Checkpoint for Thursday 17 April 2014

6:52 PM.All historical Treaty of Waitangi claims in the South Island have been settled; Ngati Toa descendants have packed out Parliament's public gallery to witness the introduction of a law to protect their… Read more Audio

6:35 PM.After years sitting on the outside the Green Party believes this year could be its time to make it into government. But the National Party has warned that any government involving the Greens would… Read more Audio

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

6:27 PM.The Economic Development Minister is writing off Labour's new manufacturing policy saying it's just the same old same old from a struggling opposition. Audio

6:23 PM.The New Zealand track cycling team has high expectations for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, aiming to match or better their nine medal haul from Delhi four years ago. Audio

6:20 PM.People who had to move from their red zoned homes will now have the chance to help decide what happens to the land in eastern Christchurch and Kaiapoi. Audio

6:16 PM.The use of the Ngati Toa haka Ka Mate now has some protection under law. Audio

6:14 PM.First thing this morning the violent storm swept through Northland and Auckland. Audio

6:10 PM.The Civil Defence emergency manager for Greymouth is Allan Wilson. Audio

6:08 PM.People are trapped in cars, tens of thousands without power and the centre of Greymouth is shut down tonight because of flying roof iron, as a severe storm batters the country. Audio

5:57 PM.One of the men who defamed the David Bain campaigner Joe Karam and who now must pay him 350 thousand dollars says he will appeal. Audio

5:51 PM.Ngati Toa descendants have packed out Parliament's public gallery to witness the introduction of a law to protect their famous tribal haka, Ka Mate; All historical Treaty of Waitangi claims in the… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.The Supreme Court has given the go ahead for King Salmon to expand its fish farms at three out of four places in the Marlborough Sounds. Audio

5:40 PM.The mother of a teenager who died after a school fight last year has been discharged without conviction for accidentally shooting her husband. Audio

5:37 PM.In the central North Island 25,000 households and businesses are without power tonight. Powerco's acting electricity operations manager Phil Marsh is with us. Audio

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

5:29 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:27 PM.Neville Rockhouse runs the Rapahoe Hotel north of Greymouth - he's having evacuate right now. Audio

5:24 PM.The Prime Minister has blamed the New Zealand man killed during a counter-terrorism drone attack in Yemen last year for his own death. Audio

5:20 PM.The government has rejected criticism that shares in Genesis Energy were sold too cheaply - after trading began well above the selling price this afternoon. Audio

5:18 PM.The Transport Agency's West Coast Area Manager Mark Pinner is with us. Audio

5:14 PM.The worst hit region has been Buller. The Fire Service's area commander there Brendan Nally is with us. Audio

5:07 PM.A handful of people have been or are still trapped in their cars on tree-blocked State Highway Six on the West Coast, and tens of thousands are without power across large parts of the country. Audio