Checkpoint for Thursday 14 July 2011

6:51 PM.A group of business owners in the Christchurch suburb of Sydenham fear the new crematorium there will drive people away from the area, which is trying to revitalise after significant earthquake… Read more Audio

6:48 PM.The leader of the Mana Party is telling his voters in Te Tai Tokerau he's still their MP, even though he wasn't officially sworn in as a Member of Parliament today; The Corrections Department has high… Read more Audio

6:39 PM.Police officers are to be more thoroughly questioned before doing their two yearly physical fitness test. Audio

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

6:26 PM.News from the business and financial sector. Audio

6:21 PM.Kiwirail has confirmed up to 45 workers at it's Dunedin factory will lose their jobs. Audio

6:19 PM.Thousands of people are turning down the opportunity to live in a state house because the buildings are either in poor condition or not suitable. Audio

6:16 PM.Scientists in Auckland are investigating whether traffic near schools can cause long term health problems for children. Audio

6:08 PM.The head of the Tax Working Group is worried by the raft of tax exclusions and exemptions in the Labour Party's economic package, unveiled today. Audio

5:56 PM.At least five companies are being investigated by the Canterbury Regional Council for dumping or burning earthquake demolition rubble illegally. Audio

5:54 PM.The death toll in the Mumbai attacks is being revised by India's Home Ministry, which now says 17 people were killed when three bombs ripped through the country's financial capital during yesterday… Read more Audio

5:51 PM.Hone Harawira says his allegiance to the Treaty of Waitangi is more important than his loyalty to the Queen; The first rehabilitation and integration unit in New Zealand for Maori inmates, opened… Read more Audio

5:48 PM.Smokers in Auckland have had a reprieve, after a proposal to make public places smokefree was thrown out by the council. Audio

5:41 PM.Another tense round of talks on the US debt has ended with the President Obama walking out after declaring he was willing to stake his re-election on the outcome. Audio

5:36 PM.More on the Labour Party's economic policy which was released today and, as predicted, includes a capital gains tax. Audio

5:34 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:27 PM.The Speaker of the House has refused to swear Hone Harawira in as a Member of Parliament, for not following the rules. Audio

5:26 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:22 PM.The New Zealand dollar hit fresh post-float highs today after official figures showed the economy is growing faster than previously thought. Audio

5:18 PM.Eighty-two criminal charges have been laid against the former director of the collapsed Canterbury clothing company Lane Walker Rudkin following a Serious Fraud Office investigation. Audio

5:15 PM.The Pike River coal mine inquiry has been told that it was madness for the mine to have just one entrance, because gas levels were too dangerous. Audio

5:08 PM.Labour has finally revealed the details of it's election defining economic policy. Audio

5:00 PM.Labour's much anticipated economic policy announced; Pike River mine entry "madness"; criminal charges laid against former LWR director; strong GDP figures push Kiwi to new post-float high; Harawira… Read more Audio