Checkpoint for Tuesday 18 December 2012

6:53 PM.A central-Christchurch property owner says attempts by insurance companies to limit the amount of money they end up paying out for earthquake damage, is just part of doing business. Audio

6:48 PM.Scientists are investigating whether taking vitamin D tablets can prevent Multiple Sclerosis. Audio

6:45 PM.The Maori Council's solicitor, Donna Hall, predicts a bid to debate Maori water rights in the Supreme Court could cost at least a quarter of a million dollars; The lawyer for the widow of James… Read more Audio

6:40 PM.A quarry company cutting into an Otago ridge named by Captain Cook has been challenged in court to produce the consent that allows it to carry on. Audio

6:37 PM.A fund manager acting for about 800 investors who lost money in a debt security scheme, called Credit Sails, says the deal was designed to fail. Audio

6:34 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:26 PM.Divers have found a 15 tonne digger lost out at sea in the Bay of Plenty ten years ago. Audio

6:21 PM.As the first victims of the Connecticut school massacre are buried, two pro-gun have senators called for changes to firearm laws. Audio

6:18 PM.The Supreme Court has come down on the side of the Pakeha wife of a Maori man whose Tuhoe family took his body away from her to bury in the Bay of Plenty. Audio

6:13 PM.Cyclone Evan is moving south away from Fiji leaving behind hundreds of damaged houses and about 8000 people holed up in evacuation centres. Audio

6:09 PM.The Greens say the Government's chances of getting back to surplus are looking more tenuous than ever. Audio

6:07 PM.Labour is accusing the Government of being the Christmas grinch, after it announced a big increase in fuel taxes. Audio

5:54 PM.Rowing, rugby sevens, and equestrian win gold in the latest round of high performance sports funding announced today while swimming has lost out. Audio

5:51 PM.The police say Sina Solomona, whose body was found near the back door to her house in the early hours of Saturday morning, died a violent death. Audio

5:47 PM.The solicitor for the Maori Council, Donna Hall, predicts its bid to debate Maori water rights in the Supreme Court could cost at least a quarter of a million dollars; A Supreme Court has dismissed a… Read more Audio

5:39 PM.The Ombudsman's office is accusing the Ministry of Education of telling the Christchurch City Council to hide information about school closures and it will now investigate how the ministry deals with… Read more Audio

5:35 PM.The latest now from Tokoroa on the two deadly car crashes which have killed seven people. Audio

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

5:28 PM.A fraudster who stole more than three million dollars from his victims, including former casino executives, and the president of the National Party, has been sentenced to eight years in jail. Audio

5:25 PM.Fijians living in the Rewa delta just east of Suva are being told to evacuate to higher ground before it gets dark after the river reached a critical level in the wake of Cyclone Evan. Audio

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

5:19 PM.The Supreme Court has come down on the side of the Pakeha wife of a Maori man whose Tuhoe family snatched his body away from her to bury in the Bay of Plenty. Audio

5:09 PM.The National-led Government is hiking the petrol tax over the next three years. Audio

5:07 PM.Emergency Services are tonight at the scene of two deadly car crashes in Tokoroa, which have killed seven people. Audio

5:00 PM.Seven people are killed on Tokoroa roads. A petrol tax hike to bolster the government's books and common law trumps Maori protocol in the burial of James Takamore. Audio