Checkpoint for Thursday 9 April 2009

6:56 PM.Thirty tui have been flown by helicopter to Otanerito Bay on Banks Peninsula, in a bid to re-populate the area with the birds. Audio

6:53 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

6:36 PM.This week the former Prime Minister Helen Clark bowed out of New Zealand politics after 27 years in Parliament. Audio

6:33 PM.An update from the RNZ sports team. Audio

6:25 PM.Auckland's annual Royal Easter Show opened its gates today, and after 166 years the 4-day festival is going back to its roots. Audio

6:21 PM.The ruling reverses an earlier decision by the High Court, but the interim government says it is planning to appeal. Audio

6:18 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:16 PM.A United States Navy warship has arrived at the scene of a ship hijacking off the coast of Somalia. Audio

6:11 PM.The BBC's Lucy Williamson joins us from Jakarta. Audio

6:08 PM.New research has found harmful use of drugs and alcohol costs New Zealand a hefty 6.8 billion dollars a year. Audio

6:06 PM.The family of an 85 year old man who was assaulted at a retirement village has called his attacker a cowardly animal. Audio

5:57 PM.Guest nights for February were the lowest in ten years, according to figures just released by Statistics New Zealand. Audio

5:53 PM.In the US Masters, New Zealand hopes will be riding on golfing teenage sensation Danny Lee. Audio

5:49 PM.The first funerals have taken place for the victims of Monday's earthquake which killed 272 people in central Italy. Audio

5:46 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

5:42 PM.Our correspondent Norman Hermant joins us from Bangkok. Audio

5:39 PM.Green MP Sue Bradford has made a claim that a group of workers from Myanmar have been the victims of institutional racism. Audio

5:36 PM.The chairs of State Owned Enterprises have just begun a meeting at the Beehive with the Finance and SOE Ministers. Audio

5:33 PM.An update from the RNZ sports team. Audio

5:26 PM.The High Court has heard scientific opinion that supports the Crown theory that David Bain shot his father Robin. Audio

5:24 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:21 PM.The MetService says Easter weekend weather is looking up for most of the country. Audio

5:18 PM.A 25 year old Southland man who admitted raping a European tourist has been sentenced to 10 years in jail. Audio

5:13 PM.Karolaine Maika gave birth on a flight to Auckland last month, leaving the infant in the aircraft's toilet cubicle. Audio

5:08 PM.An 85 year old man was assaulted during a home invasion at a retirement village in South Auckland today. Audio