Checkpoint for Thursday 2 February 2012

6:56 PM.New research estimates a fifth of gay and bisexual men with HIV in Auckland don't know they have the virus. Audio

6:50 PM.The president of the Maori Wardens Association is worried Maoridom may lose out because of possible job cuts at Te Puni Kokiri; Bay of Plenty Regional Council has almost completed preparations for a… Read more Audio

6:48 PM.300 were on board and at least 28 have been rescued. Captain Nurur Rahman of the National Maritime Safety Authority says four foreign merchant vessels have been helping with rescue efforts. Audio

6:45 PM.Community leaders have been told that forcing certain professionals to report child abuse has drastically reduced harm to children overseas. Audio

6:37 PM.To talk more about the leaked NATO report, we're joined by Robert Ayson - the Director of the Centre of Strategic Studies at Victoria University. Audio

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

6:30 PM.One of the Yandall Sisters, one of New Zealand's most popular singing groups, has died. Audio

6:27 PM.The Drug Foundation says introducing drug-testing for people shortlisted for jobs at the Corrections Department won't deal with the problem of drugs in prisons. Audio

6:24 PM.There's new evidence the so called brain drain to Australia may not be as bad as some make out. Audio

6:22 PM.A ferry with more than 300 people on board has sunk off Papua New Guinea's north coast. Audio

6:19 PM.Briscoe Group expects its full year profit to rise by 25 percent to 27 million dollars, going against the trend of many struggling retailers. Audio

6:09 PM.And the Treasury also talks in its briefing to Mr English about consolidating the school network, though it doesn't say how. Audio

6:07 PM.The Treasury's call for bigger classes has alarmed schools but the Finance Minister says this can't be ruled out. Audio

5:56 PM.The Labour Party leader says a draft Government paper for Maori on partial asset sales show it's running a shonky consultation process and that its real aim is to sell shares offshore. Audio

5:53 PM.The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter says it will struggle this year to match last year's record production. Audio

5:49 PM.The president of the Maori Wardens Association is worried Maoridom may loose out because of possible job cuts at Te Puni Kokiri - the Ministry of Maori Development; The Pacific Island Affairs Minister… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.A forestry worker, who was trapped by a crane for more than six hours in a Taupo forest, has been airlifted to Waikato Hospital. Audio

5:43 PM.The evacuation of more than two thousand people is under way as flood waters rise in north-western New South Wales. Audio

5:39 PM.A Christchurch city council manager has told the Royal Commission there was an element of chaos after the first earthquake in September 2010 as staff sought to get systems in place. Audio

5:37 PM.School groups are alarmed by the Treasury's call for bigger class sizes. Audio

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

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

5:19 PM.The only survivor from a bus that was crushed by a falling building on February 22nd says she's become more and more angry listening to evidence about why the building wasn't demolished before the… Read more Audio

5:15 PM.Contents cover could be cut from Earthquake Commission insurance. Audio

5:11 PM.One education expert says bigger classes may not be a problem as long as the savings do go into teacher development and pay. John Hattie a former Auckland University Education professor is now based… Read more Audio

5:00 PM.Finance Minister not ruling out increased class sizes, Education expert talks about class sizes and Earthquake Commission may cut cover and vary costs. Audio