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 THURSDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2014
****************************
1700 to 1707 NEWS
****************************
The New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, is accusing the Prime Minister of using the Government's spies to keep tabs on him. John Key, yesterday accused Mr Peters of meeting the internet tycoon, Kim Dotcom, three times. Mr Peters today confirmed the meetings, but says the only way John Key could know about them was if he'd been spied on. Neither Mr Key or Mr Peters or Mr Dotcom will speak to Checkpoint. Here's our political reporter, Craig McCulloch.
PKG
A Christchurch woman who stabbed her husband through the heart as he slept has been found not guilty of his murder, but has been convicted of manslaughter. Lucille Scollay wept as the verdict was returned this afternoon. She's always admitted the stabbing, but said that she never intended killing her severely depressed husband, Guy. I asked Scollay's lawyer, Rupert Glover, about her reaction to the sentence.
i/v
The Commerce Minister has asked the Commerce Commission to get to the bottom of allegations of blackmail by the Countdown supermarket chain. The Labour MP Shane Jones has claimed Progressive Enterprises which owns Countdown has demanded retrospective cash payments from some suppliers, to make up for lost profits on some goods. The Prime Minister is throwing his weight behind an inquiry but also says he's sceptical about the claims. Here's our parliamentary chief reporter, Jane Patterson.
PKG
Controversial rappers known for their sexually violent lyrics have been banned from entering New Zealand just days ahead of performing at the Rapture 2014 concert in Auckland this weekend. Immigration New Zealand says the group Odd Future has been deemed to be a potential threat to public order for several reasons, including inciting violence during their performances. Denise Ritchie is the Stop Demand Foundation which demanded the group be pulled.
i/v
The former mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, who became a hero in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has been found guilty of bribery and corruption. The Democrat politician was accepting bribes and soliciting kickbacks in exchange for favourable treatment on city contracts. He spent the half a million dollars in illicit gains on private jet rides and lavish parties. Dave Cohen is from WWL Newstalk Radio in New Orleans.
i/v
***********************
1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS with Jenny Ruth
************************
***********************
17. 30 HEADLINES
***********************
The rescue operation for civilians trapped in besieged areas of the Syrian city of Homs is again underway with the arrival of desperately needed supplies and the safe evacuation of more people. The city's governor said around 200, mostly injured people, have been moved to safety. United Nation vehicles towing trailers of food arrived in the city earlier in the day to alleviate some of the suffering. But the fate of the men and boys of military age who face questioning by the Syrian authorities, is still unknown. The BBC's Lyse Doucet watched the safe arrival of today's evacuees.
PKG
Nauru's beleagured chief justice says New Zealand has got to look at pulling its 600 thousand dollars of funding for the Pacific Island's judiciary as the judge's dispute with the Government there heats up. Geoffrey Eames is in Australia and unable to get back to Naura after the Government cancelled his visa, and at the same time deported the island's only magistrate Australian Peter Laws. Just days after Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully got assurances at a meeting with two Nauru Ministers in Wellington that the ructions would cease, one of the Ministers Charmaine Scotty has accused Mr Neames of cronyism. She was asked by Radio New Zealand International about why Mr Eames' visa is still cancelled.
CUT
Yesterday Geoffrey Eames told Checkpoint he expected to hear from Nauru about his visa and about returning. Today, after hearing what Charmaine Scotty is saying, he's angry.
i/v
b/a
The Foreign Minister Murray McCully says he has no view on the dispute, adding the relationship between the Nauru government and Mr Eames has broken down so it's not worth talking about. Earlier, after his Wellington meeting with the two ministers, Mr McCully said the funding deal is being changed so New Zealand can be sure Nauru is making good judicial appointments, and to give it more flexibility to withdraw funding if things go wrong. We'll hear more from Mr McCully after 6 o'clock.
A mother wept uncontrollably as she recalled waking to find her two-year-old daughter with her eyes flickering. Justice Lang had to call an early adjournment at the High Court in Auckland at one stage because Amy Lorigan was so upset as she recounted the last moments of her daughter Leilani Lotonu'u's life. Ms Lorigan's former partner Michael Martin denies charges of ill-treating and murdering Ms Lorigan's daughter from a previous relationship. Our reporter Edward Gay has been covering the trial. i/v
***************
17. 45 MANU KORIHI with Eru Rerekura
Kia ora mai, good evening,
An Australian City Council is making it clear that Maori carved totem poles are not being placed at the entrance of a New South Wales park.
A Darug tribal elder, Sandra Lee, has spoken out saying they can be erected anywhere else but in the front of the Nurragingy Reserve.
Daniela Maoate-Cox reports:
POU-STATEMENT-VCR
IN: TWO FOUR METRE. . .
OUT . . . SOC
DUR 43"
--------
Ngati Kahungunu descendants are being inspired by their own Maori language strategy to have a say on the government's proposed plan for the language.
The country's third biggest iwi has spent nearly two years revisiting the status of tribal dialects, and asking tribal members their hopes and aspirations for Te Reo o Kahungunu.
While, the government is consulting the public on its proposals, which includes a goal to support language learning in the home.
Jeremy Tatere MacLeod, the Ngati Kahungunu director of Te Reo, Tikanga and Matauranga, says its strategy is a snapshot of what members want - and that's to keep the tribe's language alive.
MAORI-PROMPT-TP
IN: WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE. . .
OUT: . . . TO THE GOVERNMENT'S
DUR: 09"
Jeremy Tatere MacLeod of Ngati Kahungunu.
--------
A Hamilton-based Maori primary school could be expanded into a Maori high school so past students at other secondary schools can return there.
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whakawatea opened its doors in 1994, and was created to take the students from the local Maori pre-school, Te Kohanga Reo o Whakawatea, which was set up three years earlier.
About 130-students, between Years zero to eight, are enrolled at Whakawatea school.
The principal at the kura, Susanne Simmons-Kopa, says the whanau at the school has been considering the idea of becoming a Wharekura - a Maori High school.
EDU-WHAREKURA-TP
IN: PEOPLE ARE EXCITED. . .
OUT: . . . RIGHT FROM THE START.
DUR: 24"
Susanne Simmons-Kopa hasn't ruled out the possibility of a charter school for the idea of the Wharekura model.
--------
A five thousand dollars scholarship is being made available for iwi members in and around Whanganui who are studying bachelor degrees in medicine and surgery.
Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority has established the Te Manawanui Pauro Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship is only available to descendants of Ngati Apa, Nga Rauru, Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi and Ngati Rangi.
It's designed to provide financial help to a descendant in an effort to build General Practice capability.
That's Te Manu Korihi news.
****************
The step-brother of an Auckland man who's been missing for more than 20 years says an inquest won't shake his belief that his brother is still alive. Quentin Godwin was 18 when he left his home in west Auckland in May 1992, supposedly to go to his after-school job at the local supermarket. He never showed up, and his family hasn't heard from him since. The police told a coroner's hearing today they believe Mr Godwin killed himself on or around the day he disappeared. But Chris Edwards, who represented the family at the hearing, said afterwards they don't accept that .
CUT
Our reporter Kate Newton was at the inquest
i/v
Up to a hundred thousand Muslims have fled horrific violence in the Central African Republic in what Amnesty International says is a Muslim exodus of historic proportions. It says international peace keepers in the former French colony have failed to prevent ethnic cleansing being carried by the Christian majority in retaliation for massacres under the short-lived Muslim government. The President was forced to step down in December and Amesty says the current government is too weak to stop the reprisal killings being carried out by the so called anti-balaka Christian militias. Hundreds have died and Joanne Mariner who is in the capital Bangui (Ban-gee) says the crisis is entirely predictable.
i/v
Britain has been hit by flooding for weeks and now is being battered by hurricane-force winds. Rob Broomby reports
PKG
*******************
Presenter: Mary Wilson
Editor: Maree Corbett
Deputy editor: Phil Pennington
Producers: Susie Ferguson, Mei Yeoh