Checkpoint for Tuesday 7 August 2012

6:54 PM.The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research says the weather in July was very unusual. Audio

6:49 PM.Some people living in the shadow of the mountain remain unnerved, and one Lake Rotoaira local David Bennett is questioning how police and others responded. Audio

6:45 PM.A Ngati Tuwharetoa hapu says its evacuation plan, which was put into action following last night's Mt Tongariro eruption, worked successfully; Meanwhile, the person in charge of opening the doors to… Read more Audio

6:41 PM.New Zealand's soldiers in Afghanistan are extending their patrols, a move a security analyst says raises questions about how ready the country's own forces are to take over. Audio

6:38 PM.One of KiwiRail's new locomotives, worth more than three million dollars, sat idle for months while it was partially stripped for its parts to keep others in the new fleet going. Audio

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

6:24 PM.Crime fighting software developed by the police has been bought by a New Zealand security software firm. Audio

6:20 PM.Critics say the price tag for the National War Memorial Park in Wellington is far too high. Audio

6:17 PM.Wages rose at a slightly faster pace in the June quarter but there are signs a stronger pickup could be just around the corner. Audio

6:14 PM.Scientists are warning Mount Tongariro could erupt again at any time with no warning - even though the official threat warning's been lifted. Audio

6:10 PM.For the first time Alan Reay, whose firm designed the collapsed CTV building, has apologised to the families of the 115 people killed in the Christchurch earthquake 18 months ago. Audio

6:06 PM.Air New Zealand has grounded 18 passenger planes after small cracks were found on three of them. Audio

5:55 PM.Opposition parties are accusing the Prime Minister of trying to divide and rule Maori in the debate over water rights. Audio

5:47 PM.A Ngati Tuwharetoa hapu says its evacuation plan, which was put into action following last night's Mt Tongariro eruption, worked successfully; Meanwhile, the person charged with opening the doors to… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.The central Asian country is having its best-ever Olympics, sitting eighth on the medal table with six golds, ahead of Germany and just behind Russia. Audio

5:41 PM.For the first time the man whose firm designed the CTV building has apologised to the families of the 115 people killed when it collapsed in the Christchurch earthquake. Audio

5:37 PM.The Government will spend more than 80 million dollars and rush through the building of a National Memorial Park in Wellington in time for the Gallipoli centenary. Audio

5:36 PM.Air New Zealand has grounded 18 passenger planes after hairline cracks were found on three of them. Audio

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

5:23 PM.The Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom has accused the police of punching him in the face during their raid on his home north of Auckland. Audio

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

5:13 PM.Listening to that was the Conservation Department's Ruapehu Area Manager, Dr Nick Peet. Audio

5:10 PM.Mount Tongariro is still steaming and though the official threat warning's been lifted scientists say it could erupt again at any time with little or no warning. Audio

5:06 PM.The man whose firm designed the CTV building has apologised for the first time to the families of the 115 people killed when the building collapsed in the Christchurch earthquake. Audio

5:00 PM.The designer of Christchurch's collapsed CTV building says sorry. Mount Tongariro is still steaming and Kim Dotcom accuses the police of punching him in the face. Audio