Checkpoint for Friday 6 March 2015

6:52 PM.A proposal's in place to abolish the fisheries body - Te Ohu Kaimoana; After a sunny start to Te Matatini yesterday, the rain didn't deter the crowds from turning up en masse in a cheerful spirit to… Read more Audio

6:35 PM.Claims that New Zealand is involved in the mass collection of data across the Pacific, then passing it on to America's National Security Agency, have re-ignited the debate about the actions of the… Read more Audio

6:28 PM.The Prime Minister is dismissing a Green Party complaint over claims of illegal spying as a political stunt. Audio

6:25 PM.A teenage murder-accused is on the run in Auckland after fleeing from his Avondale bail address, and then cutting off his electronic anklet. Audio

6:22 PM.A major consultancy firm says the number of women in senior management positions has hit an all-time low. Audio

6:12 PM.Mike MacQueen hunts for war criminals and has spoken to dozens of them. The U.S investigator worked for many years tracking down Nazi death camp workers who'd escaped to America and since 2008 has… Read more Audio

6:10 PM.Westport is braced for more rain tonight after a day of flooding damaged businesses and terrified some tourists coming through the Buller Gorge. Audio

6:05 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:55 PM.Education leaders say the dramatic fall in the number of Maori and Pasifika students getting University Entrance has undone years of good work. Audio

5:50 PM.The New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says he still considers himself the underdog in the Northland by-election campaign despite a poll suggesting he's out in front. Audio

5:48 PM.After a sunny start to Te Matatini yesterday, the rain didn't deter the crowds from turning up en masse in a cheerful spirit to support their home teams; A proposal's in place to abolish the fisheries… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.A camper has been rescued by surf lifesavers after waking this morning to find himself surrounded by rising floodwaters. Audio

5:40 PM.High winds in Wellington have blown three shipping containers off the wharf. Audio

5:37 PM.Hundreds of people have been exposed to measles on board a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Auckland because one passenger has since been diagnosed with the disease. Audio

5:35 PM.The New Zealand dollar has recovered some lost ground, after falling about one US cent overnight. Audio

5:23 PM.Teina Pora's boxing trainer says he didn't realise a meeting with top boxer Joseph Parker would end up on the news but he's not blaming promoters Duco Events. Audio

5:20 PM.The Transport Agency's regional manager is Pete Connors. Audio

5:18 PM.The Buller District Council Mayor Garry Howard is with us now. Audio

5:15 PM.West Coasters are bracing for more rain after a day of flooding around Westport stranded drivers, inundated businesses and terrified two tourists when a slow-moving slip came down around them. Audio

5:12 PM.The Picton harbourmaster Alex van Wijngaarden is with us now. Audio

5:10 PM.Passengers have been stuck on an Interislander ferry for six hours, unable to dock at Picton Harbour. Audio

5:00 PM.Passengers stuck on Interislander Ferry in Queen Charlotte Sound; Flooding brings down slip around tourists; Warning of more rain to come; Latest on the flood-hit roads; Teina Pora's trainer didn't… Read more Audio