Checkpoint for Thursday 5 September 2013

6:55 PM.The Cook Islands hope to attract people back to the country after changes to the superannuation portability for New Zealanders retiring to the Pacific. Audio

6:50 PM.The body of the prominent West Auckland kaumatua, Denis Hansen has been carried this evening onto the marae he helped to build; The Maori King, Tuheitia, has undergone surgery today for a condition… Read more Audio

6:39 PM.The Prime Minister says New Zealand and the United States are working on a new plan for a proposed marine sanctuary in Antarctica's Ross Sea. Audio

6:35 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:26 PM.Comvita plans to buy more bee farms using a 9 million dollar war chest newly topped up by Derma Sciences buying a 7 percent stake in the Bay of Plenty company. Audio

6:21 PM.A U.S journalist is questioning the credibility of the intelligence being used to make the case that the Syrian regime killed hundreds of people with chemical weapons Audio

6:15 PM.Daniel Johnston from Earth Tech Contractors is about to lay off workers and is owed more than $600,000. Audio

6:11 PM.The Finance Minister has been asked to justify giving telecommunications firm Chorus money at the same time as some sub-contractors on the ultra-fast broadband rollout have stopped work. Audio

6:08 PM.Pacific Island leaders have pledged to take individual action on climate change, after a day long retreat in the Marshall Islands. Audio

5:56 PM.Another big earthquake shook the small Marlborough town of Seddon last night, just as the region is getting back on its feet. Audio

5:54 PM.Canterbury farmers are being told to look out for any signs of black grass sprouting up after 2000 seeds of the invasive pest were spilled from the back of a truck. Audio

5:51 PM.The Maori King, Tuheitia, has undergone surgery today for a condition related to his diabietes; The body of the prominent West Auckland kaumatua, Denis Hansen, has been carried this evening onto the… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.The Coalition in Australia has just released the costings of its election campaign promises but the Labor Party is accusing it of having delayed the release to avoid scrutiny of its numbers. Audio

5:44 PM.Auckland police investigating the second fatal attack on a homeless person in a month are combing through security camera footage for clues. Audio

5:43 PM.A friend of the man accused of beating a security guard to death with a piece of wood says he heard the guard make a croaking noise shortly before the fatal blow. Audio

5:39 PM.MPs have been told the Sky City deal is fiscally good but morally bankrupt and that 128 thousand people will be harmed by the extra gaming machines. Audio

5:35 PM.The lawyer for a former Catholic brother, facing multiple charges of sexual abuse, has argued he should not be extradited to Australia, because of his health and age. Audio

5:32 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

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

5:19 PM.Some sub-contractors working on the Government's ultra-fast broadband rollout say work has dried up and they're waiting on hundreds of thousands of dollars in overdue payments. Audio

5:16 PM.The police are investigating the killing of another homeless man in Auckland. Audio

5:12 PM.CAA director Graeme Harris says double checks on landing gear maintenance won't be done because it would be out of step with what's done overseas and is not necessary. Audio

5:07 PM.Air crash investigators are at a stand off with Civil Aviation over what should be done to ensure small planes are safe to fly. Audio

5:00 PM.Questions about the safety of small planes. Police investigate the killing of another homeless man in Auckland and Unpaid broadband sub-contractors laying off staff. Audio