Radio NZ staff on strike, Checkpoint off-air

Radio New Zealand staff were striking today between 4.00pm and 6.00pm, affecting some of the state broadcaster's afternoon radio programmes.

Staff belonging to the PSA and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union will walk off the job after failing to reach agreement during negotiations over a new collective contract.

Concert FM would not be affected, communications manager John Barr said.

National Radio announced at 5pm that due to the industrial action, it was unable to broadcast its hour-long Checkpoint hosted by Mary Wilson, and instead it linked up with the BBC World Service's Science in Action programme

Earlier Mr Barr had said: "We will be maintaining the highest quality programming at all times."

- NZPA