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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 news system:
Checkpoint FOR FRIDAY 5 JULY 2013
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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Pike River Coal's main shareholder has all but ruled out paying reparation to the victims' families just hours after a judge suggested it should. Judge Jane Farish was applauded from the public gallery at the Greymouth District Court today when she fined the coal company 760 thousand dollars and ordered it to pay 3 point 41 million in reparation. But the company's in receivership and there's only 156 thousand dollars of insurance money left for the 29 victims' families and two survivors. The single biggest shareholder New Zealand Oil and Gas says it wonders if the judge realises it has already made a significant contribution. We'll hear from Oil and Gas shortly. And with nowhere else to go, the victims' families are now calling on the Government to set up a public-funded compensation scheme like the one that paid out 2 point 6 million after the Cave Creek disaster. And we'll also hear shortly from the families' lawyer. But first, our reporter Conan Young was in Court this morning for the sentencing.
PKG
It seems very unlikely that Oil and Gas will cover the reparations. The Chief Executive Andrew Knight wouldn't give a direct "no" saying he needs to study the judge's comment further to see if she realises the company has already made a significant contribution to the families. He says O and G gave 25 million dollars to Pike River Coal's receivers.
PREREC
The lawyer for some of the Pike River families Nicholas Davidson is calling on the Government to step in and give them money in the way compensation was paid to those caught up in the Cave Creek tragedy. The Prime Minister's office says John Key won't comment while matters are still before the courts - Pike River's former chief executive Peter Whittall goes on trial later this year. Mr Davidson says all the families have now is an ineffectual court ruling.
PREREC
Two of the Government's leading departments are struggling to do their jobs in the face of on-going financial constraint. The difficulties of the Treasury and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet are outlined in Budget papers released this afternoon. In the case of the Prime Minister's Department, though, it has got more money to help. Our political editor Brent Edwards has been looking at the papers.
LIVE
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH JENNY RUTH
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The United States is calling on Egypt's new interim president to return speedily to an ELECTED civilian government and avoid arbitrary arrests. The Muslim Brotherhood has called out its supporters for what it calls a day of rejection. It plans mass protests tonight after Friday prayers. The BBC's Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen reports from Cairo :
PKG
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17. 30 HEADLINES
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Scotland Yard has announced it'll launch a new investigation into the disappearance in 2007 of the British girl Madeleine McCann.
After a government funded review of all the evidence that's come to light in the case so far, British police say they have fresh theories about the case and genuinely new lines of inquiry. And they insist Madeleine McCann may still be alive. Mary Gearin reports from London :
PKG
Northland leaders are challenging civil aviation rules that are disrupting Air New Zealand flights to Whangārei. Restrictions that came into force last month, mean that planes with a full load of passengers can no longer land at Onerahi airport in bad weather. Lois Williams reports:
PKG
The Government has abandoned a review of home-based learning and a leading early childhood group says that leaves thousands of children with sub-standard education and care. The Ministry of Education said today the review won't go ahead. That's despite two government advisory groups having said it's urgent. 100-million-dollars a year in subsidies goes to the sector, but some say it's being used in part to pay in-home caregivers to do housework. Our education correspondent, John Gerritsen, reports.
PKG
The heavy dome of an historic lighthouse teetering on a Christchurch cliff has defied a helicopter's attempts to lift it off. The salvage of the quake-damaged Godley Head lighthouse is being led by the Department of Conservation. Grant Campbell of DOC is with us now.
LIVE
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17. 45 MANU KORIHI
Kia ora mai, good evening,
A Ngāti Porou kaumātua based in Western Australia says the state government has given its permission for the Māori community in Mandurah to set up a kōhanga reo, or a Māori language pre-school.
In a recent report a Māori migration researcher, Paul Hamer, he says the Māori population in southern Perth had risen by 85 per cent.
Mr Hamer says a significant number of those migrants are Māori language speakers - especially Te Reo teachers who gave up their work in New Zealand and were drawn to the lucrative mining industry.
Kaua Te Rangi Tuhura, or Reverend Kuzie as he is known to most people, says the decision to create a kōhanga means the next generation of Māori being raised in Australia are able to learn their language.
WA-KOHANGA-TP
IN: THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN. . .
OUT: . . . ESTABLISHED IN MANDURAH.
DUR: 11"
Ngāti Porou kaumātua, Kaua Te Rangi Tuhura.
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Three iwi in Tauranga are teaming up with local authorities and the Crown to establish a co-governance framework for the Harbour and catchment.
It's part of negotiations for a deed of settlement for the Tauranga Moana Iwi Collective which includes Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Pūkenga.
Te Moana o Tauranga, as a collective, wanted the opportunity to have its relationship with Te Moana o Tauranga recognised and supported by way of the framework.
The Tauranga Moana Governance Group will consist of four iwi representatives and four Crown and local authorities representatives.
Charlie Tawhiao from Ngāi Te Rangi says the framework presumes the Harbour is in better need of care and attention and that it's not just of interest to iwi - but to others in the community, including commercial companies like the port.
TGA-HARBOUR-TP
IN: IT IS HAVING
OUT: . . . COLLABORATION WITH IWI.
DUR: 31"
Charlie Tawhiao from Ngāi Te Rangi - talking to our Bay of Plenty reporter, Lorna Perry.
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The Māori Women's Welfare League is paying tribute to the former Māori beauty queen and Rotorua District Councillor, Maureen Waaka.
Mrs Waaka died on Monday at the age of 70 - surrounded by her whānau in Rotorua hospital.
The league's National President Kataraina O'Brien says Maureen Waaka's passing prompted imagery of a stunning, diligent, graceful and dignified wahine that will be long imbedded in many people's minds.
She says when she rose to fame as Miss New Zealand in 1962, Māoridom was gripped with a huge sense of pride.
Unwittingly, Ms O'Brien says, Mrs Waaka made a difference in many lives, especially the esteem of wahine Māori.
Maureen Waaka was laid to rest yesterday at Kauae cemetery near Rotorua.
That's Te Manu Korihi news, I'll have a final bulletin in an hour.
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There's been more heavy criticism today of the Government's planned law change to allow the GCSB to spy on New Zealanders.
The Security and Intelligence Committee has heard the bill leaves the door wide open for intrusive and mass surveillance. And one objector has described the legislation itself is an act of terrorism.
Our political reporter, Liz Banas.
PKG
A Wellington financial adviser accused of running a 400 million dollar Ponzi scheme has made a second appearance in the Wellington District Court, without entering a plea. David Ross, of Ross Asset Management now faces eight charges, three new ones brought by the Financial Markets Authority, on top of five brought by the Serious Fraud Office. Ceinwen Curtis was in court
PKG
The Canterbury Regional Council wants to free up land for at least 40 thousand new sections across Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn, over the next 15 years. Some areas have already been identified for new subdivisions and under-developed suburbs are also being looked at. Lauren Baker reports.
PKG
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Presenter: Mary Wilson
Editor: Maree Corbett
Deputy editor: Phil Pennington
Producers: Craig McCulloch, Amelia Langford