Checkpoint for Friday 17 May 2013

6:57 PM.From June, Auckland's buses will be added to the city's new multi-million dollar transport card system. Audio

6:48 PM.A television entertainer and a regional manager for Kohanga Reo will compete to represent the Mana Party in the race for the Ikaroa-Rawhiti seat; The Budget reveals in trend in money shifting away… Read more Audio

6:35 PM.In the days leading up to this week's Budget there was plenty of talk it would include policies to rein in rising house prices and to help alleviate poverty. Audio

6:32 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:22 PM.A drug advocacy group says the associate Health minister should see it as a victory that the synthetic cannabis, K2, is to be pulled from shelves ahead of legislation clamping down on the products. Audio

6:20 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:12 PM.Some charities and community groups have hit out at what they've branded a child-unfriendly, and empty budget. Audio

6:07 PM.A police officer has appeared in court on multiple methamphetamine charges and accused of supplying information to gang members. Audio

5:53 PM.Watching TV may get a bad rap, but New Zealand researchers are using it to teach reading - with great results. Audio

5:50 PM.A television entertainer and a regional manager for Kohanga Reo will compete to represent the Mana Party in the race for the Ikaroa-Rawhiti seat; The Budget reveals in trend in money shifting away… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.Bay of Islands hapu have told the Waitangi Tribunal they seek the return of crown land, including islands - and the right to build houses where their ancestors did. Audio

5:39 PM.Getting doctors and nurses to wash their hands more between patients is a key part of campaign to cut down the number of people who pick up infections while they're in hospital. Audio

5:36 PM.The Auckland Council and the Government are on a collision course over the housing legislation that was the centrepiece of the Budget. Audio

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

5:28 PM.Three mayors are questioning the government's plan to speed up affordable housing by working with local councils to free up land and fast track consents for developments. Audio

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

5:16 PM.The Government is being accused of pushing through a bill to pay family carers of disabled relatives in a shonky way. Audio

5:12 PM.The creditiworthiness of eight of the country's smaller lenders is under threat. Audio

5:06 PM.The Auckland Council and the Government are on a collision course over the housing legislation that was the centrepiece of the Budget. Audio

5:00 PM.Collision course over Budget's housing centerpiece, Smaller banks at risk of downgrade, Government accused of shonky process over family carers bill, NZTA outlines plans for Canterbury roading… Read more Audio