Checkpoint for Monday 18 April 2011

6:48 PM.In an unprecedented move for communist Cuba, President Raul Castro wants to limit the time political leaders serve in office. Audio

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

6:42 PM.An elderly War veteran wants the government to help get him to Crete to speak at the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Crete. Audio

6:38 PM.New research suggests New Zealanders are taking too much notice of Best Before date stamps on food and are dumping huge amounts of produce unnecessarily. Audio

6:35 PM.There's been rapid progress on getting power supply cables installed to help households in eastern Christchurch cope through the winter months. Audio

6:32 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:23 PM.The disruption from February's devastating earthquake has knocked activity in the services sector. Audio

6:20 PM.The regional television station, Canterbury Television, has begun broadcasting news again for the first time since February's devastating earthquake. Audio

6:16 PM.To Australia now where the latest numbers show support for Labor is at a 15-year-low and a majority of voters want Kevin Rudd back in charge. Audio

6:11 PM.An economist is warning there's little justification for wage rises to match inflation, which has hit its highest level in two and a half years. Audio

6:07 PM.The courts have handed down a 20 year preventive detention sentence to confessed killer Malcom Chaston. Audio

5:56 PM.From tomorrow the wage subsidies that have been helping quake-hit Christchurch workers survive begin to taper off. Audio

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

5:42 PM.The fund which insures water, sewerage, stormwater and flood protection systems for local authorities says it has no money left to cover any future natural disasters and is asking for Government help.

5:39 PM.From tomorrow, the Government is winding down the subsidy that allows earthquake-damaged businesses in Canterbury to keep paying their workers' wages. Audio

5:35 PM.An iwi leader has told the New Plymouth District Court he's ashamed and disappointed that fisheries officers confiscated paua from children acting as their ancestors have for centuries. Audio

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

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

5:20 PM.The Government is to put three-and-a-half million dollars towards a new events centre in Greymouth as a memorial to those who died in the Pike River tragedy. Audio

5:15 PM.The cost of fuel and food and cigarettes has pushed inflation to its highest level in two and half years. Audio

5:12 PM.Chaston attacked Vanessa Pickering while he was on bail for an assault charge. The police had opposed bail but it was granted by a judge. Audio

5:09 PM.Our reporter Rachel Graham has been in court today and joins us. Audio

5:07 PM.The man who murdered Christchurch mother Vanessa Pickering will spend at least the next 20 years in jail. Audio

5:00 PM.At least 20 years jail for the man who murdered Vanessa Pickering, inflation hits a two and a half year high and a new events centre for Greymouth. Audio