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 23 JANUARY 2015
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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Photos of the burning Carterton balloon in which 11 people died have been released for the first time this evening after the photographer abandoned his court action to stop it. One of the four photos shows a bright flash as the balloon hits power lines. The other three show the fire gaining hold of the basket in which 10 sightseers had been taken up a short time before, by pilot Lance Hopping. The coroner first ordered the release of the photos last year, which families of the victims backed. We'll hear from one father soon. But first, the photographer Geoff Walker, who was doing balloon promotional work, and why he maintains the photos shouldn't be published. i/v
An inquest into the crash was held last year and the coroner is still working on the findings, due to be released later on in the year. Allan Still is the father of the youngest victim, Alexis. He says it's not pleasant for the photos to be released, but it's necessary so people understand how dangerous ballooning can be. i/v
The investigation of a modern tram network for central Auckland has hit political turbulence even before the ink has dried on the surprise announcement. Auckland Council's transport agency says it may decide within months whether it favours replacing buses with Light Rail on major central arterial roads. The city's councillors say they should have been told earlier, and the mayor is cool on the idea, as our Auckland Correspondent Todd Niall reports. PKG
The Green Party co-leader, Metiria Turei, has criticised the Prime Minister at Ratana today, saying John Key's view that New Zealand was settled peacefully is warped, outrageous and offensive. This came as politicians were welcomed on to the marae at Ratana this afternoon as the church celebrates the birth of its prophet, Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana. Our political reporter, Chris Bramwell, has been there. i/v
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz <Abdul-az-eeze > has died, and his 79 year old half-brother, King Salman, named as the new crown prince. King Abdullah was in his 90's and had been in hospital for several weeks suffering from phenomena. His death was announced on state television: CUT King Abdullah was broadly seen as a moderniser who had sought to reform the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom over the past two decades. He's been credited with introducing some reforms, such as reigning in the country's religious police, and giving women the right to vote in the country's limited elections. The Middle East Institute's James Dorsey says Saudi Arabia is one of the most important players in the Middle East CUT King Abdullah came to the throne in 2005 but had been a powerful figure in the kingdom for a decade before that. CNN's Nick Robertson has more PKG
An ember from a family barbeque triggered a blaze at an Auckland home, almost destroying a champion weightlifter's irreplaceable medals. Commonwealth Games medallist Tony Ebert's home is a write-off but his and his wife's medals are safe, all 14 of them. He'd finished cooking dinner on the deck at Campbell's Bay when the fire snuck up on them. i/v
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17.30 HEADLINES
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17.35 MARKET UPDATE
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The death of a rally driver after he'd finished his race has a coroner calling on Motorsport New Zealand to make rallies safer. Kevin Royce Watson, of Christchurch, died in 2013 when his car hit a tree on an unseen bend in the road just after the finish line at Hanmer Springs. An elderly volunteer near the tree was flung down a bank by the force of the impact. The man was placing a warning triangle on the road because an accident had already happened on the same spot Watson left the road. Coroner Richard McElrea wants Motorsport to improve GPS systems, monitor courses and their hazards better, and to improve how race marshals respond to an emergency. The President of Motorsport New Zealand, Shayne Harris says it was a "blind rally" where drivers have only limited information about the course. i/v
The ethics of chequebook journalism are being questioned in Australia where survivors of Sydney's lindt cafe hostage drama have agreed to tell their stories for large sums of money. Both the Seven Network and Channel Nine have secured exclusive interviews with surviving victims of December's hostage drama. And the war to bring in the most viewers has begun with trailers for the networks' upcoming specials. CUT Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett is among those weighing in, tweeting that it's terribly disappointing that the survivors, whose lives were saved by others, are now selling their stories for profit. With us now is The Australian's media editor, Sharri Markson. i/v
Most of the cargo on an Air New Zealand flight from Fiji to Auckland went unchecked by staff, but the airline says passengers were never at risk. 11 out of the 13 containers went unchecked. Flight NZ-zero-five-seven (NZ057) took off from Nadi last October despite ground crew knowing the weight of the cargo hadn't been checked. Our reporter, Michael Allan, has been following the story. i/v
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17.45 MANU KORIHI with Eru Rerekura
Kia ora, good evening,
The man credited with growing the fortunes of Waikato-Tainui commercial coffers by 500-million dollars over the last eight years is to step down.
Mike Pohio says the time is right for a new CEO to lead the company's plans for the next decade.
Andrew McRae reports.
TGH RESIGN VCR
IN: THE CHAIRMAN OF....
OUT: ...ANDREW MCRAE
DUR: 54"
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Politicians at the annual celebrations to mark the birth of the Ratana Church prophet, Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana, took the opportunity to pay homage to the church's founder and consolidate their relationship with the movement.
MPs and ministers from across the political spectrum gathered at the Pa today near Whanganui today, starting the annual celebrations.
The new Labour leader says the group of Māori MPs that have joined Labour are a formiddable force.
Andrew Little says there's been an increasing closeness between the church and party and that he's intent on ensuring the party's traditional bond with the church is recognised and respected.
Mr Little says his message to the church will be about how the Labour Party genuinely values its relationship with it.
He says that relationship has reached new heights with six out of the seven Māori seats now represented by Labour and it's important the party honours that gift.
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A Maori child poverty advocate says a drop in the number of referrals to Child Youth and Family might be an indication there is more awareness and not a drop in actual abuse.
The government statistics show 16-thousand children were abused in the 12 months to June, more than 2-thousand fewer that the previous 12 months.
A consultant and advocate, Anton Blank, says the numbers may coincide with a new strategy - where police or doctors do not automatically report incidents to Child Youth and Family.
He says from experience when there has been a lot of education about child abuse there will be a spike in reporting that may not reflect an increase in children being mistreated.
Mr Blank says rather than proceeding to prosecution - police are instead referring families to community agencies for intervention and support.
That's Te Manu Korihi news, I'll have a final bulletin in an hour.
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Two Australian jihadists stand accused of enslaving women from the Yazidi religious minority in northern Iraq. The ABC has interviewed four of the women who say they were held captive after they were kidnapped in Iraq and taken deep into Syrian territory last year. They say the jihadist's children had knives and cell phones and threatened to take a video while cutting off their heads. The ABC's Middle East correspondent Matt Brown spoke to the women in northern Iraq. PKG
Sir Ian Athfield, the architect behind Wellington's Civic Square, Christchurch's Jade Stadium and Buck House in Hawkes Bay has been farewelled in Wellington. He died last week (16th Jan) aged 74. Daniela Maoate-Cox was at the service. PKG
Yemen's President, his government, and the chief of intelligence have resiged after a stand-off with rebels who control much of the capital, Sanaa. For the past two days the rebels had shelled and then occupied the presidential palace. It's not clear who is in charge. The BBC's Sebastian Usher reports PKG
And ending speculation a topless woman has appeared on page three of the latest edition of The Sun newspaper in Britain, for the first time in almost a week; it was thought and widely applauded that the British paper had dropped the long-running feature after 44 controversial years. even government ministers welcomed the move.
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Presenter: Liz Banas, Jim Mora
Editor: Phil Pennington
Deputy editor: Jo Leavesley
Producers: Mei Heron, Sharon Brettkelly, Kim Savage