Checkpoint for Friday 16 March 2012

6:54 PM.An Auckland trust set up to conserve land known as the Fort Takapuna Historic Reserve, has withdrawn its legal action against the Crown - and plans to argue its case before a Select Committee; The… Read more Audio

6:36 PM.The Public Service is in for another shake-up. The Prime Minister announced the Government would merge two departments and two ministries to create a new Ministry of Business, Innovation and… Read more Audio

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

6:22 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:20 PM.The police have been speaking to a Christchurch City Council worker stabbed yesterday, and to the family of the man officers shot afterwards. Audio

6:07 PM.Politicians are dismissing as an empty threat a warning by the Chinese Embassy that future investment in New Zealand hinges on the outcome of a bid to buy the 16 Crafar dairy farms. Audio

5:55 PM.The Waimakariri District Council says it will spend up to half a million dollars on its own version of Christchurch's Restart pop up mall, to help retailers in Rangiora. Audio

5:48 PM.The Waitangi Tribunal has been told children are losing a wealth of Maori knowledge because of Ministry of Education regulations; An Auckland trust, set up to conserve land known as the Fort Takapuna… Read more Audio

5:45 PM.A new seismic survey of Lake Rotomahana has revealed more evidence the world-famous Pink Terraces probably survived the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera. Audio

5:42 PM.A man who was once prominent in Wellington sporting and hospitality circles is tonight beginning a seven and a half year jail term for sexual offending against three teenagers. Audio

5:36 PM.More now on the capsized fishing boat in Foveaux Strait. Audio

5:33 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

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

5:21 PM.The Minister of ACC has now received the corporation's initial report about the breach of privacy of thousands of its clients. Audio

5:17 PM.The lawyer for the former boss of the failed finance company, Bridgecorp, has slated media coverage of his client as negative and urged a judge to ignore it. Audio

5:13 PM.Beijing-based economist Rodney Jones is the founder of Wigram Capital Advisors in China, and has been speaking with New Zealand's Prime Minister and Finance Minister about the implications of the… Read more Audio

5:10 PM.A Chinese Embassy official says future investment in New Zealand hinges on the outcome of a bid to buy the 16 Crafar dairy farms. Audio

5:07 PM.Searchers think they've found the sunken boat Easy Rider but have also recovered two more bodies from the Foveaux Strait capsize. Audio