Checkpoint for Wednesday 4 December 2013

6:57 PM.A group breaking into parking machines around downtown Auckland have cost taxpayers about a hundred thousand dollars in damages. Audio

6:54 PM.The Education Minister has been defending the Government's record on education in the wake of a fall in international student rankings. Audio

6:49 PM.The police commissioner, Peter Marshall, wants to visit the community of the Bay of Plenty settlement of Ruatoki before he leaves his role next year; Mana Party leader, Hone Harawira, says Tuhoe… Read more Audio

6:46 PM.Canterbury University is at risk of losing tens of millions of dollars in insurance payouts after the Court of Appeal today refused to hear its case. Audio

6:42 PM.Health officials faced intense questionning at Parliament today over how many people may not be getting the elective surgery they need. Audio

6:39 PM.Unilever is moving to cut 58 jobs and shut its 94-year-old washing powder factory in Petone north of Wellington. Audio

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

6:27 PM.The Government has conceded it will get considerably less than expected from its sale of shares in its electricity companies and Air New Zealand. Audio

6:24 PM.News from the business sector. Audio

6:20 PM.Education experts are blaming everything from poverty to student loans for New Zealand's poor performance in the OECD's international reportcard of 15-year-olds in reading, maths and science. Audio

6:12 PM.John Banks' quitting throws the contest in Epsom at next year's election wide open. Audio

6:08 PM.The ACT party leader, John Banks, says he will quit politics at the 2014 general election. Audio

5:50 PM.People of Ngati Kauwhata of Manawatu travelled to Parliament today - where they accused the Crown of being 'hell bent' on completing Treaty settlements; The police commissioner, Peter Marshall, wants… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.The Ministry of Education has today told a prestigious Presbyterian girls' school in Dunedin, Columba College, it must quickly resolve a stand-off with its teachers and their union. Audio

5:43 PM.The Act Party's rival on the right, the Conservative Party says John Banks decision not to seek re-election in Epsom is just another step towards Act's demise. Audio

5:39 PM.Questions in Parliament about the stability of the Government descended into farce today with the Prime Minister being asked if the moon landing actually happened. Audio

5:35 PM.The Finance Minister is conceding the Government will get considerably less than expected from its partial privatisation programme, but has rejected Opposition criticism that it is a failure. 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

5:21 PM.The police have seized 100 million dollars worth of a Chinese-made drug used to make methamphetamine, calling it the biggest haul of its kind in New Zealand history. Audio

5:18 PM.The High Court in Christchurch has heard colleagues of a woman accused of poisoning her husband nicknamed her, The Black Widow. Audio

5:16 PM.Our political editor Brent Edwards is with us. Audio

5:10 PM.The ACT Party president John Boscawen is with us. Audio

5:07 PM.The Act Party leader John Banks says his decision to quit as party leader and leave parliament next year is not an admission he's guilty of making false declaration over campaign donations. Audio

5:00 PM.John Banks is quitting politics to fight charges in court. Bill English admits assets sales will bring in considerably less money than expected and accused nicknamed "The Black Widow". Audio