Checkpoint for Thursday 28 May 2009

6:56 PM.Seven bulls caught fire and died at a Dairy Flat farm near Auckland on Tuesday after power lines fell on a bull paddock. Audio

6:54 PM.The dramatic renewal of North Korea's confrontational activity is emerging as a major test for the Obama administration. Audio

6:51 PM.Australia's number of confirmed cases of swine flu jumped to 103 today, and the government has announced it will be buying 10 million extra anti-viral treatments. Audio

6:49 PM.The recession is causing energy companies to cut back on the search for new oil and gas fields. Audio

6:47 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

6:44 PM.A backlash against laws aimed at cracking down on boy racers is being suggested as the reason for an attack on a female security officer last night. Audio

6:40 PM.The government will inject an extra 259.9 million dollars into the probation service over the next four years. The extra funding will be used to recruit another 134 probation officers, 26 frontline… Read more Audio

6:37 PM.The Minister of Agriculture, David Carter, says the government will invest 70 million dollars annually, which will be matched dollar for dollar by the industry. Audio

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

6:27 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:22 PM.For more reaction to the Budget, we're joined by our Business Editor, Patrick O'Meara. Audio

6:18 PM.Education groups say they were expecting bad news from the Budget and the government delivered. Audio

6:13 PM.Major boosts to the health workforce, and the stretched health infrastructure are features of today's Budget announcement. Audio

6:10 PM.Bill English's Budget has achieved the Government's aim of avoiding a credit rating downgrade. Audio

6:06 PM.Bill English is labelling his first Budget a turning point that puts New Zealand on the road to recovery. Audio

5:57 PM.The brother of a Porirua police officer killed in the line of duty says he has no faith in the system after the man responsible was sentenced to less than 9 years jail. Audio

5:55 PM.One of the country's youngest convicted killers has avoided a prison term despite a pre-sentence report recommending he be sent back to jail for assaulting his girlfriend Audio

5:51 PM.The Maori Party Co leader Dr Pita Sharples. Audio

5:48 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

5:43 PM.Automatic payments to the Superannuation Fund are to be suspended for a decade - due to the dire state of the government's books. Audio

5:38 PM.Political editor Brent Edwards discusses today's budget. Audio

5:35 PM.A South Auckland high school was locked down this afternoon after several students were confronted by a man with a gun. Audio

5:32 PM.An update from the RNZ sports team. Audio

5:26 PM.Standard and Poors has revised its outlook on New Zealand from negative to stable, and affirmed its double A plus rating, after what it calls a sound budget. Audio

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

5:20 PM.The family of an innocent bystander killed by police during a motorway siege say they are shocked nobody will be charged over his death. Audio

5:16 PM.Joining us is the Labour Party's finance spokesperson, David Cunliffe. Audio

5:11 PM.Finance Minister Bill English. Audio

5:07 PM.Bill English has delivered his first Budget and it's being described as one for the book-keepers. Audio

2:56 PM.Brent Edwards, Nigel Stirling and Patrick O'Meara discuss the business communities response to the Budget and New Zealand's debt levels. Audio

2:54 PM.Karen Brown discusses what has been delivered for New Zealand's health services. Audio

2:53 PM.Gail Woods on outcomes for Education. Audio

2:52 PM.Todd Niall looks at whether or not Auckland will benefit from this years Budget. Audio

2:51 PM.Richard Pamatatau looks at what Pacific communites can expect from the Budget announcements. Audio

2:50 PM.Brent Edwards on how the Green Party and the Maori Party have contributed to this years budget. Audio

2:48 PM.Hon. Bill English, Minister of Finance, delivers his Budget 2009 speech. The road to recovery. Audio

2:46 PM.Brent Edwards, Nigel Stirling and Patrick O'Meara respond to the announcement of tax cuts being deferred. Audio

2:44 PM.Hon. Bill English, Minister of Finance, delivers his Budget 2009 speech. Tax cuts deferred. Audio

2:41 PM.Brent Edwards, Nigel Stirling and Patrick O'Meara respond the announcement of cuts to the super fund. Audio

2:34 PM.Hon. Bill English, Minister of Finance, delivers his Budget 2009 speech. Law and order, super fund contributions. Audio

2:31 PM.Health correspondent Karen Brown and Education correspondent Gail Woods respond to health and education announcements. Audio

2:26 PM.Hon. Bill English, Minister of Finance, delivers his Budget 2009 speech. Health and Education. Audio

2:21 PM.Brent Edwards, Nigel Stirling and Patrick O'Meara respond to part 2. Audio

2:17 PM.Hon. Bill English, Minister of Finance, gives an overview of his Budget 2009. Audio

2:14 PM.Brent Edwards, Nigel Stirling and Patrick O'Meara respond to part 1. Audio

2:07 PM.Hon. Bill English, Minister of Finance, outlines the context for his Budget 2009 speech. Audio

2:04 PM.Julian Robbins is in the debating chamber, waiting for the Budget speech to begin. Audio