Checkpoint for Thursday 24 July 2014

6:55 PM.Middle Earth has relocated to California...for a few days anyway. Weta Workshop has taken Smaug and an array of other Hobbit memorabilia to the three-day Comic-con event in San Diego. Audio

6:50 PM.A Human Rights Review Tribunal Hearing has heard that a complaint about two cartoons should be dismissed to ensure freedom of expression is not unreasonably restricted; A contentious bill to put the… Read more Audio

6:47 PM.The Dunedin City Council is warning bush walkers to watch their step after 15 leg hold possum traps were found on a popular track, within walking distance of a primary school, high school, a play… Read more Audio

6:43 PM.One of the country's most significant Treaty claims has finally been settled today, with the passing of legislation on Tuhoe's claim. Audio

6:36 PM.The Maori Party's two founding co-leaders, Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples, have bowed out of parliamentary politics today by defending their party's links to National. Audio

6:34 PM.The New Zealand dollar fell one and a quarter US cents today after the Reserve Bank repeated its warning that the high currency is unjustified. Audio

6:25 PM.Jim Mora speaks with Rail and Maritime Transport Union's Wayne Butson who says there have been numerous reports about braking system irregularities. Audio

6:21 PM.The Rail and Maritime Transport Union says train drivers have lost confidence in the reliability of the braking system on Wellington's commuter train network. Audio

6:12 PM.The police failed to properly investigate the first known attack by serial rapist Malcolm Rewa who went on to assault at least 24 other women over nine years, including murder victim Susan Burdett. Audio

6:07 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:55 PM.The teenager accused of murdering a homeless man started out telling police he only hit the man once, with a knockout blow. Audio

5:53 PM.The first of New Zealand's athletes will begin competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in just a couple of hours time and we could win our first medal overnight. Audio

5:49 PM.A major subdivision that will increase the size of Wanaka by a massive 50 percent has won approval. Audio

5:45 PM.Improvements in reading, writing and maths have slowed to a crawl, and in some regions children's results have worsened. Audio

5:42 PM.The bodies of 40 of the passengers on the Malaysian airliner that was shot down over Ukraine arrived at an airforce base at the Netherlands earlier today. Audio

5:38 PM.Tuhoe leaders are celebrating what they describe as a historic moment in the struggle for rangatiratanga or self-determination. Audio

5:35 PM.The New Zealand dollar fell more than a US cent today after the Reserve Bank repeated its warning that the high currency is unjustified. Audio

5:28 PM.It's better late than never! That's how businesses are reacting to the Reserve Bank's decision to put the breaks on further interest rate rises. Audio

5:24 PM.The National list MP Claudette Hauiti has fronted up to the media today and publicy admitted she misspent taxpayers funds on petrol, and on a fee to change a plane ticket to Australia. Audio

5:20 PM.Safety investigators have told Kiwirail commuter trains going into Wellington's Melling Station have got to slow down to avoid any more collisions. Audio

5:17 PM.The man responsible for the country's aviation security has held on to his job despite breaching security at Christchurch airport this morning. Audio

5:12 PM.Assistant police commissioner, Malcolm Burgess, admits officers failed Rewa's first victim, complainant A. Audio

5:08 PM.The police failed to properly investigate the first known attack in 1987 by serial rapist Malcolm Rewa who went on to assault at least 24 other women, including murder victim Susan Burdett. Audio

5:00 PM.Police failings in Rewa serial rapist case; Police apologise for not investigating Rewa rape complaint properly; Brownlee keeps job; Kiwirail commuter trains have got to slow down at Melling… Read more Audio