Checkpoint Podcast Options

6:21 PM.A drug patent lawyer says a Pacific-wide trade agreement to keep the protection period for new generation biological drugs at five years is good news for New Zealand's healthcare bill, if accurate. Audio

6:18 PM.While the All Blacks face Tonga tomorrow at the Rugby World Cup, probably the biggest match of the weekend is at Twickenham, where Australia takes on Wales. Audio

6:11 PM.The Ministry of Social Development has provided a snapshot of the number of children whose parents had lost up to half their benefits for failing to, for the most part, turn up for a meeting. Audio

6:07 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:55 PM.For the first time in more than 20 years, the New Zealand driver and four time winner, Greg Murphy, won't be contesting the Great Race - the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama in Australia. Audio

5:51 PM.Heavy downpours are more likely to worsen water quality and cause sickness on Auckland's beaches, rather than the prospect of El Nino weather and a swelling population. Audio

5:48 PM.A rowing club in Levin says it is refusing to be bullied out of its building next to Lake Horowhenua by some local Maori. The Horowhenua Rowing Club hopes a Waitangi Tribunal hearing into Maori claims… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.A judge says she's alarmed a fraudster wants to continually delay her sentencing and has called on police to verify reports and letters from mental health providers. Audio

5:40 PM.The All Blacks will need a strong performance against Tonga in their final Rugby World Cup pool match tomorrow morning. Audio

5:38 PM.Police officers, both serving and retired, are owed millions of dollars after a major error was found in the force's payroll system. Audio

5:35 PM.The Crown says no amount of expert evidence will erase the fact that Kim Dotcom's Megaupload business knowingly paid users for violating copyright. Audio

5:33 PM.Government figures show retail sales using electronic cards have seen the strongest growth in four months. Audio

5:26 PM.The Legion of Honour is going to Flying Officer Donald Ivey, who flew in the Mosquitoes of Squadron 487 during the D-Day landings. The same squadron carried out the daring raid to bomb a Gestapo… Read more Audio

5:23 PM.The Employment Relations Authority has decided not to take a tough line with a Bangladeshi employer who hired illegal immigrants and destroyed evidence. Audio

5:20 PM.Far North business people are fuming over the power cut that switched off an entire district for several hours today. Audio

5:16 PM.New data shows about 2000 children on any one day are living in households where their parents have lost up to half their benefits because they've failed to turn up to an appointment in most cases. Audio

5:11 PM.Australia's new Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, will make an official visit to New Zealand next week. Audio

5:07 PM.For the first time, the family of 10-year-old Alex Fisher, have commented publicly, saying they are devastated by his death. Audio

5:00 PM.Alex Fisher's family comments for the first time since his death. Thousands of children hit by benefit sanctions and Australia's new Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, visits NZ next week. Audio

6:53 PM.A prominent opponent of the is Trans Pacific Partnership is demanding the immediate release of the details of the agreement. Audio

6:50 PM.Waikato-Tainui says the closure of the Huntly East Mine will have a devastating impact on the community, but it's considering the first right of refusal rule when it comes to the land the mine sits… Read more Audio

6:45 PM.A court case challenging the right of Australian authorities to hold asylum seekers in offshore detention centres is being heard at the High Court in Canberra. Audio

6:41 PM.The Government says the proposed Waimea Community Dam near Nelson would deliver major economic benefits to the region. Audio

6:36 PM.Amnesty International is accusing the Myanmar Government of locking up and harassing scores of peaceful activists in the lead up to elections in November. Audio

6:33 PM.The American President Barack Obama has phoned the aid agency Médecins Sans Frontières to apologize for the accidental killing of 22 people in a US airstrike in Afghanistan. Audio