Checkpoint for Thursday 14 October 2010

6:57 PM.The Silver Ferns are banking on their buildup in Singapore to give them the edge against Australia in the netball gold medal match. Audio

6:54 PM.The Law Society says there's widespread support among its members to make wearing gowns mandatory during district court trials and sentencings. Audio

6:51 PM.Wellington's new mayor Celia Wade-Brown narrowly won the vote with a campaign for light rail, better use of clean technologies and greater community action. But some of her pre-election proposals have… Read more Audio

6:45 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

6:42 PM.House sales improved slightly last month - but were still at their lowest September total for at least a decade. Audio

6:39 PM.A proposed Productivity Commission is already being criticised for lacking independence from the Government. Audio

6:38 PM.A search of an area near Bluff is underway for a helicopter which was reported overdue. Audio

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

6:29 PM.The Waitangi tribunal enquiry into Ngapuhi sovereignty claims is drawing to a close at a marae north of Kerikeri. The tribunal is investigating the events surrounding Ngapuhi's 1835 declaration of… Read more Audio

6:18 PM.A new report says pouring an extra $200 million into university education over the next five years as a one off investment would give the economy a significant and permanent boost. Audio

6:15 PM.The governor of Bali's Kerobokan prison has delivered a harsh report on Schapelle Corby, accusing her of faking mental illness. Audio

6:13 PM.The Minister of Revenue has strongly criticised three companies for charging the new GST rate of 15% on power and water for September. Audio

6:11 PM.Staff at the Chilean Embassy drank champagne, waved paper flags and sang their national anthem as the last of the 33 trapped miners was rescued. Audio

5:57 PM.US authorities have cracked what they're calling a vast network of Armenian gangsters who stole patient names and set up fake clinics in one of the biggest ever rip-offs of Medicare. Audio

5:54 PM.The Silver Ferns will fight Australia for Commonwealth Gold, having beaten Jamaica for a place in the final. The New Zealand team beat their trans-tasman rivals to win gold at the last Commonwealth… Read more Audio

5:51 PM.Gisborne growers are bracing for crop losses following heavy rain and flooding. Up to 200 millimetres of rain fell in the Gisborne area, forcing the evacuation of eight homes north of Tolaga Bay and… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

5:44 PM.A rowing crew in Otago has had a lucky escape following an encounter with an aggressive Sea Lion. Audio

5:40 PM.The mining saga has boosted the flagging popularity of the recently elected President Sebastian Pinera - just as copper mining has contributed to the rescue of Chile's economy. Audio

5:36 PM.Pacific community leaders and teachers are angry at the Education Ministry's decision to suspend a series of popular books for Pacific Island students. Audio

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

5:28 PM.New Zealand's victorious Sevens team has arrived back in the country after winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Audio

5:25 PM.Police Minister Judith Collins is being accused of putting pressure on the Police Commissioner to put guns in all police cars. Audio

5:23 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:21 PM.A plea from a daughter still seeking answers after 40 years could trigger another police investigation into one of the country's most famous unsolved cases. Audio

5:16 PM.Businesses in Canterbury have lashed out at one of the country's largest banks, accusing it of charging them high interest to cover their losses from past mistakes. Audio

5:13 PM.The Government's income has slumped as it recorded a $6.3 billion deficit for the financial year ended June the 30th. While the Government spent the same as it did the previous year, its tax income… Read more Audio

5:09 PM.33 miners spent up to 70 days trapped 622 metres under ground. 54 year old Luis Urzua who was the shift leader at the time of the collapse, was the last miner out of the underground chamber. Audio

5:00 PM.Government accounts in deficit, Chilean Embassy celebrates miners' rescue, Last Chilean miner rescued, Last Chilean miner rescued, Canterbury businesses lash out at National Bank, Daughter wants… Read more Audio