Checkpoint for Friday 19 May 2017

6:22 PM.A Hamilton homeowner says digging on a neighbouring property has created a gaping hole beside his house, while another says work has caused flooding. Audio

6:17 PM.The High Court in Wellington has been told that the son of the Kohanga Reo matriarch Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi tried to blackmail the Kohanga Reo National Trust for $800,000. Audio

6:12 PM.The principals of five Dunedin schools where increased lead levels have been found in soil tests say there is no need to panic. Audio

6:07 PM.A mother has declined repeated requests to be interviewed today after Checkpoint learnt there might be more to her claims that her daughter was bullied and no one would attend her birthday. Audio

5:56 PM.Checkpoint talks to John Haley, the publican at the Old Boot Inn - the Middleton family's local pub, ahead of Pippa Middleton's wedding to hedgefund manager James Matthews. Audio

5:49 PM.The All Blacks are to lose the services of long-serving, and highly successful assistant coach, Wayne Smith, after this year's Rugby Championship. Audio

5:45 PM.John Campbell asks New Zealand Transport Agency's Regional Highway Manager Ross I'Anson when the gorge will re-open, and as it turns out the answer isn't very clear. Audio

5:42 PM.Mayors and Chief Executives from the Manawatu, Tararua, and Hawkes Bay regions are to meet to discuss the ongoing close of the Manawatu Gorge. Audio

5:22 PM.Damian Lawson was jailed for five years this morning for reckless driving leading to the death of a passenger after he sped away from a chasing police officer last year. Audio