Checkpoint Podcast Options

5:38 PM.St John Ambulance in Auckland has nearly 300 people at the ready for this weekend's Rugby World Cup games, plus an extra 30 ambulances. Audio

5:35 PM.More from Party Central in Auckland. Audio

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

5:31 PM.Aucklanders out celebrating the start of the Rugby world cup have been having a good time but also struggling with the size of the crowd. Audio

5:29 PM.Facepaint and flags brightened schools throughout the country as they got into the world cup spirit today. Audio

5:25 PM.The United States is on the alert after officials there warned of a specific and credible - although unconfirmed - terrorism threat ahead of the September 11th anniversary this weekend. Audio

5:22 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:20 PM.Auckland's Mayor Len Brown joins us. Audio

5:16 PM.The mother of a survivor and a victim of the Pike River disaster says the police have admittted to her they made mistakes in the aftermath of the explosions. Audio

5:13 PM.The image of a possible body inside the Pike River mine has been shown at the Royal Commission investigation into last November's explosions which killed 29 men. Audio

5:07 PM.A massive crowd has gathered with tens of thousands of people packed in to into Central Auckland or heading to Eden Park. Audio

5:00 PM.Party Central is already packed out as thousands pour into central Auckland or head for Eden Park. The image of a possible body inside the Pike River mine has been shown at the Royal Commission… Read more Audio

6:57 PM.The Agriculture Minister says the sustainable way New Zealand's plantation forests are cut down and processed, gives the sector an advantage in overseas markets. Audio

6:53 PM.The Government says it won't bow to pressure to introduce further drug driving tests. Audio

6:51 PM.Some Pacific leaders at this week's Forum have expressed their frustration over the pace of regional and international trade deals. Audio

6:47 PM.Northland Health says 50 per cent of the meningitis cases diagnosed in the region in recent weeks have been Maori children; A Waikeria prison manager credits Women's Refuge workers with reforming the… Read more Audio

6:44 PM.Calls for urgent action on suicide prevention fell on deaf ears at Parliament today. Audio

6:40 PM.Hundreds of scientists have joined forces to criticise the Government about a lack of funding for junior researchers. Audio

6:36 PM.An alarm's being sounded about cooling systems that use highly dangerous gases, after an inquest into a firefighter's death at a Waikato coolstore. Audio

6:33 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:28 PM.The Fish and Game Council wants to stop overseas guides operating in New Zealand and hike up the price of a fishing licence. Audio

6:25 PM.The troubled wine maker, New Zealand Wine Company, has reported a wider annual loss, as it struggles to combat a wine glut and the high New Zealand dollar. Audio

6:16 PM.The group of schools opposing national standards in reading writing and maths has given up in the face of a Ministry ultimatum, but one school that might still resist says it's in an invidious… Read more Audio

6:12 PM.Hundreds of people with green-zoned homes in Christchurch are pushing to be red zoned instead - afraid that even if the land really is safe, the value of their houses is not. Audio

6:08 PM.The Pacific Island forum leaders have just released their official communique for this year's summit. Audio