Checkpoint for Wednesday 5 October 2011

6:56 PM.A rare type of kiwi - the Haast tokoeka - has hatched at the West Coast Wildlife Centre. Audio

6:52 PM.The Minister of Earthquake Recovery says its absurd to claim the Authority is not being held accountable just because it won't be assessed by a self-appointed watchdog group. Audio

6:49 PM.A survey of major property owners in Christchurch's CBD shows 80 percent will take their money elsewhere if the Council's Central City Plan is introduced. Audio

6:46 PM.An operation is underway to repatriate up to twenty tattooed Maori heads from several museums across France; Hamilton City Council has declined a proposal by a Te Arawa company to build a… Read more Audio

6:40 PM.Parliament has received petitions aimed at keeping regional rail links open that are under threat of being mothballed. Audio

6:36 PM.A decision to send an overseas-based New Zealand artist to the art world's version of the Olympics has surprised some industry players. Audio

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

6:24 PM.A team of oil spill experts from around the country are on standby in case problems with a container ship stuck on a reef near Tauranga worsens. Audio

6:18 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:16 PM.The sell-off of the property empire of bankrupt Wellington businessman, Terry Serepisos, has begun to pay back his debts. Audio

6:13 PM.The Ministry of Education has confirmed that three of the people it has hired to new advisory roles with schools have never worked as school teachers. Audio

6:11 PM.The opera superstar, Placido Domingo, has presented a cheque for more than 300 thousand dollars to quake-ravaged Christchurch. Audio

6:08 PM.Former Labour MP Taito Phillip Field is getting out of prison after serving just a third of his six year sentence for bribery and corruption. Audio

5:56 PM.Parliament's cleaners have put on a lunch for politicians today to show them what life on the minimum wage is like. Audio

5:50 PM.Hamilton City Council has declined a proposal by a group of Te Arawa iwi to build a multimillion-dollar hotel in the city's arts area; An operation is underway to repatriate up to twenty tattooed… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.A man's been found guilty in a murder case that prompted the Government to tighten the laws around air rifles. Audio

5:43 PM.The Prime Minster has again deflected criticism of his Government's economic management by blaming the Labour Party. Audio

5:41 PM.The outspoken Samoan Rugby star Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu arrived in a feisty mood to his misconduct hearing this afternoon, saying he stood by the accusations of racism. Audio

5:37 PM.Japan has announced it will resume whaling in the Southern Ocean and at the same time upgrade security around its whaling fleet. Audio

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

5:28 PM.Several workers have been fired from a Motueka rest-home following an alarming spot audit in July. Audio

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

5:21 PM.Opera great, Placido Domingo, has handed over a cheque for more than $300,000 to the quake-ravaged city of the Christchurch. Audio

5:17 PM.There were frightening scenes in Parliament this afternoon when a man tried to hurl himself over the railing in the public galleries. Audio

5:13 PM.The container ship grounded on a reef off Tauranga since early today is taking on board sea water. Audio

5:10 PM.Maxine Gallagher-Field was at the Parole Board hearing today alongside her husband. Audio

5:08 PM.The first politician in New Zealand to be convicted of corruption is to walk free from prison, having served just one third of his sentence. Audio

5:00 PM.The former MP Taito Philip Field gets out of jail early. A container ship grounded off Tauranga is taking on water and Opera great Placido Domingo arrives in Christchurch. Audio