Checkpoint for Monday 11 February 2013

6:51 PM.New figures show a substantial lift in eftpos and credit card spending in January compared with the same month a year ago. Audio

6:47 PM.The Police and Maoridom are mourning the death of Northland iwi liaison officer, Paddy Whiu; Meanwhile, the Labour List MP, Shane Jones, says Paddy Whiu was the first Maori person in the police to… Read more Audio

6:43 PM.A Labour MP says a new Maori seat in South Auckland could be created as a result of this year's Maori Electoral Option. Audio

6:37 PM.The Government is refusing to formally endorse a campaign to introduce the concept of a living wage in New Zealand, at the same time as the Employers and Manufacturers Association says it won't stand… Read more Audio

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

6:27 PM.A new survey of business confidence shows a third of firms are positive about the economy in the year ahead. Audio

6:18 PM.A West-Papuan political activist has been prevented from speaking at Parliament. Audio

6:15 PM.The Serious Fraud Office is looking at introducing whistleblower payments for people who come forward with tips that lead to the prosecution of white-collar criminals. Audio

6:12 PM.The quick thinking of two fourteen year old boys has saved a Christchurch man, who nearly drowned in his truck. Audio

6:07 PM.A South Island property developer wants companies such as his to have more power to take on town planners and influence council decisions. Audio

5:56 PM.Parliament's new speaker, David Carter, is at the centre of controversy after refusing to allow a visiting West Papua political activist to speak at Parliament. Audio

5:53 PM.The Police and Maoridom are mourning the death of Northland iwi liaison officer, Paddy Whiu; An iwi education think-tank says if every mainstream school's given the option to teach the Maori language… Read more Audio

5:48 PM.The Hamilton singer, Kimbra, has won big at the Grammys, along with the Australian musician, Gotye. Audio

5:44 PM.A court has heard how the heads of a former finance company were involved in a cover up involving millions of dollars of investors' money after the purchase of a luxury apartment development from… Read more Audio

5:36 PM.The TAB wants written assurances from Sonny Bill Williams' manager before it again offers bets on how many rounds one of his boxing matches will go for. Audio

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

5:28 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:20 PM.An American whistleblower who exposed Ponzi billionaire Bernie Madoff is talking with New Zealand's fraud police about adopting a US scheme that pays white-collar crime tipsters. Audio

5:16 PM.New Zealand could end up sending asylum seekers to the controversial Australian-run detention centres in Nauru, Papua New Guinea or on the Australian mainland. Audio

5:12 PM.About half of Mainzeal Property's more than 400 staff have been made redundant and the other 200 or so's future remains up in the air. Audio

5:08 PM.The pressure on house prices that's pushed them far above their previous peak in Auckland and Christchurch is now spreading to other centres. Audio

5:00 PM.The surge in house values spreads. More than 200 Mainzeal staff are made redundant. and NZ may use Australian detention centres if boatpeople arrive en masse. Audio