Checkpoint for Tuesday 29 January 2013

6:53 PM.A new way of treating tooth decay without using drills or needles has been trialled on some Hawke's Bay children, to see whether it's more effective and makes going to the dental clinic less scary. Audio

6:51 PM.The Government is applauding a new child sponsorship programme, but the Labour Party says it's shameful New Zealand needs a scheme more commonly seen in third world countries. Audio

6:47 PM.A member of a Far North Maori business doubts they will be able to clear a 15 million dollar debt; A lecturer in Maori Health at Otago University's campus in Wellington, says there needs to be a… Read more Audio

6:38 PM.A former top road policing officer says there will be more deaths on the road if changes to warrants of fitness go through. Audio

6:34 PM.The Green Party says the Government and the public must weigh up whether it's worth subsidising New Zealand Post or letting it cut back on delivering the mail. Audio

6:31 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:26 PM.The Labour Party leader, David Shearer, has been forced to defend his party's housing policy after the Prime Minister accused him of having no idea what a house in Auckland would cost. Audio

6:23 PM.A company owned by Dunedin City Council has been told by the coroner to improve its workplace safety after one of its workers was killed trying to repair a broken powerline. Audio

6:13 PM.Most households will get their mail every second day or even less often, under a proposal from New Zealand Post as it struggles to stay viable. Audio

6:08 PM.The record floodwaters in Bundaberg that have forced seven thousand people out of their homes are still rising, albeit slowly, triggering evacuation of the city's hospital. Audio

5:57 PM.The City of Sails, Auckland, will host the next two around-the-world Volvo Ocean Races at a cost of more than 8-million dollars. Audio

5:50 PM.A rare joint interview with President Obama and America's outgoing Sectretary of State, Hilary Clinton, is stoking speculation she's getting ready for a presidential run in 2016. Audio

5:46 PM.A lecturer in Maori Health at Otago University's campus in Wellington, says there needs to be a paradigm shift in dealing with the issue of Maori suicide; The Mental Health Foundation is delighted… Read more Audio

5:39 PM.The country's export performance faltered at the end of last year as sales of dairy products dropped and manufacturing continued to be under pressure. Audio

5:36 PM.The Government and the Labour Party appear to be at an impasse over who should be Parliament's next Speaker. Audio

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

5:25 PM.Expanding work programmes in prisons has been flagged by the Prime Minister, but his first speech to Parliament this year was much more focused on what he described as the failings of the opposition. Audio

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

5:23 PM.One of the country's largest fund manager's is aiming to invest more in developing countries outside of the the traditional big four markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China, known as the BRICs. Audio

5:18 PM.The New South Wales city of Grafton is being threatened by record floods in the deluge that earlier forced a massive airlift in Queensland to rescue trapped people. Audio

5:13 PM.Brian Roche is the chief executive of New Zealand Post. Audio

5:10 PM.A New Zealand Post worker and union delegate is predicting up to three thousand people could lose their jobs if mail delivery is slashed from six to three days a week. Audio

5:06 PM.It's been revealed the person driving a mini-van that crashed in Kenya two weeks ago, killing four people, was one of the young New Zealanders on the trip. Audio

5:00 PM.It's revealed the driver in a fatal Kenyan crash was a former Bethlehem college student. Australia's flood crisis worsens and PM attacks opposition in his Statement to Parliament. Audio