Checkpoint Podcast Options

5:48 PM.The Maori Affairs Minister, Pita Sharples, says an evaluation of the early outcomes of the marae based court system for young Maori, shows the rangatahi courts are on track; The Minister for Courts… Read more Audio

5:42 PM.Dr Lockwood Smith is leaving the chamber for good to become New Zealand's High Commissioner in London. Audio

5:38 PM.Christchurch school principals are sceptical that Lesley Longstone's quitting will restore their confidence in the Ministry of Education. Audio

5:35 PM.The centre of one of Fiji's largest cities has this afternoon been shut down, to prevent looters raiding cyclone-damaged shops. Audio

5:32 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:26 PM.An Auckland coroner has called for national guidelines on safe sleeping with babies, following the deaths of two infants from accidental suffocation while they were in hospital. Audio

5:24 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:20 PM.In the wake of the mass killings at a Connecticut school, the White House has spelled out some of the specific gun controls measures that would get the backing of President Obama. Audio

5:16 PM.A Whangarei man seeking treatment to become a woman has been sent to a men's prison to serve time despite pleas to the judge that she'll be sexually attacked there. Audio

5:14 PM.Our education correspondent, John Gerritsen has been following today's developments. Audio

5:11 PM.The President of the Secondary Principals' Association, Patrick Walsh, joins us. Audio

5:07 PM.The Secretary for Education, Lesley Longstone, has had to quit after barely a year in the job but is in line for a severance payout of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Audio

5:00 PM.The embattled head of education quits after barely a year in the job. A man who wants to become a woman is sent to a men's prison and guidelines wanted on safe sleeping with babies. Audio

6:53 PM.A central-Christchurch property owner says attempts by insurance companies to limit the amount of money they end up paying out for earthquake damage, is just part of doing business. Audio

6:48 PM.Scientists are investigating whether taking vitamin D tablets can prevent Multiple Sclerosis. Audio

6:45 PM.The Maori Council's solicitor, Donna Hall, predicts a bid to debate Maori water rights in the Supreme Court could cost at least a quarter of a million dollars; The lawyer for the widow of James… Read more Audio

6:40 PM.A quarry company cutting into an Otago ridge named by Captain Cook has been challenged in court to produce the consent that allows it to carry on. Audio

6:37 PM.A fund manager acting for about 800 investors who lost money in a debt security scheme, called Credit Sails, says the deal was designed to fail. Audio

6:34 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:26 PM.Divers have found a 15 tonne digger lost out at sea in the Bay of Plenty ten years ago. Audio

6:21 PM.As the first victims of the Connecticut school massacre are buried, two pro-gun have senators called for changes to firearm laws. Audio

6:18 PM.The Supreme Court has come down on the side of the Pakeha wife of a Maori man whose Tuhoe family took his body away from her to bury in the Bay of Plenty. Audio

6:13 PM.Cyclone Evan is moving south away from Fiji leaving behind hundreds of damaged houses and about 8000 people holed up in evacuation centres. Audio

6:09 PM.The Greens say the Government's chances of getting back to surplus are looking more tenuous than ever. Audio

6:07 PM.Labour is accusing the Government of being the Christmas grinch, after it announced a big increase in fuel taxes. Audio