Checkpoint for Thursday 22 September 2011

6:58 PM.Scientists have been meeting in Wellington to look at the opportunities that can be made from a multi-billion dollar plan to build and operate an immensely powerful radio telescope. Audio

6:53 PM.Merino may be a bye-word for fine wool, but it may become known for fine dining too. Audio

6:51 PM.Christchurch city councilors have decided to go ahead with drawing up new rules about where brothels can set up, and how they're run. Audio

6:46 PM.The funeral for the father of the Maori King Tuheitia will be held at Waahi Marae in Huntly; The Crown has agreed in principle to settle historic Treaty of Waitangi claims with a Hawke's Bay hapu; The… Read more Audio

6:42 PM.The rugby union has ordered an Auckland car dealer to change a sign reading "Go the All Blacks", as it cracks down on companies using team trademarks. Audio

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

6:25 PM.An Auckland company is giving all its workers an extra day off, and urging other employers to do the same. Audio

6:23 PM.The kiwi shed a couple of cents against its American counterpart, then rebounded a after a strong result and higher than expected payout from the country's biggest company, Fonterra. Audio

6:09 PM.The Royal Commission into the Pike River disaster has heard heartbreaking evidence from the families of the 29 men who died. Audio

5:57 PM.A Dunedin flag company is flying high thanks to Rugby World Cup fans. Audio

5:54 PM.Sexual assaults are twice as common on cruise ships than on land, according to new research. Audio

5:51 PM.An agreement has been signed between the government, the Christchurch City Council and five contractors to complete repairs on the city's quake damaged infrastructure. Audio

5:48 PM.The tangi for the father of the Maori King Tuheitia will be held at Waahi Marae in Huntly; The Crown has agreed in principle to settle historic Treaty of Waitangi claims with a Hawke's Bay hapu; The… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.New Zealand's economic growth has slowed sharply, at the same time as globally there are warnings of a double dip recession looming for America and Europe. Audio

5:41 PM.The dairy giant Fonterra is confident that today's record payout to farmers will flow through into the country's economy. Audio

5:37 PM.The father of a man beaten to death in Timaru says it's totally unjust some of his killers are out after spending less than three years in jail. Audio

5:36 PM.The long lasting closure of the Manawatu gorge is pushing ever mounting costs on to businesses that use it. Audio

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

5:27 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:21 PM.New figures show the economy slowed sharply in the June quarter from earlier in the year. Audio

5:15 PM.Today's massive pay rise for dairy farmers will inject 10 point 6 billion dollars into the economy. Audio

5:08 PM.Families of the men who were killed in the Pike River mine have told the Royal Commission investigating the tragedy they were given false hope the men were alive after the first blast. Audio

5:00 PM.Families speak at Pike River Royal Commission, A big pay rise for dairy farmers and Economy slows sharply in June quarter. Audio