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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 2 AUGUST 2013
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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New information released in the last hour shows the David Henry inquiry into the GCSB report leak asked for and received emails between the Fairfax reporter, Andrea Vance, and the MP Peter Dunne. The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has dumped hundreds of pages of information on the inquiry. Our Political Editor Brent Edwards is with us now.
I/V
And Peter Dunne has refused to appear on Checkpoint tonight.
Dozens of Wellington people were evacuated from their homes this afternoon while the army removed a 150 year old live bomb packed with shrapnel that could have exploded at any time. Senior Sergeant Hamish Milne says builders renovating a house in Newtown discovered the three kilogram artillery shell two days ago while digging holes for new piles. He says the police weren't called until this morning and the bomb was taken to nearby McAllister Park and blown up.
I/V
The Judge who today ruled the Defence Force has a high level of culpability over a soldier's death, says while it may be immune from a fine, it should not be immune from scrutiny. Private Michael Ross drowned last September when he fell from an inflatable boat into Lake Moawhango, near the Army's Waiouru Military Camp. The boat wasn't inflated properly and started to take on water when it hit a rough patch on the lake. Private Ross fell overboard into the freezing water loaded down with gear and with a useless life jacket that couldn't keep him afloat. The Defence Force last week admitted failing to ensure the 29-year old's safety. Judge Stephen O'Driscoll today convicted and discharged the Defence Force, saying it's a shame it hadn't improved safety earlier. Private Ross' family is pleased with that ruling. Its spokesperson is Charles Hohaia.
CUT
Our reporter Olivia Wix has been reading the judge's ruling.
I/V
A Nelson man who tried to steal a plane to fly it into the city's courthouse has been sent to prison for four years as punishment for a six hour rampage that included burglary and arson. Travis Doel was arrested at the Nelson Aero Club in March this year after breaking into a Sounds Air plane and trying to start it with a pocket knife. In the hours leading up to his arrest he set fire to two storage buildings where he thought his impounded car was and then drove into the front window of the Public Trust building. All up he caused more than 550 thousand dollars worth of damage.
The Crown lawyer in the case Jackson Webber says it's fortunate Doel was unable to get the plane started.
I/V
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS
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The Queenstown bouncer who stole security camera footage of the former England rugby captain, Mike Tindall, flirting with a woman in a bar has been sentenced to community service and a curfew on going out at night. The Invercargill District Court imposed the sentence on Jonathan Dixon after he was convicted of stealing the footage from the bar where he worked. Dixon says he'll appeal, as Steve Wilde reports from Invercargill.
PKG
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17. 30 HEADLINES
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Zimbabwe's disputed election has plunged the country back into a deep political crisis. Early results show president Robert Mugabe has won a landslide victory which will extend his 33 year rule. The African Union has declared the poll free and fair, but the scale of the win has only fed suspicions of widespread rigging - with Mugabe's long-time rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, describing the vote as a sham. Deborah Rice reports.
PKG
The Primary Industries Minister disagrees with his own department that the lack of staff was behind meat export delays to China. But Nathan Guy has had to admit that it does not have anywhere near enough staff in China to cope with a huge escalation in trade. Earlier this year, 100-million dollars worth of meat sat on Chinese docks for several weeks because of repeated mistakes by the Ministry for Primary Industries over its name change on export certificates. Here's our political reporter, Demelza Leslie.
PKG
The Far North Council has backed away from a confrontation with a Māori family over land ear-marked for the region's cycle trail. Police were called in last week when farmer Ron Wihongi parked his truck over the track - stopping work on the project. But they refused to shift Mr Wihongi without a trespass order, and the council's now trying a different tack. Lois Williams reports.
PKG
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17. 45 MANU KORIHI
Kia ora mai,
An Auckland University researcher has found that nearly a quarter of the country's blind children are Māori.
The study released in the New Zealand Medical Journal shows that 1 in every 1000 Māori children have some degree of visual impairment.
That related to 22 percent of the country's 800 blind tamariki. [children]
Dr Shuan [shaun] Dai says half of those cases are caused by problems with the brain, and not the structure of the eye.
However he says a third [1/3] are avoidable - a large proportion are caused by child abuse, or non-accidental injury.
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Primary export industries are working together to create career paths for tangata whenua.
Representatives from 14 of the country's leading export industries recently met - as part of the government's Māori Economic Development plan.
The advisory group includes members of Federated Farmers, NZ Oil and Gas, the Tourism Industry Association and Te Ohu Kaimoana.
Its chairman, Peter Douglas, says some of these industries are hiring staff from outside of New Zealand when there are many young Māori ready to work.
He says it's about finding them - and providing career paths that don't leave them in low skilled, low waged occupations.
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A kaitiaki or guardian over a lake near Levin says an agreement to clean up the waterway will help restore pride within his iwi of Muaūpoko.
Five organisations including the Department of Conservation and local government bodies, are to sign the Lake Horowhenua Accord this weekend.
The water quality of the rotomoana [lake] is considered polluted.
The Accord outlines problems, goals and how the group will improve the lake and the Hokio Stream.
The chair of the Lake Horowhenua Trust, Matthew Sword, says looking after the lake will give Muaūpoko members a sense of mana.
HORO-ACCORD-TP
IN the lake really
OUT something about it
DUR 20
Matthew Sword, of the Lake Horowhenua Trust.
The document's to be signed this Sunday at Kohuturoa Marae, west of Levin, at 11am.
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Students at a Māori school near Ōpōtiki in Eastern Bay of Plenty are learning life lessons from their elders - adding another dimension to the kura curriculum.
Kaumātua have from time to time been visiting Te Kura O Torere for the past five years, and teaching tamariki.
The principal, Hilda Patterson, says pupils have been taught traditional Māori games, waiata, history, practical skills and knowledge.
She says tikanga Māori or Māori culture is becoming increasingly important in the curriculum alongside numeracy and literacy.
Ms Patterson says the elders support provides guidance to the school and tamariki.
TORERE HILDA TP
IN FOR THE KURA
OUT OF OUR KAUMATUA
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Hilda Patterson of Torere kura.
And that's Te Manu Korihi news.
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The mother of a boy who has diabetes says people are ending up in hospital because new meters are giving wrong blood sugar readings. But the drug buying agency Pharmac says the new meters are working well, and a patients' advocacy group is backing that. Our Health Correspondent, Karen Brown, reports.
PKG
The city of Cleveland will soon tear down the house in which kidnapper Ariel Castro held three women for a decade. Castro has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars for his horrific crimes. One of the women who survived Castro's torment, Michelle Knight, told the court that his hell is just beginning. She's been praised for her resilience and humanity by the psychiatrist who invented the term "Stockholm syndrome", to describe the feelings kidnap victims have towards their captors. Michael Vincent reports.
PKG
The British government is trying to stop US singer Kelly Clarkson taking a rare turquoise and gold ring once owned by Jane Austen out of the UK. The star, who won the American Idol TV show, bought the jewellery at auction last year for more than 150-thousand pounds. The ring is one of only three pieces of jewellery known to have belonged to the Pride and Prejudice author. Martin Vennard takes up the story:
PKG
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Presenter: Mary Wilson
Editor: Maree Corbett
Deputy editor: Phil Pennington
Producers: Susie Ferguson