Checkpoint for Wednesday 23 April 2014

6:49 PM.A professor of Maori Development warns Maori representation in parliament could suffer come the election because of the departure of senior Maori MPs such as Labour's Shane Jones; Descendants of a… Read more Audio

6:47 PM.A man arrested today over a kidnapping and assault has escaped police custody. Audio

6:41 PM.A new video published by Australian media shows security guards at Australia's Manus Island detention centre in Papua New Guinea attacking asylum seekers the night before a 23-year-old was killed in… Read more Audio

6:37 PM.The Australian government is to spend more than 12 billion dollars on 58 new fighter jets in one its largest ever military purchases. Audio

6:34 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:25 PM.A new rail service could be the solution to Christchurch's worsening traffic congestion. Audio

6:21 PM.Relentless rain in Canterbury is playing havoc with crop harvests and farmers say it's a nightmare. Audio

6:18 PM.Advocates for people disabled in accidents are pinning their hopes on the United Nations to push for reform of ACC. Audio

6:09 PM.Benji Marshall has been officially released from his Super Rugby contract with the Blues to allow him to return to rugby league after a failed attempt to switch codes. Audio

5:54 PM.War veterans say a Labour Party plan to extend the war pension to all veterans is long overdue. Audio

5:52 PM.A Fijian man with kidney failure is being forced to leave New Zealand tomorrow. Audio

5:49 PM.Descendants of a Pakeha farming family are asking the Government to review the Public Works Act; A professor of Maori Development warns Maori representation in parliament could suffer come the… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.A senior figure in the fishing industry says a new Government position helping Pacific Island nations develop their fisheries comes 20 years too late. Audio

5:41 PM.Further down the coast, Neville Rockhouse is wondering when his luck is going to change. Audio

5:39 PM.Its estimated last week's storm will cost one West Coast power company over half a million dollars to repair damage. Audio

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

5:27 PM.A faster growing economy is continuing to keep New Zealanders here, as well as attracting foreigners. Audio

5:24 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:20 PM.Investigators failing to make headway into the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines plane are reportedly considering starting the search again from scratch. Audio

5:17 PM.President Obama, is aiming to revive stalled Pacific-wide trade talks when he arrives in Japan today. Audio

5:14 PM.The Prime Minister couldn't resist a dig at Labour today, over the loss of one its senior MPs to a job with the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Audio

5:10 PM.The Corrections Department has unreservedly apologised and made a confidential payment to the children of a woman who died in a prison cell six years ago. Audio

5:08 PM.The son of an infamous husband-killer has admitted hitting the former All Black, Justin Marshall, outside a Queenstown strip club, but says Marshall threw the first punch. Audio

5:00 PM.The man accused of assaulting Justin Marshall outside a stripclub says the former All Black threw the first punch. A confidential payment to the children of a woman who died in a prison cell six years… Read more Audio