Checkpoint for Thursday 4 October 2012

6:56 PM.US President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney have clashed on the economy in the first of three televised presidential debates- just weeks away from November's election. Audio

6:51 PM.The wreckers have started demolishing historic Cranmer Courts in central Christchurch, after a last ditch bid to stop the demolition failed. Audio

6:48 PM.The Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, has told secondary school teachers that students should be learning New Zealand history, including Maori experiences; The Lake Waikaremoana Hapu Restoration… Read more Audio

6:39 PM.The Labour Party says the Associate Minister of Immigration, must take a firm position on her decision to revoke the convicted rapist, Mike Tyson's visa to come to New Zealand. Audio

6:36 PM.Plunket says today's announcement that children will have to ride in booster seats until they are seven, is a positive step. Audio

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

6:26 PM.Authorities in New Zealand estimate New Zealand victims may have been tricked into handing over 10 million dollars for bogus computer problems. Audio

6:21 PM.Shares in Fisher and Paykel Appliances' are 4-and-a-half cents up, to close at a dollar-25 after its independent directors advised shareholders not to accept the takeover offer from Haier. Audio

6:19 PM.There are fears a new tax on car parks will not be applied evenly across the country or within cities. Audio

6:13 PM.The head of an urban Maori authority is lending its support to a bid by the convicted rapist and former World Champion boxer Mike Tyson to visit New Zealand on a speaking tour. Audio

6:07 PM.The United States Presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have gone head to head in the first debate of this year's election campaign. Audio

5:56 PM.Fisher and Paykel's independent board members fighting a takeover bid by a Chinese company have recommended other shareholders reject the offer, which they say is too low. Audio

5:54 PM.Child safety groups say new requirements on childrens' car seats don't go far enough. Audio

5:50 PM.Hundreds of New Zealanders will be closely watched by their surgeon following the latest alert over a total hip replacement device. Audio

5:47 PM.The Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, has told secondary school teachers that students should be learning New Zealand history, including Maori experiences; The recently retired headmaster of… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.Just 48 hours after a last ditch attempt to save Christchurch's historic Cranmer Courts failed, wreckers have moved in to begin pulling them down. Audio

5:39 PM.The Independent Police Conduct Authority has today found that a Christchurch police officer was justified in shooting a man who went on a rampage in morning rush hour traffic. Audio

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

5:27 PM.A major international phone scam, which is estimated to have swindled 10 million dollars out of unsuspecting New Zealanders, has been shut down by United States authorities. Audio

5:25 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:19 PM.The United States Presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have faced off for their first debate of this year's election campaign. Audio

5:15 PM.One hundred and fifty Huntly miners have had an anxious wait today to learn whether they've been earmarked for redundancy. Audio

5:11 PM.Listening to that was the Green Party MP, Gareth Hughes. Audio

5:07 PM.There are questions tonight over why the man who presided over the illegal spying on KIm Dotcom is heading an independent review into the Rena disaster. Audio

5:00 PM.The man who presided over the illegal spying on KIm Dotcom is to review the Rena disaster. An international scan duping New Zealanders out of millions is shut down and the United States Presidential… Read more Audio