Checkpoint is a drive-time news and current affairs programme on Radio New Zealand National. It broadcasts nationwide every weekday evening for two hours and covers the day’s major national and international stories, as well as business, sport and Māori news. This recording covers the first hour. The following rundown is supplied from the broadcaster’s news system:
Checkpoint FOR FRIDAY 17 JANUARY 2014
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The Law Society says the shooting of two children in Dunedin is an extreme case for which the justice system cannot be blamed. The 51-year-old Milton prison worker, Edward Livingstone, (living-stin) is believed to have shot his nine-year-old son Bradley and six-year-old daughter, Ellen, late on Wednesday night. Edward Livingstone was prosecuted twice last year for breaching a protection order taken out by his former wife, Katharine Webb. Our Otago reporter, Ian Telfer, has been following developments and is with me from Dunedin.
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The Corrections Minister, Anne Tolley, says her heart goes out to the family, and mother of the two children. Anne Tolley says the Government is always trying to find ways to better protect people from harm and tighten protection orders. But she says there are no easy answers.
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But a woman whose daughter was murdered by a man who breached a protection order says the judiciary needs to enforce them to protect victims of violence. Cheryl Tovizi's daughter, Alexsis who was 21, was murdered by her former boyfriend Nicky Roper in 2010. Mrs Tovizi says Roper had twice been convicted for choking Alexsis and she had a protection order out on him.
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The decision whether or not to extradite a former Catholic brother back to Australia to face hundreds of child sex abuse charges has been handed to the Justice Minister, Judith Collins. The case has gone backwards and forwards between the District and High Courts in Christchurch since the application was made by the Australian federal police in October 2011. Nicola Grigg has been following the case and joins us with the latest developments.
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It's a dark scandal that has been tainting the reputation of the Roman Catholic Church for years. Today for the first time the Vatican has had to publicly defend its attitude to child sexual abuse. United Nations officials have questioned senior Catholic clergy at UN headquarters in Geneva. A committee wants to know why the church won't release its data on abuse and what's being done to prevent further cases. The BBC's Emily Buchahan reports on a scandal that refuses to go away :
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS with Jenny Ruth
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An 18-year old man has admitted to the aggravated robbery of two German tourists on Boxing Day in Whakatane. The tourists suffered broken teeth, cuts and bruises when they were beaten and robbed as they slept in a tent in a skatepark near the town centre. Mark Wikotu appeared in the Youth Court in Whakatane today, along with four others, in relation to the attack. Our Bay of Plenty reporter, Lorna Perry, was there.
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Our Bay of Plenty reporter, Lorna Perry. Meanwhile, yesterday evening two overseas tourists were assaulted at a Waikato camping ground. Police say a man and a woman were told to leave the camping ground in Raglan after an altercation. A French woman was then punched in the jaw, knocking her to the ground, while an Australian woman was punched in the nose, causing her to bleed.
After hours of investigations and repair, Kiwirail's latest faulty ferry is now back in service. A broken valve in a cooling system is being blamed for causing an electrical failure, which affected one of the Interislander's propellers. Businesses using freight services say tens of thousands of dollars have been lost as a result of Interislander's technical problems and inconsistancy. Lauren Baker reports.
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17. 30 HEADLINES
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An Auckland loan company is being investigated over claims its staff use weapons and standover tactics to force people to re-pay money they've borrowed. The Twenty Fifty Club's director, Gavin John Marsich, appeared in the Manukau District Court today charged with possession of an offensive weapon. Kate Newton reports.
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A far reaching paedophile ring that streamed live images of child sexual abuse has been broken up. More than two dozen people were arrested by police in Australia, the United States, Britain and the Philippines. The Australians were allegedly involved in financing the operation, which was based in the Philippines and involved more than a dozen children aged between six and 15. The ABC's Sarah Dingle reports :
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A Fiji-pro-democracy group is worried about the influence of the Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, on the country's long-awaited elections this year. Commodore Bainimarama says he will stand down as head of the military in March, so he can run for Prime Minister, but will have the powers to appoint his supporters to top jobs before the promised elections in September. But the pro-democracy group says even if he doesn't win, his influence could continue for some time after the elections. Jonathan Mitchell has more.
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The 21st annual World Buskers Festival is underway in Christchurch, with Hagley Park acting as its base for the third time since the earthquakes. The festival's organisers say the show has come of age and it's bigger and better than ever. Marcus Irvine caught up with a couple of overseas acts who are eager to wow Christchurch crowds.
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Police in Auckland are investigating a string of sex attacks on women on the streets of Ponsonby and Freeman's Bay. There have been six indecent assaults in the 12 months to November. Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Florence says they're looking for a light-skinned maori or polynesian man in his late teens or early twenties, slightly built and short, with noticeably big eyes and short cropped hair, in connection with some of the attacks.
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For nearly nine years the people of Lebanon have waited for this moment. The trial of four men accused of assassinating their former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has opened in a special United Nations court in The Hague. It's taking place there rather than in Beirut because of security reasons. But the men, who have ties to the militant group Hezbollah, are being tried in-absentia because although their names are known to the court, they themselves are still on the run. The trial could be a watershed for Lebanon bringing some resolution to a crime that the nation has never fully recovered from. Deutsche Welle's Steve Chaid [shade] has our report :
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Catapults loaded with metal bolts have become the weapon of choice among extreme activists at mass anti-government rallies in Thailand. Since the so-called Bangkok Shutdown began, police say they've seized dozens of weapons including knives and hundreds of improvised explosive devices. By day it's a largely peaceful affair, but at night drive-by shootings and small explosions are now common. The ABC's Samantha Hawley reports from Bangkok :
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One person has been confirmed dead in the Grampians in Victoria as bushfires rage in the state. Emergency warnings have been issued for communities in the Grampians National Park, northwest of Melbourne, as fire crews battle dozens of out of control fires. Temperatures across the state remain high, with Melbourne topping 40 degrees for the fourth day in a row. Joining us now is Melissa Singer.
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The top women's seed at the Australian tennis Open, Serena Williams, has continued her dominance at the tournament, easing past her third-round opponent in straight sets. The heat has continued to cause problems for some of the players though, with temperatures above 40 degrees for the fourth straight day. Joining us now is our tennis correspondent in Melbourne, Dave Worsley.
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Researchers in Britain say they have confirmed what many already suspected -- that comedians are a little bit mad. The team says the creative elements needed for humour are similar to traits seen in people with psychosis. The BBC's Helen Briggs reports.
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Presenter: Liz Banas
Editor: Denise Garland