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Artwork for Checkpoint

Checkpoint

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

Auckland Councillors have been deep in discussion about exactly where high rise housing should be built to allow for close to another million and a half homes in the next decade. The government back-tracked on asking council to allow for two million ... more

Australia correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Lisa Owen about new data, which has revealed that Australians are more miserable about their lot in life than ever before.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

A former Warrior has opened up about his off-field struggles with depression and substance abuse as he battled with his sexual identity. Kane Evans has become just the second NRL player in history to publicly come out as gay. Sports reporter Jonty Di... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Lou Browne
Middle East correspondent
RNZ
Episode: Middle East correspondent Lou Browne
Steve Goldthorpe
Retired energy systems analyst
Independent expert
Episode: Proposed LNG import facility at Port Taranaki faces opposition
Steve Francis
Community Energy Taranaki member
Community Energy Taranaki
Episode: Proposed LNG import facility at Port Taranaki faces opposition
Sarah Roberts
Energy Watch Taranaki representative
Energy Watch Taranaki
Episode: Proposed LNG import facility at Port Taranaki faces opposition
Mike Fuge
Chief Executive, Contact Energy
Contact Energy
Episode: Evening business for 27 May 2026
Billie Moore
New Zealand Airports Association CEO
New Zealand Airports Association
Episode: Airports anxious flight cuts will become permanent
Gyles Beckford
Economics correspondent for RNZ
RNZ
Episode: Official Cash Rate unchanged for now, but hikes on their way
Cynthia Hancocks
Representative from the National Council of Home Educators
National Council of Home Educators
Episode: Homeschool parents thrilled at backdown of law change
Jonty Dine
Sports reporter
RNZ
Episode: Crusaders coach's combative press conference

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
    Australia2 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
#54
New Zealand/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Australian bee species rediscovered in Christchurch
Q: What broader implications does this have for urban pollinator conservation?
The findings suggest that city gardens and diverse plantings can support pollinator diversity, and that urban spaces can play a meaningful role in conserving native bee populations.
Australian bee species rediscovered in Christchurch
Q: How did citizen science contribute to the discovery and understanding of this bee's distribution?
iNaturalist photos helped track past sightings and confirm broader distribution in Christchurch and Lincoln, showing that the species is likely established.
Australian bee species rediscovered in Christchurch
Q: What features help distinguish this bee from look-alikes in photos?
A distinctive orange-red shoulder pad over the wing, which helps differentiate it from other native bees, and is visible in photos.
Australian bee species rediscovered in Christchurch
Q: Can you tell us the bee's scientific name and how it was identified?
The bee is Leoproctus lonstonius; it was identified through lab work and DNA testing after samples were collected, revealing this species had been present in Christchurch all along.
Australian bee species rediscovered in Christchurch
Q: What makes this Aussie bee potentially useful for Christchurch gardens and farms?
The bee is a strong native pollinator, similar in impact to other native bees, and could contribute to crop pollination alongside honeybees and bumblebees.

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

Where can I find podcast stats for Checkpoint?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Checkpoint. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Checkpoint and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Checkpoint get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Checkpoint, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Checkpoint?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Checkpoint, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. The Detail
2. Sunday Morning
3. The Mike Hosking Breakfast
4. Morning Report
5. The Front Page

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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Checkpoint?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Checkpoint. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Checkpoint?

Recent guests on Checkpoint include:

1. Lou Browne
2. Steve Goldthorpe
3. Steve Francis
4. Sarah Roberts
5. Mike Fuge
6. Billie Moore
7. Gyles Beckford
8. Cynthia Hancocks

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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