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 2 JULY 2015
****************************
1700 to 1707 NEWS
****************************
There are reports of multiple fatalities at a house in Ashburton. Emergency Services including the police, fire and St John ambulance are at the scene in Thomson Street.
The street is cordoned off and a neighbour says police have been going around the streets asking if everyone is OK. We'll have the latest for you on this just as soon as possible.
A 25 year old woman is under guard in the Hutt Hospital tonight after a family stabbing in Johnsonville that's left one man dead and four people hurt. The 67 year old man who died and three others attacked, were from the same family, and included a nine year old boy. A 45 year old woman who is in hospital in a serious condition was a neighbour. Michael Allan reports. PKG
West Auckland locals feared for their lives after a neighbourhood dispute in Ranui turned violent last night. One man attacked with a machete almost lost his hand, and the police had to taser another man brandishing an airgun. One neighbour's talked of trying to subdue a man wielding a knife. Mohamed Hassan reports. PKG
The Government has downplayed the impact of another drop in dairy prices, saying New Zealand's economy is well placed to weather the storm. Opposition parties have challenged this during parliamentary question time, saying it's done little to soften the blow for farmers and regional New Zealand. Here's our parliamentary chief reporter, Jane Patterson. PKG
There's a massive public heath scare in Australia as New South Wales authorities struggle to explain why they waited six months to tell eleven-thousand dental patients they may have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis. People who have had surgery at four clinics in Sydney have been told to get a blood test after an investigation found there were severe health breaches at each location. Five dentists have also been suspended. The ABC's Bill Burtles has more. PKG
The Hurricanes and Highlanders are putting their final preparations together ahead of the Super Rugby final in Wellington on Saturday night. A sell-out crowd awaits the teams, both of whom are playing for their maiden Super Rugby title. The biggest news on team naming day for the Hurricanes is the inclusion of openside flanker Ardie Savea who has been battling a knee injury. Here's our rugby reporter Barry Guy.... PKG
'The perfect blind date' - that's how two women are advertising the Super 15 tickets they're selling in an online auction this evening. They bought four tickets, but their original dates got called away. The caveat on the auction: the women say the winner had better not mind 'us yelling, swearing and drinking, cause we will be sitting right next to you'. There are loads of comments on the auction, many wishing them luck and also one asking what the pair look like. One of the two is Suzie Carrig of Wellington. i/v
Imagine no trucks on the motorway and no one owning a car. This may be the reality in the not too distant future. The recipe for so-called intelligent transport systems has been revealed at a summit in Auckland today. Our reporter Kim Baker Wilson was there. PKG
Four people have been found dead at a house in Ashburton. Police have cordoned off Thomson Street though so far they have only confirmed the fatalities but not how they happened. Mid-South Canterbury area commander Inspector Dave Gaskin is with us now. i/v
***********************
17.30 HEADLINES
***********************
**************************
17.35 BUSINESS
**************************
The wife of a suspended Nauru MP who's had his passport seized by the Pacific Island government says his situation is becoming more desperate. Roland Kun is unable to return to Wellington where he re-settled with wife Katy Le Roy after she was sacked from her job with the Nauru government two years ago. Mr Kun's recent visit to his homeland has turned into a legal battle to be allowed to leave. He is one of five opposition MPs suspended for openly criticising those in power. Pressure is growing on the New Zealand government to pull aid and today 27 constitutional lawyers published an open letter calling for Foreign Minister Murray McCully to act. Katy Le Roy welcomes their support. i/v
A poster showing a silhouette image of a person hanging from a power line has landed the New Zealand Alpine Club in trouble. The Club was using the image to promote the upcoming national indoor bouldering series, but the Electricity Networks Association took issue with the design - saying the poster could encourage stupid, dangerous behaviour. The Association asked the Alpine Club to change the design, but when they refused, the took their complaint to Worksafe. The artwork was changed this afternoon. The Alpine Club's general manager, Sam Newton, declined to come on Checkpoint, but I'm joined now by the chief executive of the Electricity Networks Association, Graeme Peters. i/v
When Melissa Rodrigues' three year old son woke her up screaming about a man shining a light into his bedroom window, she thought he was having a nightmare. But he wasn't. And the proof was on the smartphone they rigged up outside their Waikanae house after downloading an app that takes pictures when it senses movement. Melissa says it all started last Thusday after the first nightmare. She'd spoken to a neighbour who said she'd also heard something. i/v
An independent report has called for tighter monitoring of tertiary institutions after government agencies missed two multi-million-dollar rorts. The Western Institute of Technology and Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi had to repay millions of dollars to the Tertiary Education Commission after it was discovered they had enrolled and passed students who had done very little work, if any at all. The problems were not detected in regular audits by the commission and the Qualifications Authority so they commissioned Deloitte to investigate. Our education correspondent, John Gerritsen, has been reading the findings . i/v
**************************
The organisation that promotes Māori tourism is warning operators they need to up their game to cope with the growing influx of overseas visitors.
It says it's important that operators start promoting their products to an increasingly lucrative market - particularly the older age group.
Te Manu Korihi's Eru Rerekura reports:
**************************
Within a month, Cuba and the United States hope to set up embassies in each other's capitals. Diplomatic relations were cut fifty-four years ago, and the US imposed a trade embargo on Cuba. The ABC's Nick Harmsen has more. PKG
*******************
Presenter: Mary Wilson, Simon Mercep
Editor: Maree Corbett
Deputy editor: Phil Pennington
Producers: Mei Heron, Michael Allan, Denise Garland, Duncan Snelling