Checkpoint for Tuesday 3 September 2013

6:54 PM.The Energy Minister, Simon Bridges, says there is only a slim chance of recovering bodies from the Pike River Mine under re-entry plans approved today. Audio

6:49 PM.The Maori Council, says a referendum into the Government's asset sales programme suggests the tide is turning, calling it a win for democracy; A Rotorua Mayoral candidate is sticking to her idea of… Read more Audio

6:46 PM.The Chief Science Advisor says most public service policymakers lack the training and background to deal with complex scientific information or data that can help them make informed decisions. Audio

6:43 PM.A snowboarder's death has triggered a safety check at Whakapapa skifield on Mount Ruapehu. Audio

6:37 PM.The number of refugees from the crisis in Syria has reached the 2 million mark, according to the United Nations Audio

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

6:22 PM.An analyst has raised his investment recommendation on Mighty River Power and says the company could increase its dividend payout for the year ending June 2014. Audio

6:19 PM.A Coroner's found a PhD student, washed off a rock at Goat Island marine reserve, made the mistake collecting samples when the sea was too rough. Audio

6:13 PM.The Government says the Ministry of Health will keep close tabs on the owners of a Wellington resthome to make sure residents there aren't ill treated. Audio

6:10 PM.A body recovery team could be inside the Pike River mine by March next year under a multimillion dollar plan revealed to the families of the entombed men today. Audio

5:55 PM.Groups helping refugees in Australia are disappointed and angry that both major parties have adopted harsh policies on asylum seekers who arrive by boat. Audio

5:53 PM.Trains and traffic came to a crawl when a freight train derailed south of Auckland, partially blocking State Highway One and the main trunk line Audio

5:49 PM.The Maori Council, says a referendum into the Government's asset sales programme suggests the tide is turning, calling it a win for democracy; A Rotorua Mayoral candidate is sticking to her idea of… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.To military history now, and it's been revealed why the numbers of New Zealand troops who served at Gallipoli has been miscalculated for almost a century. Estimates have upped the total from 8500 to… Read more Audio

5:41 PM.The Chief Inspector of Mines says he won't hesitate to pull the plug on the Pike River mine re-entry plan if he thinks it's become too unsafe. Audio

5:39 PM.About 18,000 Telecom customers on the East Coast of the North Island have had their phone landline services disrupted for more than six hours today and - they're likely to face further problems until… Read more Audio

5:37 PM.The Government in Japan has unveiled a 607 million dollar plan to stem radioactive water leaks at Fukushima, including freezing the ground underneath the stricken nuclear plant. Audio

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

5:28 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:25 PM.The police have executed 20 search warrants on Mongrel Mob members following an eight month operation. Audio

5:22 PM.The New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, has claimed in Parliament that raids carried out by the SIS last July, were illegal. Audio

5:19 PM.The woman whose complaints about a Wellington rest home sparked an investigation by the Ministry of Health says she's shocked by the level of incompetence officials uncovered. Audio

5:09 PM.Simon Bridges is the Minister responsible for the Pike River Mine. Audio

5:07 PM.The Government's given its long awaited go ahead to re enter the Pike River mine to try to get workers' bodies out, but straight away it's giving the multi-million dollar project a slim chance of… Read more Audio

5:00 PM.Pike River families are told an attempt WILL be made to retrieve the bodies of the 29 miners. A claim in Parliament the SIS carried out an illegal search and 100 police officers swoop on Mongrel Mob… Read more Audio