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 TUESDAY 8 APRIL 2014
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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A senior Auckland police detective remains suspended over a sex complaint as an employment investigation goes on despite police deciding today not to lay any criminal charges. Detective Inspector Mark Gutry was stood down in December. The police refused to come on Checkpoint, as did Mark Gutry's lawyer. Our reporter Edward Gay is covering the story and joins us now.
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Massive make-shift communities are dotted all around the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara - as at least twelve thousand people shelter in the flood devastated city. Twenty three people are now dead and dozens more are still missing after the main river burst its banks last week. The New Zealand government has upped it's relief contribution - providing 1. 5 million dollars to an estimated fifty thousand people caught up in the disaster. And, as international aid continues to pour in, so to are the stories of survival - like that of eight year old Isaiah Andrew who clung to a bobbing piece of wood at sea - while the rest of his family were washed away. Katie Greenwood is the director for Oxfam in the Solomon Islands and is running their aid operation there:
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The Labour leader, David Cunliffe, has taken a jab at the Prime Minister over the royal visit, suggesting John Key is tagging along to make the most of the extra camera time. But Winston Peters says he feels sorry for Prince George being caught up in what he calls subservient photo opportunity behaviour by politicians. Here's our political reporter, Craig McCulloch.
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The Auckland Softball Association says it doesn't allow one of its staff convicted of sexually grooming a 12 year old girl any contact with children who play the sport. But it says that could change for the next summer season because the man's court-ordered supervision will have ended. Kevin McMillan was convicted in 2012 when he was 19. He'd been a teacher aide and court reports at the time say he sent the girl 400 text messages - some asking about her sexual history - before arranging to meet her outside school hours. The association put out a statement this afternoon responding to accusations that he helped oversee a tournament for nine and ten year old girls two weeks ago. The Association's Shaun Singleton says McMillan was hired last September.
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS with Jenny Ruth
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An Australian at the centre of a price fixing cartel that forced Fonterra to pay more for its cardboard packaging has been ordered to pay nearly 100-thousand-dollars (98,352). The Environment Court has backed the author Patricia Grace and ordered that her ancestral land cannot be taken for a highway north of Wellington. The Court 's ruling today blocks the Transport Agency from taking 980 square metres of a much larger section of Ms Grace's land at Waikanae for the multi million dollar Kapiti Expressway. Te Manu Korihi reporter Leigh McLachlan is covering the story.
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17. 30 HEADLINES
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An elderly couple were held hostage in their own bedroom by a crowbar-wielding man while another man ransacked their house. The New Lynn couple's home was invaded early on Sunday. Detective Sargeant Eugene Pickett says several sentimental possessions were stolen during the frightening ordeal.
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Business confidence is maintaining its 20-year high in the latest survey. The Institute of Economic Research's March quarterly survey of nearly 700 firms (661) found a net 52 percent of firms expect economic conditions to improve, unchanged from the December quarter. Trading activity, which closely mirrors economic growth, accelerated to its fastest pace since 2003. The principal economist at the institute is Shamubeel Eaqub.
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Government members of the Commerce Select Committee have rejected a Labour move to call in a supermarket company over a letter the committee's acting chair has described as menacing, if not intimidating . The government members say they blocked the request at an urgent closed meeting this afternoon because it was a political stunt by Labour's Clayton Cosgrove. Here's our political reporter, Chris Bramwell.
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Christchurch commuters are tonight bracing for more traffic jams on central city streets clogged by road works. 40 or so workers are doing quake repairs within the four main avenues, including Durham and Montreal streets that are down to one lane. The Christchurch City Council's Transport and Greenspace manager, John Mackie, says the next two months will be the peak of intense repairs.
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John Mackie says this morning's jams were not as bad as yesterday. Drivers on Christchurch's central Durham Street sat bumper to bumper travelling into the city this morning.
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Josh Whitau (FITO) is helping get the traffic moving around roadworks in Durham Street. He says drivers over the past two days have been understanding but he sees people's frustration through his job.
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Our reporter Jemma Brackebush is on the intersection of Hereford and Montreal Streets in downtown Christchurch
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17. 45 MANU KORIHI with Eru Rerekura
Kia ora mai good evening,
The Environment Court's ruled the Crown should stop its move to take the Maori land of author Patricia Grace for a new road north of Wellington.
The Transport Agency acquired a 980 square metre section of Ms Grace's Waikanae land under the Public Works Act for part of the Kāpiti Expressway.
Leigh McLachlan has more.
GRACE-RULETMK-VCR
IN: THE ENVIRONMENT. . .
OUT: . . . SOC
DUR: 35"
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The Pākehā architect who worked on designs for Te Papa Museum and the new tribal headquarters for Tuhoe has died.
Ivan Mercep was 83-years-old.
He's described by his peers as the quiet achiever of New Zealand architecture.
In 2008 he was the recipient of the New Zealand Institute of Architect's Gold Medal - in recognition of his 50 years of service to the industry.
He was the lead designer of the recently opened Tuhoe building - Te Wharehou o Tuhoe - where he developed a great rapport with the local iwi.
A colleague, Rau Hoskins, says in the 1970s Mr Mercep was one of the few Pākehā architects who made an effort to understand Māori and Pacific cultures and what they wanted to achieve with their designs.
Ivan Mercep is the father of the Radio New Zealand presenter, Simon Mercep.
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The National MP, Tau Henare, has paid tribute to fellow members of the Maori Affairs Select Committee as he announces his retirement from politics.
The former Maori Affairs Minister has been a National list MP since 2005.
Tau Henare told Radio New Zealand there's some frustration and disappointment that he was not a minister under National.
But he says he's chaired the Maori Affairs Select Committee and thinks its members have done a good job with a big workload.
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A senior law lecturer says people need to start focusing on practical solutions to address what's been called a systemic bias against Maori in the criminal justice system.
A visiting United Nations delegation, which reports to its Human Rights Council, says the Government needs to investigate the bias.
A Victoria University law lecturer, Mamari Stephens, who specialises in Maori in the legal system, says there are many areas that need to be changed.
She says at every point before sentencing, the nature of the contact with police, social workers, probation officers and the judiciary can be improved.
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A founding father of a ground-breaking Maori radio station says he's pleased two tribes are intervening in the running of the broadcaster.
There are plans for the licence for Wellington-based Te Upoko o Te Ika to come under Taranaki Whanui and Ngati Toa.
A veteran announcer of the station, Henare Kingi, says the operation is struggling and needs help from the local iwi.
RADIO-FATHER-TP
IN I'D HATE TO. . .
OUT. . . IS HAVING NOW
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The radio announcer Henare Kingi, who still says the morning prayers on Te Upoko o Te Ika.
That's Te Manu Korihi news, I'll be back after 6:45.
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In Ukraine, authorities say least seventy separatists who tried to storm the regional government's main administration buildings are now under arrest. Russia though is warning Kiev to stop massing military forces to suppress anti-government protests in southeastern Ukraine in case it leads to an outbreak of civil war. And, the United States has warned it will tighten its grip on Russia's economy if Moscow presses ahead into Eastern Ukraine. The Whitehouse spokesperson Jay Carney says any further efforts by Russia to destabilise Ukraine would incur serious costs.
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Our Correspondent in Washington is Lorna Shaddick
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Pouring vinegar on the welts caused by the sting of the deadly box jellyfish has been the recommended first aid treatment for decades - now scientists believe that might do more harm than good. Australian researchers from Queensland's James Cook University and Cairns Hospital have found that vinegar increases the discharge of more box jellyfish venom. The ABC's Brendan Trembath reports.
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Presenter: Mary Wilson
Editor: Phil Pennington
Producers: Meg Fowler, Mei Yeoh, Danielle Maoate-cox