Checkpoint for Thursday 1 March 2012

6:57 PM.The first of this year's Bluff oysters have been harvested today at the start of the eagerly anticipated season. Audio

6:53 PM.A Bay of Plenty man is still practising as a Justice of the Peace despite being convicted of fraud. Audio

6:50 PM.The meat processing company, AFFCO, is refusing to disclose how many workers it has covering a major strike tomorrow, but says farmers, supplying stock should not be worried. Audio

6:47 PM.A survey of 570 Maori teenage girls who smoked everyday, shows about 250 of them quit the habit last year; Today's release of the ministerial inquiry report into the use of foreign fishing vessels… Read more Audio

6:40 PM.There's shock in Papua New Guinea, after an official in the prime minister's office announced, people expressing what he called subversive views would be dealt with. Audio

6:35 PM.North Korea's agreement to suspend atomic tests and uranium enrichment as part of a preliminary deal with the US could pave the way for fresh nuclear disarmament talks. Audio

6:32 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:19 PM.The number of new property listings has picked up as demand from buyers remains strong. Audio

6:19 PM.The New Zealand Transport Agency has confessed it lost track of 182 million dollars, before finding it again. Audio

6:17 PM.In Australia, widespread flooding has forced more evacuations as heavy rain continues across New South Wales, the ACT and northern Victoria. Audio

6:14 PM.The State-owned Enterprises Minister has conceded that under the Companies Act up to 50 percent of partially privatised energy companies could be sold without the approval of shareholders. Audio

6:07 PM.A ministerial inquiry has found that foreign crew working on fishing boats chartered to New Zealand companies have been mistreated and underpaid. Audio

5:58 PM.The New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, was ejected from Parliament this afternoon, after calling Gerry Brownlee an illiterate woodwork teacher. Audio

5:55 PM.Anti-gambling campaigners say there is a risk more children will be abandoned if Auckland's Sky City Casino is allowed to expand its gaming operation. Audio

5:52 PM.Today's release of the ministerial inquiry report into the use of foreign fishing vessels confirms there are questions over why Maori aren't working in the industry; A survey of 570 Maori teenage… Read more Audio

5:48 PM.Staying with the resthome strike, and the chief executive of Oceania Guy Eady is putting the blame on the Government. Audio

5:45 PM.Almost half the staff of New Zealand's largest rest-home chain, Oceania Group, walked out of work this morning, for two hours, over a pay dispute. Audio

5:41 PM.There are fears a Turangi teenager, jailed for the rape of a five-year-old girl, will be a target in prison given the nature and notoriety of his offending. Audio

5:35 PM.The Government's promising to crack down on foreign chartered fishing vessels after a ministerial inquiry found that crews have been mistreated and underpaid. Audio

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

5:24 PM.New Zealand's third biggest electricity company is making good on a three year threat, saying it's no longer willing to provide emergency backup during an electricity crisis because its too expensive.

5:21 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:18 PM.The Maritime Union has issued another strike notice to the Ports of Auckland, extending its current three week long strike to one month. Audio

5:14 PM.A Christchurch businessman has pleaded guilty to fraud by running a Ponzi-style scheme worth more than 100-million dollars to fund his taste for international travel, designer clothes and women. Audio

5:12 PM.Leading fishing company Sanford has been the subject of fresh allegations this week of crew abuse on its foreign chartered vessels, allegations which it has rejected. Audio

5:08 PM.A ministerial inquiry has found that foreign crew working on fishing boats chartered to New Zealand companies have been mistreated and underpaid. Audio

5:00 PM.A Ministerial inquiry calls for observers on foreign fishing boats, a Christchurch businessman pleads guilty to a 100-million dollar fraud and the Auckland port strike is extended by another week. Audio