Checkpoint for Wednesday 17 June 2015

6:54 PM.Allegations of ministerial interference in editorial decisions at Maori TV; Ministerial statement on sacking of Southern DHB board members; Andrew Little kicks off weekly General Debate; Ombudsman and… Read more Audio

6:47 PM.The Minister of Education, Hekia Parata, says she's losing patience with the beleaguered board of the Kohanga Reo Trust; The Police Association is backing the police's innovation after documents which… Read more Audio

6:39 PM.A spate of accidents at the new bus exchange in Christchurch has raised questions about its safety. Audio

6:36 PM.The Labour MP and former Cabinet Minister, David Parker, has released Cabinet papers from 2007, in the latest twist in the controversy over sheep exports to Saudi Arabia. Audio

6:27 PM.A leading researcher says ten years after he started analysing what makes the biggest differences in schools, politicians are still making the same silly mistakes. Audio

6:24 PM.New Zealand has dropped out of being a host for the World Triathlon series in 2016, ending five years of involvement with the sport. Audio

6:21 PM.Paying for services, road tolls, less red tape, and better planning, to ensure there's enough land for housing in growing centres. Audio

6:18 PM.The Government has been asked how come a Chinese website is advertising swamp kauri logs for sale, when their export is illegal. Audio

6:14 PM.Kathy Grant says she is confident she can turn Southern DHB's finances around but hasn't yet spelt out how. Audio

6:11 PM.The Health Minister, Jonathan Coleman, says he sacked the Southern DHB because he was seriously dissatisfied with its performance. Audio

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

5:56 PM.The Minister for Economic Development, Steven Joyce, has been forced to defend extravagant spending by his Super Ministry. Audio

5:54 PM.Hawkes Bay iwi Ngāti Kahungunu is holding a series of wānanga or workshops to help the tribe understand the environmental risks of geological hazards and climate change. Audio

5:50 PM.A spate of accidents at the new bus exchange in Christchurch has raised questions about its safety and whether drivers had been given enough training with the new layout. Audio

5:47 PM.Listeria has been found in Italian parsley sold in supermarkets in four cities across New Zealand. Audio

5:43 PM.The police say they're not looking for anyone else in the death of Auckland woman Cissy Chen - as court documents show she told a friend if she died, it would be at the hands of her partner. Audio

5:38 PM.A liquidator is looking into discrepancies in the number of clients Relationship Aoteroa actually had. Audio

5:36 PM.The current account deficit has narrowed, due to lower oil prices and a fall in New Zealand's overseas spending. Audio

5:28 PM.A psychiatrist says drugs and alcohol undoubtedly harmed the development of a boy accused of killing an Auckland dairy owner, before he was even born. Audio

5:26 PM.The Police Commissioner has no idea how many times officers may have given unlicenced Maori drivers preferential treatment, and not fined them. Audio

5:18 PM.Health Minister, Jonathan Coleman discusses Southern DHB decision. Audio

5:15 PM.Otago and Southland leaders are backing the decision to sack the Southern DHB, saying things had to change. Audio

5:12 PM.Four-thousand people packed Porirua's Te Rauparaha Arena to farewell the rugby player Jerry Collins in a memorial service that was both moving and uproarious. Audio

5:07 PM.Police have put security around two Christchurch families who've received letters threatening to harm their children and demanding payment. Audio

5:00 PM.Police protect two families after extortion threats; In Memory of Jerry Collins; Southern DHB is sacked; Health Minister discusses Southern DHB Commissioner; Maori should not be given preferential… Read more Audio