Checkpoint for Friday 21 June 2013

6:54 PM.The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party candidate for the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election says he got a fantastic response from people when he traversed the East cape; The Rotorua District Councillor, Maureen… Read more Audio

6:35 PM.Polling booths for the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election close in just over a week. Chris Bramwell has been on the campaign trail with the four main candidates. Audio

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

6:21 PM.Chas Roy-Chowdhury from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is in New Zealand to talk with business leaders. He says New Zealand can take steps to ensure multi-nationals pay their fair… Read more Audio

6:15 PM.The Government has abandoned its Supreme Court fight on fixed fees for legal aid lawyers. Audio

6:13 PM.New Plymouth is partying tonight with several music concerts being put on for the influx of rugby supporters in the lead up to the final test match against the French. Audio

6:12 PM.The capital's acting Civil Defence controller, Neville Brown. Audio

6:09 PM.Thousands of people in the capital are still without power almost 24 hours after a savage storm ripped through the city. Audio

5:58 PM.The police are warning elderly people in Auckland about a man pretending to be a plain clothes officer who's robbed and assaulted victims in the last few days. Audio

5:55 PM.The Education Review Office says most of the secondary school centres for students with bad behaviour are not doing a good job. Audio

5:46 PM.The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party candidate for the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election says he got a fantastic response from people when he traversed the East cape; The Rotorua District Councillor, Maureen… Read more Audio

5:41 PM.Opposition parties and an internet freedom group say Cabinet papers on law changes to the Government's electronic spy agency have confirmed their worst fears. Audio

5:41 PM.A climate scientist says the southerly storm that's ripped into Wellington will probably only occur about twice in a person's lifetime. Audio

5:39 PM.Analysts says both have been hit by sluggish New Zealand economic growth, and investor nervousness globally about the readiness of the US economy to stand alone without central bank aid. Audio

5:37 PM.MPs have decided they deserve tougher punishment if they're absent without leave from the House or misbehave in Parliament. Audio

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

5:27 PM.The father of an airforce crewman killed in an Anzac Day helicopter crash says a Defence Force offer of money is strange and surprising. Audio

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

5:17 PM.Things are slowly starting to improve in the South Island after snow overnight and this morning closed roads and schools and caused another round of power outages. Audio

5:11 PM.Joining us for the latest on the weather in the capital is the Wellington City Council's Richard MacLean. Audio

5:07 PM.Thousands of people in the capital still have no electricity almost 24 hours after a massive storm savaged the city. Our reporter, Cushla Norman, has been out at Wellington's south coast which has… Read more Audio

5:00 PM.Thousands still in dark after savage storm in capital; WCCs Richard MacLean on the storm; Another day of snow, closures and power cuts for the south; Father says Defence offer of compensation is… Read more Audio