Checkpoint for Friday 10 September 2010

6:57 PM.The plight of Earthquake victims in Christchurch has struck a chord with the pupils at an Auckland school. More than 300 pupils at Pasadena Intermediate, in the suburb of Point Chevalier, have donned… Read more Audio

6:54 PM.Last drinks have been called for Lincoln's Famous Grouse Hotel, which has been demolished after being irreparably damaged in Saturday's earthquake. Hundreds of people gathered to watch as a digger… Read more Audio

6:52 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

6:38 PM.Christchurch and its surrounding region now face a huge clean-up and rebuilding effort to restore homes, businesses, buildings and other infrastructure damaged by the quake. In Wellington the quake… Read more Audio

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

6:23 PM.Stronger global demand for dairy products and meat has lifted the country's purchasing power with the rest of the world. Official figures show the terms of trade rose 2 point 1 percent in the three… Read more Audio

6:08 PM.Eleven million dollars has been donated so far to the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal. It comes as the Government announced early details of a recovery plan for people wanting money to fix their damaged… Read more Audio

5:51 PM.Dozens of homes are on fire in San Francisco after an explosion near the city's international airport. There are huge plumes of smoke and flames shooting into the air - at least 15 people have been… Read more Audio

5:49 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

5:45 PM.Two earthquake scientists say the chance of a magnitude six aftershock hitting the Canterbury region is decreasing day by day and is now unlikely. A Victoria University professor in geophysics and a… Read more Audio

5:41 PM.The Earthquake Commission says it's likely homes in the Christchurch suburb of Bexley, which sank and cracked in Saturday's quake, will be rebuilt. People in the hardest hit areas of Canterbury have… Read more Audio

5:37 PM.Australia's competition watchdog says more than a million passengers a year will be worse off if Air New Zealand and Virgin Blue are allowed to join forces. The two companies want to collaborate on… Read more Audio

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

5:27 PM.The Ranfurly Shield is at stake again when Southland host North Harbour at the start of round seven in rugby's provincial championship. Audio

5:26 PM.The American pastor who's threatened to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11 now says his plans are"on hold"rather than cancelled. Terry Jones who leads a tiny church in Gainsville… Read more Audio

5:24 PM.The Prime Minister isn't ruling out the possibility of Defence security breaches following allegations a top official had lied on his CV. Audio

5:18 PM.Most primary and secondary students in Christchurch will return to school on Monday, but a lucky few have already been back to class. For others it'll be a longer wait. Audio

5:14 PM.Earthquake prone buildings in Christchurch are to be strengthened to new, higher standards. The new code was passed at an extraordinary council meeting today. Audio

5:07 PM.Donations to the Canterbury earthquake fund now total about $11 million. It comes as the Government announced early details of a recovery plan for people wanting money to fix their damaged homes or… Read more Audio

5:00 PM.Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, New standards for earthquake prone buildings in Christchurch, Some schools reopen, while others face permanent closure, PM says Defence Force's role to check CV, Plans… Read more Audio