Checkpoint for Tuesday 7 February 2012

6:52 PM.Hundreds of Kapiti ratepayers protested loudly in Paraparaumu today over a $44,000 pay rise for the local council's chief executive. Audio

6:49 PM.The future ownership of New Zealand's only privately owned Maori meeting house, is uncertain; The editor of a regional newspaper has apologised to a Taranaki language lecturer, for reporting that he… Read more Audio

6:45 PM.New Zealand scientists are warning boaties to check their hulls for what they call peculiar skeleton shrimps - which could harm native species. Audio

6:36 PM.To the UK now and our correspondent in London Barney Burnham. Audio

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

6:27 PM.About sixty people turned out to a rally in parliament this afternoon protesting against the partial sale of state assets among other things. Audio

6:23 PM.Business confidence has grown with more people hopeful the year ahead will perform better. Audio

6:20 PM.Any tendencies towards republicanism were put aside by politicians this afternoon, when MPs congratulated Queen Elizabeth on her diamond jubilee. Audio

6:16 PM.The race for the Republican presidential nomination is moving west. Audio

6:14 PM.The comedian, Jon Gadsby, has avoided going to jail for his fourth drink driving charge. Audio

6:11 PM.Annual pay increases are running ahead of inflation for the first time in more than year. Audio

5:53 PM.Papua New Guinea's Transport Minister says he foresaw last Thursday's ferry disaster given the state of the country's vessels and the complacent attitude towards safety. Audio

5:51 PM.Rescuers in the Philippines are digging through rubble with shovels and their bare hands for dozens of people missing after a powerful earthquake. Audio

5:48 PM.The editor of a regional newspaper has apologised to a Taranaki language lecturer, for reporting that he compared the colonisation of New Zealand to the extermination of six million Jews; The future… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.The Government has ruled out intervening in the Kapiti Coast District Council, despite the demands of hundreds of protestors. Audio

5:41 PM.To Australia now, where a dirt levee is holding back record floodwaters threatening the southern Queensland town of St George. Audio

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

5:34 PM.In the the last hour the Maori Council has filed its claim for New Zealand water resources which could lead to everyone having to pay for their water. Audio

5:28 PM.The lawyer for an Auckland father jailed for three years for his part in the abuse of his nine-year-old daughter says the man wants his children back. Audio

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

5:23 PM.Listening to that is our Political Editor Brent Edwards. Audio

5:19 PM.Already under pressure from the Maori Party, the Government's come under sustained attack from the Opposition today over State asset sales. Audio

5:14 PM.New Zealand is to formally express its dismay to the Syrian government about the bloodshed. Audio

5:07 PM.Households' electricity bills are expected to rise by up to ten per cent this year, because of upgrades to the national grid. Audio

5:00 PM.Household power bills expected to rise by up to ten per cent. The Minister of Foreign Affairs takes aim at Syria over the bloodshed and the Government comes under attack on asset sales. Audio