Checkpoint

Thursday 31 May 2012, with Mary Wilson

Audio from Thursday 31 May 2012

Not all audio is available due to copyright restrictions.

  • Checkpoint Top Stories for Thursday 31 May 2012 ( 23′ 45″ )

    17:00 NZAIMS calls for boycott of Ministry of Education; Manawatu Gorge reopens for first time in nine months; Third day of grilling over class sizes for Education Minister; Milk price review met with scepticism by Fonterra rivals; and a Manhunt in Canada over body parts in the mail.

  • NZAIMS calls for boycott of Ministry of Education ( 6′ 47″ )

    17:08 Intermediate Schools have fired a warning shot over class sizes with the call going out for a boycott of the Ministry of Education. And pressure's ratcheted up further on the Minister Hekia Parata whose post-budget breakfast meeting with Porirua business leaders was gate-crashed by a hundred protesters.

  • Manawatu Gorge reopens for first time in nine months ( 2′ 26″ )

    17:14 After more than 280 days closed by massive landslides, the Manawatu Gorge road has been reopened, though only one lane. One-way traffic from Woodville to Ashhurst began rolling through the gorge at about four o'clock, for the first time since August.

  • Evening Business for 31 May 2012 ( 2′ 21″ )

    17:21 News from the business sector including a market report.

  • Manhunt in Canada over body parts in the mail ( 4′ 47″ )

    17:24 A nationwide manhunt is underway in Canada for 29-year-old, Luka Rocco Magnotta, who is suspected of sending packages containing severed human limbs to political parties.

  • Parents of triplets plan to hold funeral in NZ ( 2′ 57″ )

    17:28 Tthe family of the creche-owner, who has been detained after the fatal mall fire that killed 19 people, has questioned the response time of rescue teams - and says the owner tried to save the children herself.

  • Sports News for 31 May 2012 ( 3′ 21″ )

    17:33 An update from the team at RNZ Sport.

  • Opposition to Fonterra's TAF scheme ( 4′ 36″ )

    17:37 An opponent of Fonterra's controversial ownership scheme says his fears of huge rifts and divisions among farmers have been confirmed, by documents sent out about the plans.

  • Survey suggests meth use has dropped by half ( 2′ 42″ )

    17:41 The once widely touted approaching P epidemic is fizzling out with new figures suggesting the number of people using the drug has halved.

  • NZ Soldiers providing support for PNG election ( 3′ 42″ )

    17:44 The Foreign Affairs Minister says the soldiers being sent to Papua New Guinea are there to help people vote in next month's election not to get embroiled in any political violence. Three Iriquois helicopters and 40 people from the Air Force will be part of a contingent of about 250, with the remaining from the Australian military.

  • Manu Korihi News for 31 May 2012 ( 3′ 36″ )

    17:48 The Chairman of Ngati Porou says the Gisborne Council has failed to honour its Treaty of Waitangi obligation, over plans for a flood protection scheme on the East Coast; South Taranaki iwi representatives opposed to a water privatisation bill appeared before a Select Committee in Wellington this morning; Northern iwi who launched a new broadband venture today have paid tribute to the Chinese company that's financed it; A new group has been formed to oversee the Bay of Plenty's Rangitaiki River and its catchments.

  • Painters find 60-thousand in coins on roadside ( 3′ 34″ )

    17:52 Two Christchurch painters had a lucky find today, stumbling across about 60-thousand dollars in coins lying in bags on the side of the road. The police say it appears a pallet of coins fell off a freight truck coming from the BNZ in Invercargill and heading to the security firm, ACM Services.

  • Papers filed to dismiss the US case against Kim Dotcom ( 3′ 40″ )

    17:55 Papers have been filed to dismiss what's described as the flawed case against Kim Dotcom. The Megaupload founder faces extradition to the US on charges of internet piracy and money laundering in what's been called the largest criminal copyright case in the world.

  • Third day of grilling over class sizes for Education Minister ( 3′ 53″ )

    18:08 The Government's class sizes policy has spurred a third day of confrontation, both in the street and in Parliament, followed by the call for a mass boycott.

  • Milk price review met with scepticism by Fonterra rivals ( 2′ 35″ )

    18:12 Fonterra's rivals are sceptical of findings that the dairy co-operative isn't over-paying farmers for milk. A review by the Commerce Commission released today says Fonterra is complying with the rules set out in proposed dairy legislation when it sets its milk price

  • More veterans granted war pensions ( 3′ 17″ )

    18:19 The Government is putting up nearly $5 million to extend war pension coverage for an extra 11-hundred veterans. The Minister of Veteran Affairs, Nathan Guy, says the money will be spent over the next four years to those who served in 10 additional military deployments.

  • Evening Business for 31 May 2012 ( 3′ 47″ )

    18:21 Rising premuims have forced many to opt out of their private health insurance. But the not-for-profit health insurer, Southern Cross, is trying to reverse that trend.

  • Councillor says they must have the right to speak out ( 3′ 39″ )

    18:26 A Family Court Councillor says children will pay the price for the Government's decision to charge people court fees to settle their relationship disputes.

  • Family Budgeting Service warns of low mortgage interest rates ( 2′ 42″ )

    18:29 Banks are rejecting criticism they're letting people 'go for broke' and borrow as much as they possibly can right now, while home loan rates are low.

  • Sports News for 31 May 2012 ( 3′ 40″ )

    18:34 An update from the team at RNZ Sport.

  • Protestors greet Brownlee at recovery strategy launch ( 5′ 06″ )

    18:37 The Earthquake Recovery Minister's released what he says is a how-to strategy for the rebuild following the Canterbury earthquakes. Gerry Brownlee says the strategy for improving investment, innovation and job creation will extend beyond economic recovery and into education, culture and social recovery.

  • Celebration as iwi broadband goes live in north ( 3′ 49″ )

    18:43 It's an historic day for three northern iwi - with the launch of the first Maori-owned broadband network in New Zealand.

  • Manu Korihi News for 31 May 2012 ( 3′ 02″ )

    18:51 South Taranaki iwi representatives opposed to a water privatisation bill appeared before a Select Committee in Wellington this morning; The Chairman of Ngati Porou says the Gisborne Council has failed to honour its Treaty of Waitangi obligation with the iwi, over plans for a flood protection sheme on the East Coast; A new group has been formed to oversee the Bay of Plenty's Rangitaiki River and its catchments; Northern iwi who launched a new broadband venture today have paid tribute to the Chinese company that's financed it.

  • Tongariro Crossing safety rules tighten ( 2′ 21″ )

    18:54 Safety rules on the Tongariro Crossing are being tightened a month after a tourist operator dropped off a load of ill-equipped people in bad weather and they had to be rescued.

Checkpoint is Radio New Zealand’s award-winning drive-time news programme. Every weekday Mary Wilson presents the day’s major national and international stories, as well as business, sport and Māori news.

Monday to Friday, 5pm - 7pm

Edited by Maree Corbett

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