Checkpoint Podcast Options

5:54 PM.Local government New Zealand says councils are unlikely to inspect every manhole in the country, despite a recommendation from a coroner that they create a risk profile for them all. Audio

5:51 PM.Forecast bad weather and high swells has forced salvage workers on the Rena to suspend their operations. Audio

5:48 PM.The Maori Party says the Government has failed to respond to its call for tribes to be offered land and forestry blocks - before overseas buyers; University researchers say a recent survey of 14… Read more Audio

5:45 PM.It's emerged the Australian army disarmed Afghan soldiers after the shooting of three diggers in Kandahar at the weekend, in case of more attacks. Audio

5:40 PM.John Key says putting some of the money raised by state asset sales into KiwiBank is a definite possibility. Audio

5:37 PM.The Council of Trade Unions says the National Party's infrastructure fund is a smokescreen for what it says is an unpopular partial asset sales plan. Audio

5:34 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:28 PM.It's being dubbed the war of the roses and its being fought in Hamilton. Audio

5:26 PM.A spat has broken out between the New Zealand First Leader, Winston Peters, and the person fronting the anti-MMP campaign. Audio

5:23 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:20 PM.The families of the 29 men killed at Pike River are becoming very frustrated at the lack of progress at the mine. Audio

5:16 PM.Qantas is scrambling to gets planes back in the air after grounding its entire fleet and forcing the Government to intervene in Australia's worst industrial dispute in a decade. Audio

5:12 PM.Our political editor Brent Edwards is with us. Audio

5:08 PM.John Key and Phil Goff have clashed over the economy, asset sales and the pension age, ahead of their first head-to-head leaders debate tonight. Audio

5:00 PM.The gloves are off as John Key and Phil Goff clash over the economy. Qantas starts flying again and the war of the roses being fought out in Hamilton. Audio

6:54 PM.The National Party says its employment relations policy is not an election sweetener for business. Audio

6:53 PM.Ngati Porou say environmental damage caused by the Rena has increased the East Coast iwi's concern over oil exploration in the Raukumara basin off East Cape; Meanwhile, the Government is reminding… Read more Audio

6:38 PM.This week the Government opened its books, showing it was still on target to get the public finances back into surplus by 2014-15, but that ambition is dependent on what many consider are optimistic… Read more Audio

6:35 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:27 PM.Seven critically endangered Haast tokoeka kiwi have started a new life on predator-free Pomona Island in Lake Manapouri. Audio

6:25 PM.New machines from Australia are being tried out at Mount Maunganui to help clean up the oil spilt on beaches by the stricken ship Rena. Audio

6:22 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:18 PM.Wellington is to host the world premiere of the first Hobbit film, in November next year. Audio

6:16 PM.The caretaker president of Kiribati, Anote Tong, says he stands by his belief that Fiji should be re-admitted to the Pacific Islands Forum. Audio

6:14 PM.The person responsible for a potentially fraudulent email which was presented in evidence at an inquest, could go to jail for up to seven years. Audio