Checkpoint for Wednesday 2 May 2018

6:10 PM.GNS Science volcanologist Brad Scott says a giant sinkhole that opened up after heavy rain over the weekend is the biggest he's ever seen in New Zealand. Video, Audio

5:58 PM.Two dogs stuck in a remote forest in the Hawke's Bay for nine days after falling 60m down a cliff have been reunited with their owner Peter Te Kahika. Read more Video, Audio

5:45 PM.About 100 people marched through Whakatane's main street today, calling on the council to introduce Māori wards. Video, Audio

5:39 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Video, Audio

5:38 PM.The Child Poverty Reduction Bill needs to go further than measuring child poverty and setting targets on how to do so - it needs to provide practical measures, social services told a select committee… Read more Audio

5:35 PM.An extra 79,000 jobs were created in the last year, pushing unemployment to a nine-year low of 4.4 percent, but wage growth remains subdued. Economics correspondent Patrick O'Meara reports. Audio

5:26 PM.The National leader Simon Bridges has denied any responsibility for the smear campaign against the Prime Minister's partner. Read more Video, Audio

5:17 PM.A string of lobby groups has warned a parliamentary select committee there's no way of being sure that oil companies won't spread Auckland's regional fuel tax across the rest of the country. Read more Video, Audio

5:14 PM.A who's who of the mining sector have gathered to devise a plan to re-enter the Pike River mine, including pumping nitrogen in to the mine through bore holes in order to neutralise the methane. Video, Audio

5:09 PM.A giant tomo - or fissure - that opened up on a farm during record-breaking rain has revealed soil that's 60,000 years old. Zac Fleming headed to Tumunui, Rotorua, for this report. Read more Video, Audio

 Watch Wednesday's full programme here.