Checkpoint for Wednesday 28 May 2014

6:52 PM.Local Government New Zealand says luring people away from the main centres with new jobs could help ease pressure in the housing market. Audio

6:48 PM.The Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister, Chris Finlayson, says the Crown could do better to help iwi transition into the post settlement world; A sign language interpreter is hoping a new… Read more Audio

6:46 PM.The Opposition is outraged that the Minister responsible for legislation to let banks share some customers' details with the American Government hasn't seen the detail of what's been agreed. Audio

6:43 PM.The Health Minister has been grilled over who will actually pay for free doctors' visits for children under 13. Audio

6:40 PM.Federated Farmers is describing the latest record payout to dairy farmers as an economic bonanza. Audio

6:36 PM.Authorities have begun a review on the handling of asbestos in the Christchurch rebuild and are assuring home owners the toxic material is being safely handled. Audio

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

6:23 PM.The South Canterbury Finance trial has been told the company's directors misled investors by claiming in a prospectus they had the backing of a major bank when this backing had in fact been withdrawn.

6:17 PM.Aucklanders already scrambling to find a park could now face stricter rules and more charges. Audio

6:08 PM.Authorities are reassuring Christchurch home owners that asbestos is being safely handled but stories are emerging that cast doubts on that. Audio

5:52 PM.America will keep 9,800 in Afghanistan at the end of this year, down from 32,000 now. Audio

5:49 PM.The Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister, Chris Finlayson, says the Crown could do better to help iwi transition into the post settlement world; Less than half of all families engaged with Whanau… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.A woman who used student fees to prop up her failing Wellington language school but didn't even pay herself a salary, has escaped a jail sentence. Audio

5:40 PM.The Housing Minister says Labour is indulging in cheap scapegoating with its claims that foreign buyers and speculators are helping force up house prices. Audio

5:39 PM.Business optimists continue to swamp pessimists but the overall confidence level plunged 11 points in ANZ Bank's latest survey. Audio

5:36 PM.A Christchurch man who had asbestos sheeting knocked into his property by a demolition crew working next door says the botched job is probably not the only one. Audio

5:33 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:26 PM.Feuding relatives have been tossed out of an Auckland courtroom for hurling verbal abuse at one other. Audio

5:22 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:18 PM.The police say the body of a woman found at an Auckland cemetery this week, believed to be that of missing woman Blessie Gotingco, won't be formally identified until tomorrow. Audio

5:15 PM.There is growing speculation that the former Alliance MP, Laila Harre, is the new leader of the Internet Party. Audio

5:10 PM.Phil Yarrall from Avonside is furious his earthquake wrecked house wasn't checked properly for asbestos last year. Audio

5:08 PM.A Christchurch man is balking at having his house demolished because he doubts the tests for asbestos were done properly. Audio

5:00 PM.Christchurch homeowners demand answers about asbestos, Avonside man says his house was not checked properly, Is Laila Harre the new leader the new Internet Party leader, Man accused of killing Blessie… Read more Audio