Checkpoint for Wednesday 6 June 2012

6:53 PM.The father of slain Feilding farmer, Scott Guy, has told a High Court Jury of a phone call he received from the man accused of the killing. Audio

6:49 PM.A Crown lawyer says an Eastern Bay of Plenty tribe didn't respond to a government invitation to talk about plans for oil exploration off the iwi's coast; MPs have heard that making food more… Read more Audio

6:45 PM.Throughout New Zealand people gathered at key spots to watch the Transit of Venus today. Audio

6:40 PM.In what US officials are describing as a major blow to al Qaeda, an American drone strike in Pakistan has killed the group's second in command. Audio

6:36 PM.School leaders say they don't believe the Government's assertion that half of all state and integrated schools will gain teachers under new staffing ratios next year. Audio

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

6:27 PM.Parts of the tourism sector are questioning government figures that say domestic tourism spending has soared to its highest point in eight years. Audio

6:24 PM.The chief executive of Charlie's, Stefan Lepionka is stepping down at the end of July. Audio

6:16 PM.Gaming trusts say accusations they're misusing public money to campaign against industry restrictions are spurious. Audio

6:13 PM.The Government's deficit is more than a billion dollars better than predicted by the Treasury in last month's Budget. Audio

6:07 PM.The Government is looking at empowering courts to order some parents to stop having more children. Audio

5:55 PM.School leaders say they don't believe the Government's assertion that half of all state and integrated schools will gain teachers under new staffing ratios next year. Audio

5:52 PM.The Crown says the FBI didn't break the law by taking evidence seized from Kim Dotcom's house back to the United States. Audio

5:49 PM.MPs have heard that making food more affordable can lead to Maori children becoming healthier and happier; A Crown lawyer says an Eastern Bay of Plenty tribe didn't respond to a government invitation… Read more Audio

5:45 PM.Thousands of people are still without power tonight across Canterbury after heavy snow brought down lines. Audio

5:38 PM.The father of one of the men lost in the sinking of the Easy Rider fishing boat in Foveaux Strait says today's inquest has not brought him any peace. Audio

5:35 PM.New Zealander Nigel Rankin who joined hundreds of others in Tahiti today to watch the transit of Venus from the same spot as Captain Cook saw it in 1769 says it's been a magical experience. Audio

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

5:26 PM.The father of the slain Feilding farmer, Scott Guy, choked back tears as he gave evidence today about finding out his son had been killed. Audio

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

5:20 PM.On the West Coast, ten people have been evacuated from two homes in Coal Creek, near Greymouth, because of flooding. Audio

5:18 PM.We're joined by the chief executive of the Orion lines company Rob Jamieson. Audio

5:15 PM.Thousands of people are without power tonight across Canterbury after heavy snow brought down lines. Audio

5:11 PM.Pastor Tom Ngapera has a close connection to this country's most notorious unsolved case of child abuse. Audio

5:07 PM.The Government is looking at empowering courts to order some parents to stop having more children. Audio

5:00 PM.The Government looks at stopping abusive parents having more children. Thousands are without power as winter takes hold in the south and Scott Guy's father gives evidence at the high court. Audio