Checkpoint for Wednesday 12 December 2012

5:00 PM.Justice Binnie blasts Judith Collins for being unfair. More Afghan interpreters can to come to New Zealand and North Korea defies international warnings, launching a long range missile. Audio

5:07 PM.The retired Canadian judge who wrote the report for the Government on David Bain's bid for compensation has blasted the Justice Minister for being unfair to both him and Mr Bain and says he didn't… Read more Audio

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

5:24 PM.More Afghan interpreters who worked for New Zealand soldiers and police are now being given then chance to move here. Audio

5:28 PM.North Korea has defied international warning by announcing it has successfully launched a long range rocket. Audio

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

5:36 PM.Major differences between the eleven countries negotiating the TransPacific trade deal have not been resolved at the latest round of talks which concluded in Auckland today. Audio

5:40 PM.A lawyer for eight Indian migrant workers stopped from boarding a plane back to New Zealand says Immigration authorities are trying to make them lose their jobs. Audio

5:43 PM.The Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, has shrugged off accusations in Parliament she was prepared to put the safety of vulnerable girls at risk. Audio

5:46 PM.New Zealand's largest Maori owned fishing company has posted a 25 percent drop in profit for the 2011-2012 year; A Rapanui elder from Easter Island is appealing to his Maori cousins to help save the… Read more Audio

5:50 PM.Dargaville people are vowing to keep fighting the downgrading of the town's court. Audio

5:57 PM.A synthetic drug called 'crack' is being sold in dairies but the Associate Health Minister now promises testing to make sure it's safe. Audio

6:08 PM.The retired Canadian judge who wrote the report for the Government on David Bain's bid for compensation has blasted the Justice Minister for being unfair to both him and Mr Bain and says he didn't… Read more Audio

6:11 PM.In Parliament this afternoon the Justice Minister outlined two of the reasons why she ordered a peer review of the report on David Bain's compensation claim. Audio

6:14 PM.The United States has now recognized a newly formed coalition of opposition groups in Syria, a move aimed at ratcheting up pressure on the country's leader, Bashar al-Assad. Audio

6:18 PM.The daughter of the engineer who signed off on the Canterbury Television building wants the Christchurch City Council to absolve her father of any blame for its collapse. Audio

6:24 PM.Principals say they will have to track down temporary staff who owe them thousands of dollars because of mistakes in today's school pay round. Audio

6:27 PM.The fast food operator, Restaurant Brands, has experienced stronger sales at its pizza and fried chicken chains, offsetting further declines at its coffee chain. Audio

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

6:36 PM.The Labour Party is accusing the Economic Development Minister, Steven Joyce, of muzzling his Ministry, after the chief executive evaded questions for a second time in a select committee meeting Audio

6:39 PM.The Insurance Council has argued in court against the Christchurch City Council's quake standards, saying they're illegal and overly strict Audio

6:48 PM.New Zealand's largest Maori owned fishing company has posted a 25 percent drop in profit for the 2011-2012 year; A Rapanui elder from Easter Island is appealing to his Maori cousins to help save the… Read more Audio

6:52 PM.Team New Zealand's multi-million dollar America's Cup catamaran is to be mothballed after sailing just thirty days. Audio

6:56 PM.The government's being asked to treat unhealthy foods in the same way it does alcohol and tobacco. Audio