Checkpoint for Friday 2 August 2013

6:57 PM.In tomorrow night's Super rugby final in Hamilton between the Chiefs and the Brumbies, the odds are stacked in the home side's favour, as the foreign side have never won a Super rugby play-off game in… Read more Audio

6:52 PM.An Auckland University researcher has found that nearly a quarter of the country's blind children are Maori; Primary export industries are working together to create career paths for tangata whenua; A… Read more Audio

6:36 PM.The Prime Minister remained defiant this week despite evidence emerging his office had pressured the Parliamentary Service to release phone records to the inquiry into the leak of the Kitteridge… Read more Audio

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

6:26 PM.A reward is being offered for information on the mutilation and killing of a pet dog in South Auckland. Audio

6:23 PM.The New Zealand stock market has finished the week higher on the back of record highs on Wall Street. Audio

6:19 PM.A Christchurch heritage trust says important buildings are being demolished that could be saved if the owners asked for grants and donations. Audio

6:13 PM.School guidance counsellors say there are not enough of them to deal with children's increasing mental health and family problems. Audio

6:11 PM.The Defence Minister says the families of two Afghan security guards killed by New Zealand SAS soldiers were paid money as a sign of goodwill, not because of any wrongdoing. Audio

5:49 PM.The mother of a boy who has diabetes says people are ending up in hospital because new meters are giving wrong blood sugar readings. Audio

5:46 PM.An Auckland University researcher has found that nearly a quarter of the country's blind children are Maori; Primary export industries are working together to create career paths for tangata whenua; A… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.The Far North Council has backed away from a confrontation with a Maori family over land ear-marked for the region's cycle trail. Audio

5:35 PM.The Primary Industries Minister denies a lack of resources at his Ministry was behind meat export delays to China. Audio

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

5:28 PM.The Queenstown bouncer who stole security camera footage of the former England rugby captain, Mike Tindall, flirting with a woman in a bar has been sentenced to community service and a curfew on going… Read more Audio

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

5:21 PM.A Nelson man who tried to steal a plane to fly it into the city's courthouse has been sent to prison for four years as punishment for a six hour rampage that included burglary and arson. Audio

5:18 PM.The Judge who today ruled the Defence Force has a high level of culpability over a soldier's death, says while it may be immune from a fine, it should not be immune from scrutiny. Audio

5:14 PM.Dozens of Wellington people were evacuated from their homes this afternoon while the army removed a 150 year old live artillery shell packed with shrapnel that could have exploded at any time. Audio

5:07 PM.New information released in the last hour shows the David Henry inquiry into the GCSB report leak asked for and received emails between the Fairfax reporter, Andrea Vance, and the MP Peter Dunne. Audio