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Checkpoint

RNZ
New Zealand
Auckland
Wellington
Christchurch
Australia
Crusaders
United Kingdom
United States
Cricket
Air New Zealand
All Blacks
Education
Social Housing
Reserve Bank Of New Zealand
Iran
Christopher Luxon
LIV Golf
Donald Trump
New Zealand Rugby
Olympics

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 Andy Burnham preparing to step in as Prime Minister, as well as controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan who have been arrested in the US on British charges.

A police National Security Group senior staff member has faced a grilling today over what efforts were made to divert LynnMall attacker Ahamed Samsudeen from the path of violent extremism. Samsudeen was shot dead by police in a West Auckland Woolwort... more

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Spain etched their name into the history books as winners of the first ever 48 team, 104 match FIFA World Cup. A one-nil victory over a 10 man Argentina in New Jersey secured La Roja's second World Cup title. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Li... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Nicole McKee
Deputy Leader, ACT
ACT Party
Episode: ACT announces three strikes policy for burglary
Ruth Money
Chief Victims' Advisor
New Zealand public sector victim support
Episode: More than 50 child protection complaints re-opened
John Crawshaw
Director of Mental Health for the Ministry
Ministry of Health
Episode: Investigation into alleged torture at Wakari Hospital could take months
Megan Woods
Labour Energy spokesperson
Labour Party
Episode: Labour matches National's solar policy
Simeon Brown
Energy Minister
National Party
Episode: Labour matches National's solar policy
Haley Elizabeth Dickinson
Vigil organiser for the Wai Ong community
Wai Ong community
Episode: Australian police investigating death of four year old boy
Nona Pouncey
Retail analyst/commentator providing insights on NZ retail and e-commerce
Episode: Evening business for 7 July 2026
Todd Westwood
SPCA Chief Executive
SPCA
Episode: Whisker to whisker for calendar competition
Nyssa Skorgee
Owner and founder of Wellington Flock Birdcare
Wellington Flock Birdcare
Episode: Wellington blusters bringing in more injured birds

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
#79
New Zealand/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Nigel Farage resigns amid controversy
Q: He's going to stand for his seat again in a by-election. What is the latest?
Lisa Owen notes that Farage's by-election bid comes amid investigations over undeclared benefits and a large donation, with major opponents abstaining from standing against him, creating a distinctly atypical campaign dynamic.
Wellington Rugby meets with referees to find solution to increased abuse
Q: Let's talk about the Wellington Rugby CEO Tony Giles's take on last night's discussions.
Giles explained that the meeting was forward-looking, focusing on an MOU to bridge gaps between the union and the referees association and on education and collaboration to support referees this season.
Investigation into alleged torture at Wakari Hospital could take months
Q: How long will the investigation take to produce a result?
Usually, these take at least a month because there are many people who have to be spoken to.
Investigation into alleged torture at Wakari Hospital could take months
Q: Are the district inspectors who conducted regular inspections the ones doing the independent review?
There will be a range of district inspectors involved, and the ministry will choose who to use, ensuring independence from the services.
Investigation into alleged torture at Wakari Hospital could take months
Q: When you say independent investigation, who's conducting that?
An independent investigation will be conducted by district inspectors who are statically independent lawyers with functions under the IDCCNR act.

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 listeners does Checkpoint get?

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How many subscribers and views does Checkpoint have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Checkpoint has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Checkpoint?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Checkpoint:

1. Nine To Noon
2. The Detail
3. Saturday Morning
4. Sunday Morning
5. Mediawatch

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. Nicole McKee
2. Ruth Money
3. John Crawshaw
4. Megan Woods
5. Simeon Brown
6. Haley Elizabeth Dickinson
7. Nona Pouncey
8. Todd Westwood

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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