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 22 SEPT 2014
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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John Key's first cab off the rank, for coalition talks with his new government is the United Future leader, Peter Dunne. Act's David Seymour will meet with the Prime Minister tomorrow. On Saturday night's result, National has enough seats to govern alone, but is still seeking support from its previous partners. John Key has signalled that ministerial positions are likely for Mr Dunne and for the Maori Party's Te Ururoa Flavell. (post broadcast ccn: not Cabinet - they would be ministers outside cabinet) Peter Dunne emerged from negotiations with the Prime Minister this afternoon. i/v
The Labour Party leader David Cunliffe is facing a possible challenge from at least three of his caucus colleagues, following the party's disastrous election defeat. The former leader, David Shearer, former deputy leader Grant Robertson and Stuart Nash, who won back Napier for Labour, are not ruling out tilts at the leadership. However, the caucus can't take any formal vote on the leadership until the final election result comes in, which is expected to be on Saturday, October the 4th. Here's our parliamentary chief reporter, Jane Patterson. PKG
Our political editor Brent Edwards has been following today's developments . i/v
A woman having an emergency caesarian was in excruciating pain but the anesthetist refused to believe her, saying what she was feeling was just pressure. A report by the Health and Disability Commissioner says the pain was so strong during surgery the woman began kicking the obstetrician involuntarily and nurses were told to hold her legs down. She was in agony while the surgeon stitched her up and when the midwife asked for something to be done the anesthetist shrugged and said it would be over soon. The Commissioner Anthony Hill has referred the anesthetist for possible legal action. i/v
There were tense scenes this morning at the sentencing of a Dunedin demolition worker who killed a stranger in an Octagon bar. A High Court judge sent 26-year-old Stephen Fernyhough to prison for five years after pleading guilty to manslaughter for the death of 35-year old Ryan Court early one Sunday in April. Our Otago reporter, Ian Telfer, was in court for the judgement. i/v
New Zealand Rugby says Aaron Cruden's boozy night out , which caused him to miss his flight and be dropped from the team is not symptomatic of any deeper alcohol problems in the All Blacks The first five-eighth, will not play in the final two Rugby Championship matches after he didn't turn up for the All Blacks' flight to Argentina yesterday morning. Sports reporter Alex Coogan-Reeves reports PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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17.35 MARKET UPDATE
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The United Nations Security Council is poised to adopt a binding resolution compelling all countries to clamp down on homegrown jihadists. The resolution proposed by the United States and to be tabled this week, for the first time establishes international standards to prosecute anyone who travels abroad to join terrorist groups and anyone who helps them, including by raising funds. Countries would also have to prevent and suppress recruitment of their citizens by the likes of Islamic State, which has been growing in influence in Australia, and block suspected foreign terrorists from travelling through. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully is heading to New York for the UN General Assembly. The New York Times national security reporter is Eric Schmitt. i/v
Electricity shares have jumped with National's resounding victory easing fears of an overhaul of the power market. The New Zealand sharemarket overall has risen by 1.2 percent led by a surge in electricity stocks. Mighty River Power has risen 7.4 percent, pushing above $2.50 for the first time since it floated in May last year. Mark Lister is the head of wealth research at Craigs Investment Partners, i/v
A Queenstown police officer who racially abused a taxi driver has been discharged without conviction. Constable Jenny McNee was earlier found guilty of offensive language after she berated Ganesh Paramanathan about the cost of a taxi fare in November last year. The judge says McNee tried to stop her husband from paying and said to the driver to "go to India and eat your curry - this is a kiwi job" McNee, who has been an officer for 17 years, said she couldn't remember having said such things. And at the time was on strong pain medication and had at least 5 glasses of wine. In the Queenstown District Court this afternoon, Judge Tony Couch said while the officer's behaviour was intolerable, convicting her would have implications on her career which would be out of proportion with the gravity of her offending. Jenny McNee's lawyer is Nic Soper. i/v
An Auckland teacher has been cleared of all twenty three charges he faced of inappropriately touching young girls in his class. Suppression orders prevent naming the teacher or his school. Our reporter Lauren Baker was at the High Court in Auckland for the verdict. i/v
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The Rātana Church reacted with jubilation when one of its own, Adrian Rurawhe [pron: roo-ruff-fe - as in fed - without the d], was elected Labour MP for the Māori electorate of Te Tai Hauaauru on Saturday.
Mr Rurawhe [pron: roo-ruff-fe - as in fed - without the d] is the latest in a long line of members who have become successful politicians.
From Te Manu Kōrihi news, Laura Bootham, filed this report from his headquarters at Ratana Pā, near Whanganui.
PLAY AUDIO: Ratana Adrian PKG
IN ATMOS EFX IN....
OUT ..CHECKPOINT, LAURA BOOTHAM
DUR 03 ' 02"
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Frank Bainimarama has been sworn in as Fiji's Prime Minister at a ceremony in Suva today, while the two opposition parties who gained seats in parliament have called for an investigation into the election. Bainimarama 's Fiji First party secured 60 percent of the total vote, while the second placed Sodelpa party got 30 percent. It means Fiji First will have 32 seats in the new parliament, Sodelpa 15, and the National Federation Party, three. Radio New Zealand International's Sally Round was at the swearing in i/v
The former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, says Britain and other Western countries should not rule out sending in ground forces to fight Islamic State militants. He says he fully accepts there is no appetite in the West for committing combat troops - but ISIS extremism will only be uprooted if it is confronted. Mr Blair says the struggle against Islamist extremism should be seen as an international fight rather than a series of isolated conflicts CUT
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Presenter: Mary Wilson, Jim Mora
Editor: Maree Corbett
Deputy editor: Phil Pennington
Producers: Jo Leavesley, Mei Yeoh, Sharon Brettkelly