Checkpoint for Wednesday 8 June 2011

6:53 PM.The head of the country's probation service wants greater use of satellite tracking systems to monitor prisoners on parole but says at the moment the technology is just not good enough. Audio

6:50 PM.MPs have been told if police and prison officers are to be better protected under the law, the public should also get better protection from them. Audio

6:47 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

6:39 PM.Research into possum control is now focused almost entirely on poisons and virtually none is being done on shutting down the animals' reproductive system. Audio

6:36 PM.Opponents of the controversial pest poison 1080 are threatening to increase their protest action. Audio

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

6:28 PM.A union is claiming civil servants are being forced to work longer hours for no pay to make up for the Government's public sector cuts. Audio

6:25 PM.Mighty River is committing 466 million dollars to a 82 megawatt geothermal plant north of Taupo, which will be complete in mid 2013. Audio

6:17 PM.The rugby world has been rocked today by the news that the Hurricanes is firing two of its star players, Ma'a Nonu, and team captain, Andrew Hore. Audio

6:14 PM.The Minister of Finance says imposing restrictions on foreigners taking stakes in part sales of state assets has been looked at by the Government. Audio

6:08 PM.A prison guard says the Hawke's Bay roof-top protest got out of hand because they weren't allowed to use batons and pepper spray on the inmates. Audio

5:54 PM.The Department of Conservation plans to limit the number of tourists who can land in Nelson's Abel Tasman National Park. Audio

5:50 PM.The lawyer for the man accused of murdering a Whanganui woman says his client's explanation for the death is so unbelievable it might be true. Audio

5:48 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

5:45 PM.For the first time, authorities in Japan have sugggested that the situation at the stricken Fukushima power plant may be worse than a nuclear melt down. Audio

5:41 PM.The Government is being asked to make urgent changes to significantly boost New Zealand's ability to conduct clinical trials. Audio

5:37 PM.The head of Auckland's council-owned water company says he believes the reticulated gas supply was the source of a fatal explosion in the city. Audio

5:33 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:28 PM.Lawyers for the convicted murderer Scott Watson will get to have their say before a decision's made on his last-ditch plea for mercy. Audio

5:25 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:21 PM.The Hurricanes are refusing to explain why they've dropped two of their most experienced players from the team. Audio

5:18 PM.The Prime Minister is warning trade unions they won't be happy with employment law changes the National-led Government will make if re-elected in November. Audio

5:13 PM.The protest began last night after a prisoner was told he was being reclassified to maximum security status, because of his bad behaviour. Audio

5:07 PM.The former Labour MP, Darren Hughes, will not face charges following a police investigation into a sexual complaint from an 18-year-old man. Audio

5:00 PM.The former Labour MP, Darren Hughes, is cleared by police. The prisoner standoff in Hawkes Bay is over and the Hurricanes drop Ma'a Nonu and the captain Andrew Hore. Audio