Checkpoint for Wednesday 29 June 2011

6:57 PM.Promoters of the National Cycling Centre in Waikato have been given a reprieve after the Waikato Regional Council voted narrowly to consult the public on whether ratepayers money should go into the… Read more Audio

6:55 PM.Two New Zealand soldiers have been wounded in Afghanistan, in the daring Taliban attack on a top hotel in the capital Kabul. The raid left 10 people dead and all eight suicide bombers were also killed… Read more Audio

6:51 PM.A study from the United States has raised fresh concerns about the use of the chemical BPA in food packaging. Audio

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

6:46 PM.Figures from the Ministry of Health show waiting times for heart surgery are at record lows. Audio

6:38 PM.Firefighters in the south-western United States are trying to control a wildfire that is threatening a major nuclear research centre. Audio

6:35 PM.The Police in Palmerston North are urging parents and children to be vigilant after a girl was abducted in the city yesterday. Audio

6:32 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:27 PM.The prominent New Zealand author Alan Duff has declared himself bankrupt. Audio

6:24 PM.Goodman Property Trust to start largest building project in 5 years. Audio

6:21 PM.Fourteen people including, police officers and armed offenders squad members caught up in the Napier siege two years ago have been honoured with bravery awards. Audio

6:16 PM.The police have released footage of a gang shooting in Wairoa last year in the hope of identifying the offender. Audio

6:12 PM.It has been confirmed the operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima plant grossly under-estimated the risk and size of a potential tsunami. Audio

6:08 PM.Two New Zealand soldiers have been wounded in Afghanistan, in the daring Taliban attack on a top hotel in the capital Kabul. Audio

5:56 PM.The Government is lauding new figures from the Ministry of Health which reveal a big drop in wait times for heart surgery. Audio

5:54 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

5:49 PM.A violent offender, at high risk of reoffending, has been freed from prison without residential restrictions. Audio

5:46 PM.The recovery work at the Pike River mine has slowed just a day after teams went in for the first time since the fatal explosions seven months ago. Audio

5:43 PM.Auckland health officials are trying to contact 40 Thai Airways passengers who arrived from Bangkok ten days ago on board a flight with a woman who had measles. Audio

5:39 PM.The Government's making it easier to build new toll roads and to use public private partnerships for funding under proposed changes to land transport laws. Audio

5:35 PM.Greek politicians are poised to vote later today on austerity measures that have sparked nationwide strikes and the worst rioting in Athens for more than year. Audio

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

5:27 PM.Happy Feet the sick Emperor Penguin will be released out to sea when, and if, it recovers. Audio

5:24 PM.Supporters of a pro-cannabis campaigner who sold drugs at a marijuana club are furious he's been jailed. Audio

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

5:18 PM.Police in Kabul have been sifting through a landmark hotel room by room for any more casualties after the overnight assault by Taliban suicide bombers. Audio

5:14 PM.308 Defence Force staff have been told today they will lose their jobs in the first round of a cost-cutting exercise to save 23 million dollars. Audio

5:11 PM.The new Children's Commissioner says parents suspected of child abuse should lose their right to silence in the legal system. Audio

5:07 PM.Today an aunt of the Kahui twins acted out their father's response to the news his sons were sick in hospital. Audio

5:00 PM.Chris Kahui's sister acts out his response to the news his sons were sick in hospital. Eight Taliban suicide bombers are killed in Kabul and a leading pro-cannabis campaigner is jailed. Audio