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 29 JULY 2014
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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Fish and Game is back to square one in its fraught relationship with the Minister of Conservation after hearing Nick Smith speak out in the House this afternoon. Earlier its Chief Executive, Bryce Johnson, had emerged from a regular meeting with the Prime Minister saying he felt reassured Dr Smith was not going to strip his group of its statutory role to speak up to protect rivers and lakes or its money supply to do that. But then came these exchanges in Parliament, when Nick Smith was challenged by the Green Party and Labour about what went on at his meeting with Fish and Game's governing council earlier this month. CUT Now the assurance Bryce Johnson felt about Fish and Game's future after talking to John Key has evaporated. i/v
Frustrated Air New Zealand passengers stuck in Hawaii say they feel like they're in Groundhog Day, with their flight postponed for a third night in a row. A replacement part for the stricken plane is en-route to Honolulu, but the airline says it can't be fixed until the early hours of the morning. Passengers say it's no holiday - and they only find out about the next delays when they go to check in at the airport. This man from Christchurch, who didn't want to be named, says they were supposed to leave this afternoon. CUT The passenger says people are frustrated at the lack of information from the airline. CUT Air New Zealand, declined to be interviewed but say the flight should eventually leave tomorrow morning. Our reporter, Lauren Baker, has been following the story. i/v
An inquest has heard evidence the balloonist killed in Carterton with 10 of his passengers had been caught cheating in a pilot's exam. And there were also four complaints to the Civil Aviation Authority about Mr Hopping in the two years or so before the crash, but CAA took no action against him and now admits that no one would ever have flown with Mr Hopping if they had known what went on. A CAA manager, Chris Ford under questioning by a lawyer Alistair Sherriff said investigators did nothing except continue to monitor Mr Hopping's balloon operation. CUT Chris Ford agreed that Civil Aviation only conducted an independent inquiry into Mr Hopping two months after the balloon crash. Earlier in the day, Fiona Rouse, whose parents, Ann and Des Deans died in the crash, read an emotional statement to the inquest. CUT Our Court reporter, Ann Marie May has been at the inquest. i/v
Thames Police say they don't believe a home invasion last night, in which two people were shot by masked assailants was a random attack. The 17-year-old woman and the 18-year-old man who were shot had to be tracked down by the police after initially discharging themselves from hospital in the early hours of this morning. The 73 year-old occupant of the house was also injured in the attack. Detective Sergeant Martyn Hughes says they want to hear from anyone who might have information about the attack, including potential sightings of a flat deck ute. i/v
The weightlifter Richie Patterson has dramatically won gold at the Commonwealth Games, with all his medal hopes depending on his final lift. He's one of six New Zealand athletes to win a medal on day five in Glasgow. Ryan Bridge has more. PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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Fonterra has slashed its forecast payout from seven dollars to six dollars per kilo of milk solids, blaming volatility in world milk prices. Fonterra says dairy auction prices have fallen 16 percent since the start of the season at the beginning of June, which it blames on strong global production, a build up of stocks in China and weaker demand in some emerging countries. It says the drop in the forecast payout will hurt farmers' incomes. With us now is Fonterra's chief executive Theo Spierings. i/v
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17.35 MARKET UPDATE
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Election battle lines are being drawn with New Zealand First now firmly ruling out working with the Maori Party or Mana in government. Labour's also coming under pressure over its willingness to work with Internet Mana, despite its objection to MPs coming to Parliament on the coat-tail of the winner of an electorate seat. Here's our parliamentary chief reporter, Jane Patterson. PKG
The Crown says a teenager subjected a homeless man to a sustained and brutal attack before leaving him for dead in an Auckland city alleyway. Steven Churchis has denied murdering Edwin Linder. The 18-year-old sat in the dock at the High Court in Auckland with his head bowed as Crown prosecutor John Dixon made his closing arguments today. Our reporter Edward Gay has been in court . i/v
In Washington, there are growing signs of a rift with Israel over accusations that the United States is siding with Hamas in efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. It follows a torrent of Israeli criticism at the weekend that focused on the Secretary of State, John Kerry after a confidential ceasefire proposal was leaked to Israeli news media. The White House correspondent for the US political website, Politico is Josh Gerstein. He says the Obama administration has been quick to jump to the defence of America's top diplomat i/v
Mental health specialists are hoping a plan to extend the Mason Clinic's Maori Unit will encourage other services to follow suit. The country's largest forensic psychiatry provider wants to double the size of its Maori unit because of its success in rehabilitation. PKG
The Finance Minister has rejected Labour Party criticism that the economy has got worse, not better, under the National-led Government. During Parliament's Question Time, Bill English said the pre-election economic and fiscal update would show things are much better now than when Labour left office in 2008. Here's our political editor Brent Edwards. PKG
New Zealand aerospace company, Rocket Lab, has unveiled a light weight rocket design it hopes will revolutionise the space industry, by putting satellites into orbit cheaper and faster than before. Measuring just 18 metres in length, but reaching speeds of 27,500km/h , the launch known as 'Electron' would cost around five million US dollars. Rocket Lab founder, Peter Beck, says it's all about eliminating the commercial barriers to space i/v
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Presenter: Liz Banas, Jim Mora
Editor: Maree Corbett
Deputy editor: Phil Pennington
Producers: Jo Leavesley, Mei Yeoh, Sharon Brettkelly