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 MONDAY 16 JUNE 2014
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The Glenn inquiry into family violence says its report has exposed the Family Court as broken and alarmingly dysfunctional and a hazard to those using it. Its report based on interviews with 500 victims, frontline workers and offenders says the hostile court environment is creating abuse and needs an urgent overhaul. Women told investigators about judges setting up dangerous situations so violent fathers could have contact with their children, about courts taking years to sort things out, and protection orders being flouted or usurped by child access orders. It suggests shifting the burden of proof on to abusers to prove they are innocent. The troubled inquiry has taken almost two years and was shaken when many of its investigators and top directors quit. At the same time, its sponsor Owen Glenn got caught up in allegations he physically abused a young woman in Hawaii in 2002, which he denied. The police and the Ministry of Justice are both declining to respond to the report's criticisms with the ministry saying it will seriously consider what's being said. The chief panellist Marama Davidson heard most of the accounts from hundreds of victims face to face. She's with us now.
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Labour and the Greens are pinning the blame on the Government and calling for a radical overhaul and national strategy to combat family violence. Here's our political reporter, Craig McCulloch.
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A senior doctor ignored warnings from midwives and delayed carrying out an emergency caesarean with tragic results. The Health and Disability Commissioner says the unnamed obstetrician made a serious mistake that ended with a stillborn baby. He's been referred for possible legal action. Our Health Correspondent, Karen Brown, has been reading the report and joins me now.
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The Iraqi Government is fighting back against insurgents who've seized large cities in the north, saying it's killed nearly 300 Sunni rebels. However, although Isis forces have been stopped from reaching Baghdad, they have now seized a mainly ethnic Turkmen city in northwestern Iraq. This follows photos emerging that appear to show militants massacring Iraqi soldiers and as the United States is reported to be preparing to open a direct talks with Iran on the crisis. Barney Porter of the ABC reports.
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A mother has described a harrowing account of how her horse had chunks bitten out of its legs and chest by a vicious dog while she was out riding with her children at the weekend. Karena Fellowes and her two daughters were in Queen Elizabeth Park, north of Wellington, when the bullmastiff cross attacked, throwing them off their horses. She described what happened.
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The Kapiti District Council says it's holding the dog until an investigation is complete and a decision about a possible prosecution or destruction of the dog is made. It says the owners are co-operating.
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS with Jenny Ruth
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17. 30 HEADLINES
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The manager of Dunedin stadium is making absolutely no apologies for a heavy tackle on a streaker at Saturday night's All Blacks test. The tackle described as bone-crunching was made by a stadium security guard against the nude man walking slowly on the pitch during the match against England. Here's Otago reporter, Ian Telfer.
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A 23 year old foreign tourist has been sentenced for causing the death of a woman after the campervan he was driving collided with her car. Cody Dickey crossed the centreline on a Coromandel Penisular road over Queen's Birthday weekend. Robyn Derrick, who was 52 died at the scene and her husband, Philip was seriously injured. Dickey pleaded guilty and appeared today in the Hamilton District Court. Our Waikato Reporter, Andrew McRae was there.
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More now on the Glenn inquiry into family violence which says it's exposed the Family Court as broken and alarmingly dysfunctional and a hazard to those using it. Its report based on interviews with 500 victims, workers and frontline offenders out today says the hostile court environment is creating abuse and needs an urgent overhaul. Women told the inquiry about child access orders cutting across protection orders, being ordered by judges into compulsory mediation with violent partners, and despairing at protection orders going unenforced. There is also criticism of the police, Child Youth and Family, and Winz, all adding up to victims finding it 'exceedingly difficult' to get help. But alot of the most scathing accounts are about the courts. The Ministry of Justice declined to speak to Checkpoint, saying it will give the Glenn inquiry report full consideration. Auckland lawyer Catriona MacLennan is an outspoken critic of the Family Court and was among those who quit the Glenn inquiry among controversy around it last year.
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17. 45 MANU KORIHI with Eru Rerekura
Kia ora mai, good evening,
The Glenn Inquiry has found that the cause behind the high rate of child abuse and domestic violence amongst Maori is rooted in colonisation.
The first report of the inquiry into the social problems was released today, and a blueprint for change will be released later this year.
Christopher Gilbert reports.
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The Mental Health Foundation's developed a new resource to help whanau prevent suicide.
It's launched a guide, Tihei Mauri Ora, which includes warning signs and ways to support friends and whanau struggling with suicidal thoughts.
About 500 people in New Zealand take their own lives each year, with the 2011 rate for Maori suicide almost twice that of Pakeha.
The foundation's Maori spokesperson, Witi Ashby, says there aren't many resources to help Maori prevent suicide, and he hopes, Tihei Mauri Ora, which he says is compact and easy to read will help.
It's to be made available at Maori services and health providers.
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The former board of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Whangaroa in Northland says it's taking court action to try to stop the Ministry of Education from sending in a Commissioner.
The Ministry, last week, dissolved the board and appointed a commissioner to oversee fresh trustee elections, after an earlier ballot wasn't carried out properly.
The former board is calling the Ministry's actions heavy handed, saying the ballot was held a year ago and the board has been operating effectively since.
Its chairperson, Terry Smith, says the Ministry hasn't handled this well.
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Terry Smith says at a hui last night, parents gave full support to file an application to the High Court for an injunction order and judicial review of the Ministry's actions.
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A book about the importance of Te Reo Maori has been launched in Wellington today.
The Value of the Maori Language: Te Hua o Te Reo Maori was funded by Nga Pae o te Maramatanga - the Maori Centre of Research Excellence, with input from Victoria and Otago Universities.
The book's authors hope it will generate discussion for both Maori and non-Maori to adopt the language and look at the positive potential it can have for the country.
That's Te Manu Korihi news, I'll have a further bulletin in an hour.
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A baby has died after a senior doctor failed to order an emergency caesarean quickly enough. The Health and Disability Commision report says heart monitoring showed the baby was in serious trouble but the unnamed obstetrician delayed ordering the caesarean, instead asking for more tests. He also ignored two midwives who pointed out the baby's heart rate was dropping dramatically. The baby was later stillborn. The obstetrician has also been criticised for his unprofessional manner and he's been referred for possible legal action. The Health and Disability Commissioner is Anthony Hill.
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An Auckland councillor wants the city to slash bar hours in part because the council can't afford more public transport in the early hours. Submissions on the city's proposed Local Area Policy opened today - which gives local authorities the power to police when and where alcohol can be sold . The public can now have its say on changes the council wants to make, like cutting opening hours and putting a freeze on new bottle stores. A controversial liquor store opposite a south Auckland school's gate, wouldn't be allowed under the new rules - but Council staff are defending giving it the go ahead. Kim Baker Wilson reports.
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In the Middle East, a massive manhunt is underway for three teenagers who Israeli authorities say were kidnapped. Hayden Cooper reports.
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Presenter: Liz Banas
Editor: Maree Corbett
Deputy editor: Phil Pennington
Producers: Mei Yeoh, Michael Allan