Checkpoint for Monday 5 December 2011

6:52 PM.Biosecurity experts are dismayed at claims by Victoria University scientists that an invasive species of ant is dying out naturally - saying exactly the opposite is happening. Audio

6:49 PM.A descendant of the Northland hapu is calling on the Whangarei District Council to remove pieces of memorial headstones that had been dumped along the Onerahi beach; The official opening of a new milk… Read more Audio

6:44 PM.A new study shows that global carbon dioxide emissions jumped by a record 5.9% last year. Audio

6:37 PM.For news from the UK, our correspondent Barney Burnham is on the line from London. Audio

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

6:27 PM.Conservationists are crying foul over an Australian miner's plans at a controversial West Coast mine to hire a security firm that spied on activists. Audio

6:23 PM.The main secondary school principals' group is asking whether the incoming Government's education deal revealed today is a veiled attempt to franchise schools. Audio

6:20 PM.A subsidiary of ANZ Bank will pocket about 43 million dollars after selling its interests in Vital Healthcare Property Trust, which manages medical properties. Audio

6:18 PM.The Government deficit has again come in worse than predicted by the Treasury in its pre-election forecasts. Audio

6:16 PM.A jury has been told the man accused of killing a six-month old Auckland baby used violence to assert his control and acted with murderous intent. Audio

6:13 PM.The police say there was not enough time for them to catch up with the man who kidnapped and tied up a woman in Tokoroa, before he went on to shoot and badly wound another woman. Audio

6:11 PM.The first labour party leadership meeting in underway tonight in Hamilton. Audio

6:08 PM.The Prime Minister has signed deals with Act and United Future to form a new government. Audio

5:53 PM.A virus which is killing young oysters has forced the seafood company Sanford to close its processing plant in the far north town of Kaeo. Audio

5:49 PM.The first majority Maori owned milk powder plant has been officially opened at Mokai, near Taupo; Signatures are being steadily added to a petition in Nelson against the Nelson City Council's move to… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.The deepening crisis in Europe has led the Treasury to cut its forecast for the economy for next year. Audio

5:40 PM.The police say they acted as fast as they could after a kidnapping in Tokoroa that was followed by a woman being shot and badly wounded. Audio

5:34 PM.Just over a week after the election, the Prime Minister, John Key, has the numbers to form a government. Audio

5:31 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:24 PM.The Pike River royal commission's heard today that coal production at the mine became more important than safety. Audio

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

5:20 PM.The police say a 32 year old homicide inquiry, that's led to a 70 year old Rotorua man's arrest, could end up being the longest running cold case to reach a conclusion in this country. Audio

5:16 PM.The Act MP, John Banks, is with us. Audio

5:10 PM.The charter schools National and Act have agreed to have proved controversial in the United States. Audio

5:07 PM.Just over a week after the election, the Prime Minister, John Key, has the numbers to form a government. Audio

5:00 PM.National makes a deal with ACT and United Future - giving it the numbers to govern. Police make an arrest in a 32 year old homicide inquiry and The Pike River royal commission's heard today that coal… Read more Audio