Checkpoint for Friday 21 August 2009

6:58 PM.An Australian man who won a $2 million Lotto prize waited for seven months before claiming his winnings, while he mentally prepared himself. Audio

6:54 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

6:43 PM.Polling has now closed in the Afghan election amid widespread claims of vote-rigging and corruption. Audio

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

6:28 PM.The police say two tourists who had to be rescued from the Nelson Lakes National Park yesterday were totally unprepared for the freezing alpine conditions. Audio

6:25 PM.The death of a fifth dog has led to renewed calls for people to stay off Auckland's Eastern Beaches, but one mayor is sticking to his guns telling locals to ignore the public health warnings. Audio

6:23 PM.Protestors in New Caledonia have said tomorrow will be a day of action aimed at winning the release of a jailed union leader. Audio

6:20 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:18 PM.Fletcher Building has been fined $170,000 over the death of a Nelson worker who was buried in sand inside the bin he was cleaning. Audio

6:12 PM.More Australians are choosing to holiday in New Zealand then ever before. Audio

6:08 PM.The country's largest listed company, Telecom, is putting a brave face on a 44% fall in its profits for the year to June. Audio

5:56 PM.A prominent New Zealand peace organistion is having its own civil war, with several board members walking out over questions about how taxpayer funding is spent. Audio

5:53 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

5:50 PM.A group occupying a building in the Northland town of Kaikohe and claiming Maori customary rights has lost an appeal to secure ownership - but intends to keep fighting. Audio

5:46 PM.Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee and Australian Minister Kim Carr have signed up to jointly host a $3.1 billion international science project, with the potential to revolutionise people's… Read more Audio

5:36 PM.The Libyan man convicted of the airliner boming over Lockerbie more than twenty years ago has returned home to Tripoli. Audio

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

5:28 PM.Statistics New Zealand have released new figures showing the number of visitors from across the Tasman jumped 20% in July compared with the same month a year ago. Audio

5:25 PM.Otago is playing host to what's being touted as one of the biggest snow sport events in the world - with over 800 athletes taking part. Audio

5:22 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:18 PM.The first-ever joint cabinet meeting between senior New Zealand Government ministers and their Australian counterparts is getting underway in Sydney. Audio

5:15 PM.Hard times have hit New Zealnd's largest listed company, Telecom, in the balance sheet. Audio

5:11 PM.Controversial Bluechip founder Mark Bryers has pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court to three charges relating to failed investments. Audio

5:07 PM.The police have launched a homicide investigation into the death of a three-year-old Palmerston North girl. Audio