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Checkpoint

RNZ
New Zealand
Auckland
United States
United Kingdom
Wellington
Crusaders
Christchurch
Australia
Air New Zealand
Petrol Prices
Education
Social Housing
Cuba
Liv Golf
Donald Trump
New Zealand Rugby
Cricket
Middle East
NHS
New Zealand Economy

Checkpoint with Lisa Owen is RNZ’s weekday drive-time news programme, Our people, stories and breaking news and interviews from 4-6pm.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1319Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for Checkpoint

Latest Episodes

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about reports suggesting Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering his future in office as pressure on him to step down continues to grow.

A disputed kiss led to a late-night confrontation after a cocktail party at Waiouru Military Camp, where a solider is accused of headbutting and threatening to kill someone of senior rank. The solider is facing a court martial over the fracas in Dece... more

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The All Whites have ended their unbeaten streak at the Football World Cup with a loss to Egypt. After 45 minutes, All Whites' supporters were daring to believe the team's first World Cup win was coming. But when the final whistle blew the All Whites ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Grace Thomas
Correspondent in London
RNZ
Episode: British PM accuses Elon Musk of political intereference
Kevin Boothby
Indoor bowls competitor; multiple national titles
Episode: Hundreds gather for Indoor Bowls Championships
Elijah Timmins-Scanlon
Model who worked for Huffer and raised concerns about AI-generated imagery in campaigns
Huffer (former model)
Episode: Model believes Huffer using AI generated models
Lillian Hanley
Political reporter accompanying the Prime Minister
RNZ
Episode: NZ PM in Australia
Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
New Zealand Government
Episode: NZ PM in Australia
Amanda Hacche
Owner of the missing dogs; spoke about the impact of the loss and the search efforts
Dog owner
Episode: Family's plea after support dogs stolen
Lou Browne
Correspondent in Doha for RNZ
RNZ
Episode: Hezbollah rejects ceasefire, Trump responds to Iran war vote
Alex Beattie
Victoria University Senior Lecturer researching internet use and online habits
Victoria University of Wellington
Episode: Research shows people spend nearly five years doom scrolling
Nick Coatsworth
Australia's former Deputy Chief Medical Officer
Health system (Australia)
Episode: Black market tobacco consumption on the rise in Australia

Host

Lisa Owen
Lead presenter of the programme, driving drive-time news coverage and interviews.

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 95 ratings
  • Too many posts

    Subscribed to 3 RNZ podcasts because I like the content, but the insane number of short episodes posted makes the entire podcast feed useless with all your other podcasts disappearing into the noise. Had to unsubscribe to reclaim my feed.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Matt150b
    New Zealand2 years ago
  • Poor production value, background noise.

    Despite txting in to let the studio know that we can here Lisa typing on her keyboard while the news reader does the headlines, which is terribly distracting, they choose not to make any changes. Catch ya later 👋

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    tomc1234567891
    New Zealand2 years ago
  • LOL

    OL

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    mnytdvloddem
    Australia3 years ago
  • Communication perhaps ❣️

    Could one please request a personal podcast from you , one only me could hear ..

    or does it have to be raining ?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dirac Field
    New Zealand3 years ago
  • Communication perhaps ❣️

    Could one please request a personal podcast from you , one only me could hear ..

    or does it have to be raining ?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dirac Field
    New Zealand3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate concise, timely updates during drive-time and the mix of hard news with policy context.
Some listeners note production quality issues and clutter in feeds, affecting listening experience.
Audience values credible reporting and a broad range of expert voices across topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#111
New Zealand/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Family's plea after support dogs stolen
Q: Tell me about the reward and what you're hoping to achieve by offering it?
The family has posted a $20,000 reward for the return of both dogs, with no questions asked, reflecting the depth of their commitment to getting the dogs back and the emotional toll the loss has taken on the household.
Family's plea after support dogs stolen
Q: Just in a nutshell, what happened on the day they went missing?
Amanda describes a rainy day when the dogs were indoors; she let them out to potty around two o'clock and spent about 15-25 minutes away before calling them back, after which they did not return, prompting a search that included driving the farm, checking paddocks, and enlisting help from neighbors and family.
Research shows people spend nearly five years doom scrolling
Q: What do you think our habits are like here?
Alex explains that New Zealanders' habits are likely similar to those in the UK, with people struggling to disconnect due to design choices on platforms, but encourages self-compassion and small, practical steps to regain control.
Black market tobacco consumption on the rise in Australia
Q: Nick Grimm asks what should be done about the illegal tobacco problem, and what policy options are on the table?
Experts discuss tightening border enforcement, possibly adjusting excise policy to reduce cheap illegal alternatives while balancing public health goals, and considering penalties to deter organized crime.
Hundreds gather for Indoor Bowls Championships
Q: What is the competition like today compared to the past?
It's very serious and requires deep concentration; players stay focused for long periods.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Checkpoint

What is Checkpoint about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Checkpoint delivers concise, drive-time coverage of national and international news, policy, and business with a clear focus on how decisions affect everyday life in New Zealand. Across recent episodes, topics span from UK policy and social-media regulation to LNG debates, energy transition, regional transport, budgeting, and education policy, often anchored by in-depth reporting, live updates, and expert or official voice guests. The show tends to mix hard news with policy analysis and local impact perspectives, making it particularly valuable for listeners who want quick, reliable context on issues shaping business, politics, and daily life. A notable strength is its ability to pair brisk reportage with on-the-ground takes from industry, ... more

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How many subscribers and views does Checkpoint have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Checkpoint?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Checkpoint:

1. Saturday Morning
2. The Detail
3. Sunday Morning
4. Mediawatch
5. Morning Report

How many episodes of Checkpoint are there?

Checkpoint launched 15 years ago and published 1319 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Checkpoint?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Checkpoint?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Checkpoint from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Checkpoint?

Recent guests on Checkpoint include:

1. Grace Thomas
2. Kevin Boothby
3. Elijah Timmins-Scanlon
4. Lillian Hanley
5. Prime Minister
6. Amanda Hacche
7. Lou Browne
8. Alex Beattie

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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