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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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A gear change in driver licensing has some instructors concerned. The government has unveiled the first major changes to the system in 15 years, meaning drivers won't have to sit a second practical test when they go for their full licence. Under 25s will spend 12 months on their learner licence instead of the current six. For under 25s the time spent on a restricted licence is is reducing from up to 18 months down to a year. New Zealand Institute Driver Educators president and Paeroa driving instructor Mark Revill-Johnson spoke to Lisa Owen.
United Kingdom correspondent Diane To spoke to Lisa Owen about Prince Andrew facing more pressure over his ties to the lat convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as others who have been caught up in Epstein's web.
News from the business sector, including a market report.
Several new laws will take affect in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, including reducing the influence of the much-maligned TMO. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.
A Dunedin Wildlife Hospital suspects modern windows could be to blame for an increasing number of serious injuries in Aotearoa's native wood pigeon or Kereru. Window strike is the most common reason for Kereru ending up in hospital, hundreds of them over the past few years. Survival rates are also down to due to the severity of the injuries. General manager of Wildlife Hospital Dunedin, Suzanne Stephenson spoke to Lisa Owen.
Efforts are underway to salvage a damaged catamaran that ran aground in Canterbury's Banks Peninsula at the weekend. The Black Cat Cruises vessel got into trouble during a return journey on Akaroa Harbour, prompting the rescue of dozens of people on board. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has begun an investigation while local authorities try to quell the impact of thousands of litres of spilt diesel on the harbour. Adam Burns reports.
The government has revealed its new school report for students aged five to 15 and has said it will give parents clearer more consistent information on how their children are progressing. The report card will describe a child's achievement in reading, writing and maths using a five-point achievement scale. They are emerging, developing, consolidating, proficient and exceeding. Principal at Berkley Normal Middle School in Hamilton, Nathan Leith spoke to Lisa Owen.
The appalling and reckless behaviour of dirt bike riders is putting children's lives at risk according to police. They are appealing for members of the public to help to with any dash cam or CCTV footage after up to 40 riders were driving into oncoming traffic and bumping onto footpaths in Otara yesterday afternoon. Auckland police Inspector Kerry Watson spoke to Lisa Owen.
A project at the cutting edge of cancer research hopes to build a collection of tiny lab-grown tumours at the University of Auckland. Smaller than a grain of sand, these tumour structures can be used to test experimental cancer treatments with quick results. Felix Walton has more.
While it's been a turbulent time for the All Blacks, it seems you can always count on the Black Ferns Sevens to bring a smile to the faces of New Zealand rugby fans. The team captured another World Series title in Singapore last night - demolishing rivals Australia in the process. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.
A former Olympic rower is hoping there is some honour among thieves after his gold medal was stolen from his Christchurch home while he was away for the weekend. Les O'Connell, won the medal at the 1984 summer Olympics in LA, rowing in the men's coxless four and he's appealing to whoever pinched it to give it back undamaged. O'Connell spoke to Lisa Owen.
Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen about new warnings about the prospect of an American attack on Iran, as well as a major milestone in Gaza with the reopening of its most important border crossing.
A Christchurch City Councillor is calling for a hotline for residents to dob in Air BnB operators that might be breaking the rules. New regulations came into effect in 2023 meaning anyone renting out a property for more than 60 nights a year needs resource consent. Since then, a council specialist Airbnb Compliance Officer has been employed and have found 41 operators to be non-compliant, while a further 54 remain under investigation. Councillor for Christchurch's Heathcote ward Nathaniel Herz Jardine spoke to Lisa Owen.
United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about Prime Minister Keir Starmer's trip to China, the European Union formally adding Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to its terrorist list, and two volunteer firefighters from the Isle of Man have pulling off an impressive feat of athleticism.
News from the business sector, including a market report.
British boxer Anthony Joshua has broken weeks of public silence and spoken for the first time since a car crash which killed two of the former world heavyweight champion's close friends. Joshua was a passenger in an SUV that collided with a stationary truck on a highway in Nigeria on December 29, and sustained minor injuries in the accident that claimed their lives. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.
Police say any protestors attemping to cross Auckland Harbour Bridge tomorrow will be stopped, but they are warning motorists of potential delays. NZTA has declined an application by the Freedom and Rights Coalition to walk the bridge - the group is an off shoot of Brian Tamaki's Destiny Church. But Brian Tamaki is still encouraging people to gather at Victoria Park, which is a short distance from the motorway on-ramp. Waitemata District Commander, Superintendent Naila Hassan spoke to Lisa Owen.
Some farms in Tai Rawhiti are facing huge clean up jobs and access problems following heavy rain and flooding last week. Mud and slips have cut off roads and communities higher up the coast near Hicks bay and Te Araroa. The Prime Minister has said reconnecting some of those communities could take up to six months with significant damage to State Highwway 35 and SH2. North west of Gisborne some farms near Te Karaka have had river crossing washed out. Federated Farmers Gisborne president Charlie Reynolds spoke to Lisa Owen.
The Parole Board has declined parole for convicted murderer Clayton Weatherston. The 50-year-old will remain behind bars until at least November 2027. Weatherston was an academic at Otago University and had been in a relationship with honours student Sophie Elliott. In 2008 Elliot was packing up her life to move to Wellington to take up a job at Treasury when Weatherston arrived at her home and stabbed her more than 200 times in a brutal attack. Weatherston appeared before the Parole Board this morning for the first time after serving an 18-year non-parole period. Reporter Timothy Brown attended the hearing and spoke to Lisa Owen.
One of the things former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham's son, Brooklyn, made headlines for this week was sharing "the world's most expensive" wine with his wife, Nicola Peltz. It was reportedly an 1831 vintage Château d'Yquem valued at around $33,000 a bottle. That got our money correspondent Susan Edmunds thinking about wine, including how you might go about investing in it. She 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?