Checkpoint for Wednesday 27 June 2012

6:54 PM.Researchers in Australia say the safety guidelines for planes need looking at in light of their discovery that thunderstorms can cause turbulence more than 100 kilometres away. Audio

6:49 PM.A North Island hapu is preparing to ask the Supreme Court to rule that a riverbed belongs to the sub-tribe; The Whanau Ora Minister, Tariana Turia, says there has been significant resistance from… Read more Audio

6:40 PM.Syria's president, Bashar al-Assasd, says his country is now in a state of war and he's ordered his new government to do everything it can to crush the uprising. Audio

6:36 PM.That's the lawyer Greg King opening the case for the defence in the Scott Guy murder trial at the High Court in Wellington. Audio

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

6:27 PM.The Supreme Court has thrown out a council bid to push some of the liability for leaky homes back on to the Government. Audio

6:23 PM.A day after the state asset sales legislation passed, the Government's confirmed it will split another SOE, Kiwirail, in two. Audio

6:17 PM.News from the business sector. Audio

6:14 PM.Early childhood educators are patting themselves on the back after the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked New Zealand's early childhood education system the ninth best in the world. Audio

6:07 PM.The closure of an Auckland wool spinning plant will see at least 70 people out of a job, with some families losing three to four breadwinners in one hit. Audio

5:56 PM.More now on the boat laden with asylum seekers, which has capsized 100 nautical miles north of Christmas Island. Audio

5:54 PM.The chief executive of the Christchurch City Council is refusing to say whether he will return the remainder of a controversial 68-thousand dollar pay rise. Audio

5:50 PM.Flu has arrived, with Auckland bearing the brunt of the illness nationwide, and its hospitals under pressure. Audio

5:46 PM.A North Island hapu is preparing to ask the Supreme Court to rule that a riverbed belongs to the sub-tribe; The Whanau Ora Minister, Tariana Turia, says there has been significant resistance from… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.The multiple rapist Stewart Murray Wilson has delivered an emotional plea to be freed from prison. Audio

5:36 PM.The Green Party fears the writedown and splitting up of KiwiRail could pave the way for the SOE's sale, but the Government is rubbishing that. Audio

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

5:24 PM.A weak building industry both in Australia and here is costing 70 textile workers their jobs with an Auckland spinning plant shutting its doors. Audio

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

5:17 PM.The New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, has made allegations in Parliament of fraud and financial mismanagement by a Maori Women's Refuge, that receives government funding. Audio

5:15 PM.The fire that smouldered for days in the crumpled CTV building may have started in the cars parked there, according to an engineer. Audio

5:12 PM.The lawyer for murder accused Ewen Macdonald has opened the defence case this afternoon and already questioned its only two witnesses. Audio

5:08 PM.For the second time in a week, Australian rescuers are searching for survivors from a boat laden with asylum seekers, which has capsized about 100 nautical miles north of Christmas Island. Audio

5:00 PM.Another boat of asylum seekers capsizes off Christnmas Island. The defence opens in the Scott Guy murder trial and 70 textile workers lose their jobs. Audio