Checkpoint for Tuesday 25 August 2015

6:58 PM.There's a whodunnit murder mystery underway in Whangarei - the case of the poisoned sparrows. Audio

6:52 PM.Debate resumes on the Government's Health and Safety Reform Bill after prime minister, John Key, rejects an offer from Opposition leader, Andrew Little, to co-operate on drafting a better bill… Read more Audio

6:48 PM.The Housing Minister, Nick Smith, isn't convinced that the Maori King is seeking revenge by pursuing an old treaty claim to Auckland land; A Northland marae, the Far North mayor and the Chairman of… Read more Audio

6:44 PM.A Cook Islands' sexual diversity group hopes to decriminalise homosexuality within a year. Audio

6:41 PM.Supermarkets and grocers are warning of a brief banana shortage; wholesalers say we could be going four days without any bananas. Audio

6:37 PM.More now on the sharp falls hitting stock markets again as the economic slowdown in China continues to worry investors. Audio

6:35 PM.The Workplace Relations Minister, Michael Woodhouse, has changed his tune on Easter Sunday trading after previously opposing letting shops open their doors on the holiday. Audio

6:27 PM.Lake Coleridge's volunteer firefighters have quit en masse at having their engine taken off them. Audio

6:22 PM.A twelve year old girl from Christchurch has won one of the top prizes at the Japan Wildlife Film Festival in Tokyo. Audio

6:16 PM.Business groups are warning New Zealanders not to talk themselves into a recession because of the Chinese stockmarket ructions. Audio

6:12 PM.China's stock market has continued to tumble, down a further 5.2% on yesterday. Audio

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

5:56 PM.An anti-chemical group is urging Auckland Transport to ditch its use of the weed killer Round Up. Audio

5:53 PM.A Northland marae, the Far North mayor and the Chairman of Northland Regional Council's Māori Advisory Committee are all behind a power company's plans to develop the Ngāwhā geothermal field. Audio

5:51 PM.A team of Geo-scientists has discovered millions of dollars worth of gold and silver beneath several of New Zealand's volcanic areas. Audio

5:47 PM.One of the greatest All Black hookers, Keven Mealamu, is hanging up his boots after more than 15 years in the professional game. Audio

5:41 PM.The head of Bridgecorp, Rod Petricevic, will walk from prison in two week's time but he won't be allowed to run a business or give financial advice. Audio

5:38 PM.The Corrections Minister has revealed that a prison guard helped inmates with their fighting techniques in Mt Eden prison. Audio

5:35 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:28 PM.The Judge who has investigated the abuse of children in state care says the system failed them and it needs to be overhauled. Audio

5:24 PM.The lawyer for the first forestry contractor on trial for manslaughter over a workplace death says his client is being made an example of by WorkSafe New Zealand. Audio

5:18 PM.An investigation into an assault at Mt Eden remand prison has found multiple failures by Corrections, which in turn has told its contractor Serco to apologise to the injured prisoner. Audio

5:14 PM.The Government is acknowledging New Zealand is not immune to the ructions in international stock markets, adding the current volatility is a bit concerning. Audio

5:12 PM.In China, the benchmark Shanghai Composite has fallen more than 4% again today, with under two hours of trading to go. Audio

5:08 PM.The man who died after being found in an Auckland hotel room full of toxic gas had been charged with fraud worth millions of dollars. Audio

5:00 PM.Man who died in Auckland hotel was facing fraud charges, Stock markets remain volatile on concerns about China, PM, Finance Minister - NZ not immune from market volatility, Host of failures around Mt… Read more Audio