Checkpoint for Friday 17 June 2011

6:50 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

6:40 PM.This week the Focus team goes north to Tai Tokerau and takes a look at the neck-and-neck two-horse-race that is the by-election in this Maori electorate encompassing all above Auckland. Audio

6:34 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:25 PM.Auckland members of the Ratana Church are heading north this evening, to support Hone Harawira in his bid to hold his Te Tai Tokerau electorate seat. Audio

6:22 PM.Fonterra plans to become the first New Zealand or Australian firm to tap the Hong Kong yuan bond market. Audio

6:17 PM.A Porirua woman is facing prosecution because a 12-year-old girl in her care has been missing school. The Principals' Council is calling for more such prosecutions of parents or guardians for truancy.

6:14 PM.Both visitor numbers and sales are booming at the national agricultural fieldays being held at Mystery Creek near Hamilton. Audio

6:11 PM.Truckies say they fear for their lives on a part of State Highway 3 that's sinking, but the Transport Agency rejects there's any immediate catastrophic risk on the road north of Taranaki. Audio

6:08 PM.A crackdown is looming on popular synthetic cannabis products such as Kronic. Audio

5:55 PM.A New Zealand economist based in China is rejecting claims this country is squandering opportunities in its free trade deal with China. Audio

5:53 PM.A hockey stick-wielding East Auckland dairy owner, who saw off a gang of armed robbers, says he would do it all again to protect his customers. Audio

5:48 PM.The first media pictures have been taken of the most recent damage to Christchurch's central city in Monday's earthquake. Audio

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

5:42 PM.The Auckland Council has dismissed a suggestion it fit safety grilles under all its manhole covers to prevent another death like Aisling Symes'. Audio

5:33 PM.More now on today's news that the equivalent of 151 full time jobs are going at the Christchurch City Council's ailing events management company Vbase. Audio

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

5:25 PM.The father of Sophie Elliott says her killer Clayton Weatherston got a very fair trial and it's right he's failed to overturn his conviction. Audio

5:21 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:11 PM.Five days of disruption and inconvenience is coming to a close with Jetstar planes due to take off again from Christchurch this evening at 6pm. Audio

5:08 PM.A crackdown is imminent on popular synthetic cannabis such as Kronic. Audio

5:05 PM.In yet another blow for quake-hit Christchurch hundreds of workers are losing their jobs at the City Council's debt laden events management company. Audio

5:00 PM.Christchurch loses Vbase jobs; Kronic crackdown; Jetstar flying from Christchurch again; Weatherston appeal not granted; and Bob Harvey on Vbase. Audio