Checkpoint for Thursday 29 January 2015

6:55 PM.Over a hundred young league players headed for the Petone Rec today with just one dream, of making it to Australia's NRL. Audio

6:52 PM.The Maori Party wants iwi to get the first right of refusal for all state houses the government plans to sell; The Catholic Bishop in Christchurch is warning that the celebration of Mass in Te Reo… Read more Audio

6:47 PM.A South Australian MP is standing by his call for tweaks to New Zealand's trade deal with Australia to strip New Zealand winemakers of their right to a tax rebate. Audio

6:39 PM.A Canterbury University researcher says a drone could have helped to prevent the spread of the Flockton Hill fire. Audio

6:37 PM.Firefighters are using thermal imagery to identify hotspots and say they're pressing hard in the fight against the Flock Hill Station blaze near Arthur's Pass. Audio

6:27 PM.A conservative commentator in Australia has warned Tony Abbott's Prince Philip knighthood decision could be fatal for the Prime Minister. Audio

6:25 PM.A Great Walk for trampers could be created as a Pike River mine memorial, though it would pass close to where teenagers died in the Cave Creek tragedy. Audio

6:20 PM.Japan is analysing a voice recording to verify if it is from a journalist threatened with death by Islamic State militants. Audio

6:12 PM.The vice-chancellor of Victoria University says a dramatic drop in the pass rate for University Entrance is now being seen at tertiary institutions. Audio

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

5:57 PM.Forensic scientists have unveiled a cutting edge 3D scanner that will be used in more and more trials to give jurors a new insight into crime scenes. Audio

5:54 PM.The Maori Party wants iwi to get the first right of refusal for all state houses the government plans to sell. Audio

5:50 PM.The first semi final at the Australian Tennis Open is underway and it's an all-Russian affair. Audio

5:47 PM.Apple's record breaking quarterly profit of 24 billion dollars has turned attention back on the long hours and low wages in the Chinese factories that produce the wildly popular iPhones. Audio

5:43 PM.CERA workers including its acting boss have gone along this afternoon to what's being called a 'private' farewell for the disgraced one time chief executive Roger Sutton. Audio

5:41 PM.As the long hot days continue many parts of the country are breaking records for dry spells. Audio

5:36 PM.The Reserve Bank has signalled interest rates on hold for some time. Audio

5:34 PM.The New Zealand dollar fell more than a US cent today to its lowest level in nearly four years after the Reserve Bank opened the door to potential interest rate cuts. Audio

5:25 PM.The under fire National Party MP Mike Sabin is facing increasing pressure to confirm or deny whether he's being investigated by police. Audio

5:22 PM.The pass rate for University Entrance has taken an unexpected tumble, and education leaders say changes to the qualification are to blame. Audio

5:18 PM.Air Force chief, Air Vice-Marshal Mike Yardley says the Boeing captain and crew did an incredible job to land safely. Audio

5:15 PM.The airforce will no longer fly people to Antarctica on its Boeing 757s after a terrifying flight two years ago. Audio

5:07 PM.Graphic details have emerged at the start of the Sydney cafe siege inquest about how two hostages were killed. Audio

5:00 PM.Graphic details have emerged at the start of the Sydney cafe siege inquest about how two hostages were killed. The airforce will no longer fly people to Antarctica on its Boeing 757s after a… Read more Audio