Checkpoint for Monday 29 April 2013

6:52 PM.The Christchurch City Council is being urged to pull out of financing big, so-called aspirational rebuild projects and, instead, focus on repaying its debt faster. Audio

6:46 PM.A Labour MP, Shane Jones, says his colleague Parekura Horomia was a legend amongst iwi on the North Island's East Coast, and across Maoridom in general. Maori in Wairarapa are backing the region's… Read more Audio

6:40 PM.There's a warning that the fragmented Syrian opposition is becoming increasingly dominated by extremist Islamic groups. Audio

6:36 PM.Sixty frontline jobs at DOC have been saved as the Government backs off deep cuts to its budget. Audio

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

6:23 PM.A report from a public policy think-tank says the level of Asian investment into this country, far from being a threat, is disappointingly low. Audio

6:17 PM.Whanganui councillors have voted for a 24 million dollar fix for the city's bad-smelling wastewater plant. Audio

6:13 PM.The Government has stomped on two key proposals to pay for big transport projects in Auckland just hours after they came out. Audio

6:08 PM.The Labour MP for Ikaroa-Rawhiti, Parekura Horomia, has died at his home in Tologa Bay aged 62. Audio

5:55 PM.A long-standing critic of New Zealand's engineering standards is calling for more stringent training and support for engineers. Audio

5:51 PM.The long-serving Labour-Party MP, Parekura Horomia, has passed away surrounded by whanau at his home, aged 62; Maori in Wairarapa are backing the region's mayors in their bid to form a stand-alone… Read more Audio

5:48 PM.The Labour MP for Ikaroa-Rawiti, Parekura Horomia, has died aged 62. Audio

5:41 PM.More and more people are reaching for their smartphones and tablets to surf the web. Audio

5:35 PM.A safety group says if rules for fencing around pools are relaxed more children will drown. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is calling for submissions on suggested changes to the… Read more Audio

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

5:28 PM.A new study has found the number of people infected with the superbug MRSA has more than doubled. Audio

5:23 PM.A new round of tenders to explore for oil and gas including in deep water off New Zealand will open next month, coinciding with laws coming into force designed to make the industry safer. Audio

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

5:18 PM.Rescue workers in Bangladesh have started using cranes and bulldozers to clear rubble as the search for people trapped in the wreckage of a collapsed garment factory slows down. Audio

5:15 PM.The police investigating the fatal shooting of a road worker near Tokoroa have found what they call significant items connected to the case. Audio

5:10 PM.The Government has poured cold water on the latest proposals to pay for better transport in Auckland. Audio

5:07 PM.The ex-wife of a 72 year old man who shot dead a service station worker near Turangi says he told her about reaching a flashpoint of anger. Audio

5:00 PM.Ex-wife of Turangi shooter tells of flashpoint, Govt largely rejects latest Auckland transport funding options, Police find items connected to Taiaroa shooting, The latest from the Bangladesh factory… Read more Audio