Checkpoint for Friday 8 July 2011

6:57 PM.Toxic sea slugs are back in Auckland waters, and people are being warned to keep children and pets away from them. Audio

6:54 PM.More than a hundred marine scientists have gathered at Stewart Island this week to talk about the management and protection of New Zealand's seas. Audio

6:52 PM.Eight iwi have missed a self-imposed deadline to share one of the country's biggest forests between them; The Maori Party will consider a potential deal with Hone Harawira's Mana Party at its… Read more Audio

6:46 PM.The New Zealand Prime Minister travelled to India last week to help push along trade negotiations - our parliamentary chief reporter, Jane Patterson was on the trip and she filed this report. Audio

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

6:26 PM.The days of the chequebook appear to be numbered. Audio

6:22 PM.Three former directors of the failed company Nathans Finance have been found guilty of misleading investors through untrue statements made in a series of company statements and advertisements in 2006… Read more Audio

6:17 PM.After months of delays, Taranaki's new rescue helicopter may be flying by the end of the month. Audio

6:09 PM.Three men who were directors of Nathans Finance face up to five years in prison or large fines after being found guilty of misleading investors. Audio

5:55 PM.A councillor who triggered a corruption inquiry at the the Marlborough District Council is being called on to quit, now the council has been cleared. Audio

5:52 PM.Some of the worst quake-damaged parts of Christchurch are surrounded by water again, as high tides force the Avon River to flood. Audio

5:46 PM.Eight tribes have missed a self-imposed deadline to share one of the country's biggest forests between them; The Maori Party will consider a deal with Hone Harawira's new Mana Party at its executive… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.John Key is heading to Washington later this month for talks with the President, Barack Obama. Audio

5:40 PM.The planned reopening of part of Christchurch's central city by October is still on target despite last month's major aftershock which caused further devastation. Audio

5:37 PM.The Serious Fraud Office is threatening to prosecute valuers after finding cases of property values it says have been inflated by up to 500 percent. Audio

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

5:28 PM.The Silver Ferns are into the sudden death phase of the netball world champs in Singapore, and play South Africa in their quarter-final later this evening. Audio

5:26 PM.An investigation is underway following an emergency landing of a Royal New Zealand Airforce Boeing 757 damaged by a lightning strike. Audio

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

5:17 PM.A phone hacking scandal that's toppled Britain's News of the World tabloid is threatening to ensnare the Prime Minister David Cameron, with the arrest of his former press chief expected later today. Audio

5:14 PM.The head of the Financial Markets Authority Sean Hughes says today's guilty verdicts sends a clear message to all company directors. Audio

5:12 PM.Today the three men were convicted of making untrue statements in prospectuses and letters to investors about the company's financial health. Audio

5:09 PM.The Serious Fraud Office is threatening criminal charges against valuers after turning up cases where it says property values have been overstated by as much as 500 percent. Audio

5:00 PM.Serious Fraud Office threatens criminal charges; Guilty verdicts for three former directors of Nathans Finance; FMA welcomes guilty verdicts in nathans finance case; Phone hacking scandal ensnares… Read more Audio