Checkpoint for Wednesday 23 May 2012

6:52 PM.A day before the Government's Budget, more than fifty community organisations have joined in calling for employers to pay more to staff on the minimum wage. Audio

6:48 PM.The Council of Trade Unions says new foreign charter vessel regulations will benefit Maori; Attempts to get Auckland Council to spend more money on Maori has been rejected by a key committee; Hawke's… Read more Audio

6:45 PM.The Prime Minister, says he's surprised David Shearer accepted Rugby World Cup tickets from Sky City given the Labour Party's vehement opposition to a proposed convention centre deal. Audio

6:36 PM.The rules for strip-searches of prisoners dominated a select committee hearing today on a bill which will make it easier for prison officers to conduct them. Audio

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

6:23 PM.Shares in Comvita have surged almost 9 percent, after the company posted a record full year profit. Audio

6:21 PM.Auckland Councilors are currently debating how much more in rates hundreds of thousand of households will have to pay next year. Audio

6:14 PM.The man accused of murdering Auckland teenager Christie Marceau has pleaded not guilty and been declared fit to stand trial. Audio

6:08 PM.Labour has stood down Shane Jones from its front bench and asked the Auditor General to investigate how the immigration case of a Chinese businessman was handled. Audio

5:56 PM.Returning now to Shane Jones being stood down from Labour's front bench. Audio

5:53 PM.A group of angry Christchurch locals are considering legal action against one of the country's biggest insurance companies because they say their earthquake claims are taking too long to settle. Audio

5:48 PM.Family doctors have told MPs today that medicines can be dangerous, and prescribing is best left up to them and some others, but shouldn't be expanded too much. Audio

5:44 PM.Attempts to get Auckland Council to spend more money on Maori has been rejected by a key committee; The Council of Trade Unions says the new foreign charter vessel regulations will benefit Maori… Read more Audio

5:42 PM.Tomorrow's Budget will target higher incomes earners to stop them from structuring their financial affairs to avoid paying tax. Audio

5:40 PM.The Navy has been called in to help Police with the recovery of a helicopter and its pilot, which crashed into Lake Sumner in North Canterbury on Monday. Audio

5:36 PM.Labour has stood down Shane Jones from its front bench and asked the Auditor General to investigate how the immigration case of a Chinese businessman was handled. Audio

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

5:23 PM.The Energy Minister says a new report on Northland's potential mineral wealth opens the way for a new era in the region's economy. Audio

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

5:16 PM.The Finance Minister has confirmed tomorrow's Budget will include further moves to close tax loopholes as the Government tries to broaden its tax base. Audio

5:11 PM.Christie Marceau's mother Tracey has successfully campaigned for changes to the bail laws which are going through Parliament now. Audio

5:09 PM.For the first time we can report that the man accused of murdering the Auckland teenager Christie Marceau was charged with three serious offences against her when he was bailed two months before she… Read more Audio

5:07 PM.The lawyer for internet millionaire Kim Dotcom is accusing the FBI of defying New Zealand law and taking copies of evidence outside the country without permission. Audio

5:00 PM.The FBI's accused of defying New Zealand law. The man charged with murdering Christie Marceau is cleared to stand trial and tomorrow's Budget aims to close tax loopholes for the rich. Audio