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 website:
17:05
Evidence security guard died after being bashed in the head
BODY:
An inquest's heard an Auckland security guard was bashed in the head but that forensics couldn't link any potential weapons found to a killer.
Topics: crime
Regions: Auckland Region
Tags:
Duration: 4'03"
17:12
Charter school accused of food bribery
BODY:
An Auckland charter school has been accused of ensuring children's good behaviour with KFC and doing its students more harm than good.
Topics: education, food
Regions: Auckland Region
Tags: Middle School West Auckland
Duration: 3'02"
17:15
Others may be charged for violent school rugby brawl
BODY:
A fifteen year old boy has been referred to youth aid and the police are not ruling out charging others involved in a violent schoolboy rugby brawl.
Topics: sport, education
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 3'28"
17:19
Kiwi genius stuns Scrabble world winning French title
BODY:
New Zealand's scrabble champion, Nigel Richards, is now the French champion - and he's done this without speaking the language.
Topics: life and society, language
Regions:
Tags: games, Scrabble
Duration: 4'05"
17:20
Corrections minister under pressure
BODY:
The Corrections Minister is coming under more pressure over just when he knew about allegations a prisoner at the privately run Mt Eden Prison had been dropped from a balcony.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: Corrections, Mt Eden prison, prisons, Serco
Duration: 2'47"
17:22
Police say they won't find out how many times Maori unlicensed drivers let off
BODY:
The police in south Auckland say they don't know - and don't plan on finding out - how many times officers used a controversial policy which let unlicensed Maori drivers off paying a fine.
Topics: te ao Maori
Regions: Auckland Region
Tags: police, fines
Duration: 4'36"
17:27
Vietnam vet cleared of importing methamphetamine
BODY:
A 74 year-old Vietnam veteran says the last year and a half has been insane as he battled to prove he was innocent of knowingly importing 6.2 kilograms of methampthetamine into the country.
Topics:
Regions:
Tags: Ralph Sherman Soles
Duration: 3'53"
17:35
Evening Business for 22 July 2015
BODY:
News from the business sector including a market report.
Topics: business, economy
Regions:
Tags: markets
Duration: 2'15"
17:37
Former Nauru social worker looking at legal action against
BODY:
An Australian social worker falsely accused off making up stories about asylum seeker abuse and kicked off Nauru is looking at suing Immigration officials.
Topics: refugees and migrants
Regions:
Tags: Nauru, Australia, immigration, abuse, asylum seekers
Duration: 6'15"
17:43
Labour calls for the flag referendum to be binned
BODY:
The Labour Party leader is calling for the flag referendum to be dumped because of the cost and a lack of public interest.
Topics: politics
Regions:
Tags: New Zealand Flag
Duration: 3'20"
17:49
Court insurance ruling may mean millions more for quake victims
BODY:
Tens of millions of dollars in extra insurance payments may be paid to Cantabrians whose homes were damaged beyond repair in the earthquakes.
Topics: Canterbury earthquakes
Regions: Canterbury
Tags: insurance
Duration: 3'40"
17:50
Auditor General officials defend report slating Whanau Ora
BODY:
Officials from the Auditor-General's office have faced tough questions from MPs about the office's critical report on Whanau Ora.
Topics: te ao Maori
Regions:
Tags: Whanau Ora
Duration: 3'51"
17:55
Ministry refit blows out to $400,000-plus
BODY:
A government ministry refit at its Wellington head office has blown out - doubling to more than $400 000.
Topics: politics, economy
Regions:
Tags:
Duration: 3'50"
17:57
Surgeons in Britain have performed the world's first bionic eye implant on a patient with the most common cause of sight loss in the developed world. An 80-year old man with age-related macular degeneration was fitted with the implant, which previously had only been given to people with a rare form of blindness. The BBC's Fergus Walsh, had exclusive access to the operation