Checkpoint for Wednesday 15 May 2013

6:50 PM.A researcher says the Crown has given away swathes of high country land to farmers instead of selling it. Audio

6:46 PM.A behind-the-scenes disagreement at a Waitangi Tribunal hearing funding provider remains unresolved; Te Taitokerau is conducting its own research about the impacts of mining, saying there may be… Read more Audio

6:45 PM.A South Taranaki hapu protest at the way oil and gas drilling waste is dumped on local land, has halted work. Audio

6:35 PM.It's one woman's medical decision that has received worldwide attention. In an essay published in the New York Times, the Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, writes about having a double mastectomy after… Read more Audio

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

6:24 PM.Snakk Media is launching into the New Zealand market. The tech company helps clients advertise on smartphones. Audio

6:19 PM.To the United States, where the Attorney General Eric Holder has defended the seizure of journalists' phone records at Associated Press, saying leaks about a failed terror attack put America at risk. Audio

6:16 PM.From tomorrow, Cantabrians struggling with earthquake insurance, repairs and rebuilds can phone a hotline to get in touch with an expert. Audio

6:13 PM.Powerful laser pointers will be banned from general use to combat the massive rise in strikes on planes, up from from three in 2006 to 102 last year. Audio

6:08 PM.The Finance Minister is promising tomorrow's Budget will have significant measures to put the brakes house prices within two or three years. Audio

5:57 PM.A message in a bottle, hidden under the floor of a Christchurch home for over fifty years, has been discovered during earthquake repairs and its writer's been tracked down. Audio

5:50 PM.Kiwirail is looking to slice millions of dollars off its wage bill for its Cook Strait ferries saying it pays between five to 60 percent more than its competitors. Audio

5:47 PM.Te Taitokerau is conducting its own research about the impacts of mining, saying there may be benefits yet to be realised by Iwi and Hapu; A behind-the-scenes disagreement at a Waitangi Tribunal… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.A Mexican standoff is how a coroner has described the arguement over whether roll bars should be attached to quad bikes. Audio

5:40 PM.Wellington researchers say speeding up the city's public transport by just minutes could boost house prices by tens of thousands of dollars. Audio

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

5:28 PM.A New Zealand cancer support group says it's been inundated with inquiries from women since Angelina Jolie revealed she's had a double mastectomy. Audio

5:26 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:19 PM.The Justice Minister is vigrously defending the way she's consulted with political parties on altering MMP and she released information today showing National is against the changes. Audio

5:15 PM.Powerful laser pointers will be banned from general use to combat the massive rise in strikes on planes. Audio

5:12 PM.The International Monetary Fund says houses here are overvalued by 25 percent. Audio

5:08 PM.The Finance Minister says escalating house prices are threatening the economy and he's promising to announce a significant package in tomorrow's budget, aimed at putting the brakes on the market… Read more Audio

5:00 PM.A new plan to rein in house prices - but will it make homes more affordable? Banning powerful laser pointers and Collins defends lack of progress on MMP changes. Audio