Checkpoint for Friday 18 November 2011

6:56 PM.Australian bikie gang members are expected to arrive in Christchurch tomorrow but police say they're ready for them. Audio

6:53 PM.With just one week to go before the election some political leaders are calling for the campaign to get back on track, rather than focus on a cup of tea gone wrong. Audio

6:49 PM.Auckland's Independent Maori Statutory Board hopes to work constructively with the Auckland Council, to increase the proposed budget for 2012-2013 which caters for Maori interests; A group from… Read more Audio

6:45 PM.The Green Party is confident it can bring in its best election result yet, despite a bumpy week with its leaders having to say sorry to the National Party for the defacing of its billboards. Audio

6:42 PM.Protesters from the Occupy movement are still refusing to leave their campsites in Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland, despite repeated requests from the city councils for them to leave. Audio

6:40 PM.More than 200 Occupy Wall Street protestors have been arrested in a spirited rally, as part of the movement's day of action. Audio

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

6:28 PM.An Auckland Councillor says local Maori should not be given any new money from ratepayers. Audio

6:25 PM.Kathmandu's sales have risen in recent weeks, but it says the trading conditions remain tough. Audio

6:07 PM.The week has been dominated by the controversy over the secret recording of the National Party leader John Key's conversation with ACT's Epsom candidate John Banks last week. Audio

5:55 PM.A call has gone out to chemically castrate more sex offenders in New Zealand. Audio

5:48 PM.Some people on the Maori roll are worried that despite an extra party contesting next week's election, they're not benefitting enough from the political system; Auckland's Independent Maori Statutory… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.Maritime New Zealand says from midnight tonight the exclusion zone around the container ship Rena will be reduced to three nautical miles. Audio

5:41 PM.The man who was once in charge of the army's medals is tonight beginning a prison term for stealing them. Audio

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

5:27 PM.At least three people have been killed in an early morning fire which swept through a rest home in Sydney. Audio

5:23 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:19 PM.With time running out for the Labour Party to close the gap in the polls, its leader, Phil Goff, says the election campaign must return to the real issues. Audio

5:17 PM.French teachers are up in arms over yesterday's level 1 NCEA French exam that made some students cry because it was so hard. Audio

5:15 PM.The cameraman who recorded the discussion between John Key and John Banks without their knowledge will head to court on Tuesday for a hearing on whether the conversation was private. Audio

5:12 PM.Tomorrow a memorial to the 29 men who died at the mine will be unveiled in Greymouth, and a service will be held to mark the occasion. Audio

5:08 PM.On the eve of the first anniversary of the Pike River Mine disaster, the Royal Commission investigation has been told the mine was an accident waiting to happen.y Audio

5:00 PM.Commission told Pike River was accident waiting to happen; tea conversation to be ruled on in High Court on Tuesday; Pike River memorial to be unveiled tomorrow; teachers say NCEA French exam was… Read more Audio