Checkpoint for Wednesday 13 March 2013

6:48 PM.A major Taranaki Maori dairy farmer is counting on its diverse farming portfolio to mitigate the effects of the increasing drought conditions; A kaumatua, who leads a group opposing state-asset share… Read more Audio

6:45 PM.Today Wellington hosted the biggest crowd of cruise ship tourists ever. Audio

6:42 PM.The failure of Solid Energy's biodiesel business leaves a once hopeful alternative energy business hanging on by its fingernails. Audio

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

6:27 PM.It's the hole in one that became a golfer's worst nightmare. Audio

6:21 PM.Telecom is continuing to shed staff to remain competitive with its rivals, axing two-thirds of its workers in its corporate I.T services unit in Australia. Audio

6:16 PM.Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Beyonce and the Los Angeles police chief are just some of the victims of an online data breach involving both Washington's political elite and Hollywood… Read more Audio

6:11 PM.An American Cardinal who is at the Vatican voting to elect a new Pope has agreed to a 12 million dollar payout to settle four child sexual abuse cases. Audio

6:08 PM.The Government has had to admit in Parliament that it forced Solid Energy to take on more debt so it could increase its dividend payouts to the Crown. Audio

5:53 PM.The Minister of Housing has acknowledged tension between the Government and the Auckland Council over how to boost the supply of homes in the city. Audio

5:49 PM.A kaumatua, who leads a group opposing state-asset share sales says the government's pre-registeration figures do not prove New Zealanders are keen to buy shares; A major Taranaki Maori dairy farmer… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.A human rights activists says there is speculation in Fiji that three prison guards were sacked because some prisoners escaped, and not because they took part in beating the men. Audio

5:37 PM.Failures at Immigration New Zealand have opened the way for scores of Pacific Island people to get reassessed for residency. Audio

5:34 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:29 PM.For the first time, scientists in the United States can say for certain that Mars was once capable of supporting life. Audio

5:25 PM.The Government has called off debt collectors trying to reclaim money from teachers and school staff overpaid by the school payroll system, Novopay. Audio

5:22 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:16 PM.The Minister of Housing has acknowledged tension between the Government and the Auckland Council over how to boost the supply of homes in the city. Audio

5:12 PM.Our political editor Brent Edwards was listening to that and joins us. Audio

5:08 PM.The Government has had to admit in Parliament that it forced Solid Energy to take on more debt. Audio

5:00 PM.The Government admits it forced Solid Energy to take on more debt. Tensions over the lack of new houses in Auckland and life on Mars - scientists decide it was a distinct possibility. Audio