Checkpoint for Thursday 13 November 2014

6:50 PM.The Green Party is accusing the Prime Minister of using the GCSB spy agency for political ends prior to 2014 election. Audio

6:47 PM.The Tertiary Education Commission says students at a Taranaki institute who had their qualifications withdrawn may now - not have to redo the whole course; A environmental group wants to clean up the… Read more Audio

6:35 PM.Tough new rules cracking down on corruption, and tax avoidance are to be looked at by the G20 summit in Brisbane. Audio

6:23 PM.The scandal known as Gamergate keeps on sprouting legs, ever since American Zoe Quinn was falsely accused of giving sexual favours in return for getting positive reviews of games she'd made. Audio

6:15 PM.The 48 year old Waipukurau man, who has quit St John, will be sentenced on December the 18th. Audio

6:13 PM.Police say they may know tomorrow how long it's going to take to get fugitive killer and paedophile Phillip Smith back from Brazil and into a New Zealand jail Audio

6:08 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:55 PM.A new OECD report ranks New Zealand among the worst for red tape around environmental laws. Audio

5:52 PM.A 10 year old Pukekohe boy is set to star in a major Hollywood film, and his casting almost happened by accident. Audio

5:50 PM.A leader of an environmental group, the Health Rivers Wai Ora comittee, says its ambition is to clean up the Waikato River, and is collaborating with iwi, the community, and local government to make… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.A judge today handed down the heaviest penalty to an unlicensed immigration adviser since the government tightened up the industry. Audio

5:39 PM.Two window cleaners in New York have been rescued after spending nearly two hours dangling from their broken scaffolding at a perilous 75-degree angle, 69-floors above the city streets of Manhattan. Audio

5:36 PM.The embarrassing blunders at a Taranaki polytechnic have continued with a 78 year old woman being enrolled in a Maori performing arts course despite her never taking a single class. Audio

5:33 PM.The New Zealand dollar has had a bumpy day, and is now little changed from its open. Audio

5:26 PM.Conservationists say it would be a huge international embarrassment for New Zealand if it allowed our national bird to become all but extinct. Audio

5:19 PM.The threat from the insurgent group Islamic State has been foremost in the minds of regional leaders including John Key, meeting in Myanmar. Audio

5:15 PM.A Hawke's Bay ambulance officer who stupefied a teenager with laughing gas and sexually assaulted patients while out on calls has been found guilty. Audio

5:12 PM.Police here still say it's unclear whether Smith could be brought back under a much more complex extradition process. Audio

5:08 PM.Police expect to know very soon how long it's going to take to get fugitive killer and paedophile Phillip Smith back from Brazil and into a New Zealand prison. Audio

5:00 PM.Phillip Smith sits in a Rio jail waiting to be deported. An ambulance officer who stupefied a teenager and sexually abused patients is found guilty and a warning that kiwi could be lost from mainland… Read more Audio