defecated and urinated in the aisles at distribution centres as a result of the company monitoring toilet breaks. Workers First…
- Review over former Lotto presenter finds numerous issues in Justice Ministry · 10 minA culture of risk avoidance at the Justice Ministry led to a former Lotto presenter's $500,000 plus payday, despite him facing serious criminal charges. It comes from a scathing…
- Fiordland National Park recognised as stargazer's haven · 4 minFiordland National Park has been internationally recognised as a stargazer's haven. It's become the largest International Dark Sky Park in the Southern Hemisphere, covering more…
- Kiwi Ferns out to end Jillaroos World Cup rule · 4 minThe Kiwi Ferns want their crown back. New Zealand were untouchable across two decades of dominance starting in 1995, but the Jillaroos have since flipped the script. Sports…
- Historic victory for Mississippi in Midterm elections · 6 minUnited States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about a significant development in the spy scandal involving the CEO of tech giant Nvidia, as well as a historic…
- Pending closure of Kapiti Airport could land in legal territory · 7 minA dispute over the pending closure of Kapiti Airport could land in legal territory. The Aeroclub, that is based there has been asked to surrender its lease at the end of the…
- Author David Walliams facing allegations of misconduct · 5 minUnited Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about British comedian and author David Walliams facing serious allegations about his conduct towards teenage fans…
- Evening business for 11 November 2026 · 5 minNews from the business sector, including a market report.
- All Whites captain Chris Wood wants input on new coach · 4 minAll Whites captain Chris Wood says there's been no player input requested as the search for a new coach continues. New Zealand Football didn't renew Darren Bazeley's contract and…
- Auckland hit with unusually large bee swarming season · 7 minAuckland is in the midst of an unusually large bee swarming season after a milder than usual winter. In October, a driver was forced to take a nap inside their car after hundreds…
- Woman dies after hospital missed heart attack symptoms · 10 minA health watchdog has found a litany of failures in an understaffed and overcrowded ED meant by the time doctors realised a woman was having a heart attack, she had gone home and…
- Kaitāia mill closure will affect almost 160 jobs · 4 minPeople in Kaitāia got the news today they've been dreading - and half expecting - for months. One of the town's biggest employers, the Triboard Mill, is expected to close next…
- What power does the caretaker government have? · 10 minRight now we have a caretaker government in place, and the country is expected to remain in limbo at least until the end of the month, but it could be much longer. Some Ministers…
- Groups gather to commemorate 108th Armistice day · 4 minToday marks 108 years since the guns fell silent after four years of brutal conflict in the First World War. Across the world armed forces, veteran's groups and civilians marked…
- 'Sandpaper-gate' erupts again with claims whole team was in on it · 5 minThe aftershocks of the infamous Sandpaper-gate scandal continue to reverberate through Australian cricket, eight years on. Former Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has reignited…
- Fire at Hamilton park destroys thousands of dollars of football gear · 6 minPolice are investigating after a fire at a Hamilton park destroyed thousands of dollars of football gear for junior players. Witnesses say people were aiming firecrackers at each…
- Iran's IRGC say it's lifted 2000km limit on missile range · 4 minMiddle East correspondent Madeline Croad spoke to Lisa Owen about Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps saying it has lifted a self-imposed 2000km limit on the range of its…
- Airline waiting for decision on Kāpiti Airport closure · 9 minA regional airline says it's a painful wait for a decision on the future of Kāpiti Airport. Owners PropCo have entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement that…
- Wellington town hall redevelopment enters final phase · 4 minAfter 13 years closed and hundreds of millions of dollars in budget blowout, Wellington's town hall redevelopment has entered its final phase. The town hall will re-open in the…
- Oz security guard missing after joining Russian invasion · 6 minAustralia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about concerns for an Australian security guard who has gone missing after joining the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- Evening business for 10 November 2026 · 5 minNews from the business sector, including a market report.
- Black Caps fight for survival against India · 3 minThe Black Caps are fighting for survival in the One day series against India. The third match was underway in Hamilton after a rain delay. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to…
- Lyttelton residents crowdsourcing for cameras to discourage boy racers · 6 minA group of Christchurch residents are crowd sourcing funds for a surveillance camera to discourage noisy street hoons. Lyttleton's had problems with loud cars and motorbikes…
- RNZ CEO says he's 'taken responsibility' over $12m budget blow out · 8 minThe CEO of RNZ who is staying on until his contract ends, says he's taken responsibility, despite the broadcaster running up an almost $12 million deficit on his watch. A litany…
- MPs converge in Wellington for first and last caucus meetings · 4 minMPs new, returning, and departing have converged on Wellington for their caucus meetings - for some of them their first, and for others their last. It's been a busy day, National…
- Rain doesn't put off punters at Christchurch's Trotting Cup · 3 minRain and drizzle made for a damp and grey day at Christchurch's Addington Raceway, but punters provided the colour, turning out in some snappy outfits for the New Zealand…
- Dunedin wind farm set to be biggest in the country · 4 minJackets on, shovels out as ground breaks on a $506 million wind farm in the hills west of Dunedin. The Puke Kapo Hau wind farm received fast track approval in July and marks the…
- Concern children being used to sell black market cigarettes · 7 minThere's concern that children are allegedly being used to sell black market cigarettes. A months long RNZ investigation has found that illicit tobacco is being sold over the…
- Breakers suffer another blow as Jackson-Cartwright ruled out · 4 minThe struggling New Zealand Breakers have suffered another blow with influential import Parker Jackson-Cartwright ruled out for the rest of the Australian NBL season. Overnight…
- Comedian Dai Henwood dies aged 48 · 9 minTV regular and comedian Dai Henwood has died at the age of 48 after living with colon cancer for six years. His management company announced the sad news on social media. Dai's…
