Checkpoint for Friday 18 December 2015

6:55 PM.The stalwart Wellington Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund has announced he'll retire at the end of the current A-League football season. Audio

6:52 PM.The Northern iwi Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa today's signed its Deed of Settlement with the Crown. Audio

6:34 PM.The Government's ended the year cautiously optimistic about the state of the economy. Audio

6:27 PM.An animal rights group is calling for a new organisation to oversee animal welfare because it says the Ministry for Primary Industries is a 'ministry for farmers'. Audio

6:24 PM.Local iwi are being given the right to vote in committee meetings at the Rotorua Lakes Council. Audio

6:21 PM.The number of drownings this year has matched last year's total, and is expected to rise further over the Christmas break. Audio

6:17 PM.A major shake-up is on the way for the Ministry of Health in the wake of criticism within the sector that it's out of touch and unresponsive. Audio

6:12 PM.The Christchurch City Council has reached an agreement with its insurers for a 635 million dollar payout for earthquake damage. Audio

6:06 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:46 PM.Mary Wilson and her last hurrah on Checkpoint Audio

5:43 PM.A veteran Dunedin rowing coach has avoided prosecution over a collision on Otago harbour last year which has left one boy with permanent damage to his arm. Audio

5:42 PM.A New Zealand murderer described as extraordinarily dangerous by a British judge could be deported here. Audio

5:37 PM.A woman who defrauded her employer of close to one-million dollars is tonight beginning a four and a half year jail sentence. Audio

5:35 PM.A fight over music at a 21st party ended in murder. Audio

5:34 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:25 PM.It is nearly the end of the working year.That means an end to months of toil, which may or may not have been appreciated by your boss. It also means an end to a year of pet hates, such as work mates… Read more Audio

5:23 PM.The Prime Minister, John Key, has made international headlines after taking part in a radio show stunt joking with DJs about male rape in prison. Audio

5:19 PM.Auckand's City Mission has already given out as many support parcels to desperate families as it did for the entire Christmas period last year. Audio

5:15 PM.The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution aimed at slashing Islamic State's multi-billion dollar funding. Audio

5:12 PM.The Christchurch City Council has agreed to a 635 million dollar earthquake insurance settlement, that's around 285 million short of what it wanted. Audio

5:08 PM.A serial child rapist has been deported from Thailand, arriving back in Auckland just hours ago but with the police unable to do a thing about him. Audio

5:00 PM.A serial child rapist has been deported from Thailand, arriving back in Auckland just hours ago but with the police unable to do a thing about him and The Christchurch City Council has agreed to a 635… Read more Audio