Checkpoint for Wednesday 26 August 2009

6:56 PM.A union representing prison officers says staff could have been taken hostage when inmates broke into a control room at Ngawha Prison. Audio

6:52 PM.The prospect that potentially dangerous gas installations have been carried out by unqualified tradespeople in Northland and Auckland is causing alarm in the industry. Audio

6:49 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

6:45 PM.A faster response to dealing with future invasive marine pests in the top of the South Island is expected after the launch of a new biosecurity initiative. Audio

6:38 PM.For the latest news in China, we're joined now by our correspondent in Beijing, Quentin Sommerville. Audio

6:37 PM.The veteran American Senator Edward Kennedy, a brother of ex-President John F Kennedy, has died at the age of 77. Audio

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

6:26 PM.The Taranaki Regional Council says testing for soil contamination at Marfell Park has shown the area is safe. Audio

6:24 PM.The Australian government is embarking on a new multi-million dollar Australia-branding project that will be modelled on New Zealand's '100% Pure' campaign. Audio

6:21 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:18 PM.A salvo's been fired at the US President Barack Obama by the former Vice President Dick Cheney in response to the investigation into suspected torture of detainees at secret CIA prisons around the… Read more Audio

6:15 PM.A bomb in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar has killed at least forty people and injured more than sixty. Audio

6:11 PM.Mahia Peninsula residents have voiced overwhelming opposition to a housing development proposed for Mahanga Beach. Audio

6:07 PM.The Government has fleshed out its plan to reduce youth offending with a range of programmes for at-risk youth. Audio

5:58 PM.The man accused of being the ringleader of a fake passport scam targeting Pacific Island over-stayers is insisting his case should be heard on a marae under Maori tikanga instead of court. Audio

5:55 PM.With unusually high temperatures across South Eastern Australia this week there are fears the bushfire season will hit early and hard. Audio

5:54 PM.The United States Senator Edward Kennedy has died, aged 77. Mr Kennedy was the last of the J F Kennedy brothers after his two older brothers were assassinated. Audio

5:49 PM.Confirming a patient's name and what part of their body is being operated on is part of a new checklist for New Zealand hospitals. Audio

5:47 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

5:43 PM.The mayor of the Taupo District says a terminally ill hunter, protesting against the use of 1080 by holding a loan mountain vigil, says he has the right to choose how he lives out the remainder of his… Read more Audio

5:38 PM.The company at the centre of the industrial row with workers who install and repair phone and broadband lines says it'll have all the staff it needs by the October deadline when it takes over a… Read more Audio

5:35 PM.Hopes of a cross-party agreement on emissions trading appear to have been dashed on the eve of a parliamentary committee reporting back on the scheme. Audio

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

5:22 PM.The Prime Minister John Key says he will not support a members bill to overturn the anti-smacking law which is to be considered by parliament. Audio

5:21 PM.An 18 year old woman charged in connection with the suspicious death of a premature baby has been granted bail. Audio

5:20 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:17 PM.Will Ilolahia is one of the founders of the Polynesian Panthers who works with at-risk youth through the Waiata Artists Trust. He is questioning whether the money is being put into the right hands. Audio

5:11 PM.Summer holiday camps for thousands of poor young people, and court ordered adventure camps are part of the government's plan to reduce youth crime. Audio