Checkpoint for Thursday 13 October 2011

6:57 PM.The Department of Corrections says it has decided to relocate a convicted sex offender who had been paroled to South Auckland. Audio

6:55 PM.The price of fruit and vegetables has fallen to its lowest monthly average since the beginning of 2006. Audio

6:51 PM.In Britain the eurozone crisis has led to renewed calls for a referendum on whether the country should remain in the European Union. Audio

6:49 PM.The New Zealand Defence Force has delivered parts for a desalination unit along with water containers to drought stricken Tuvalu today. Audio

6:47 PM.Whanganui iwi's Treaty of Waitangi claim over Whangaunui River has moved up a notch - with the Crown and the tribe signing a Record of Understanding; The Police Commissioner has hit back at what he… Read more Audio

6:38 PM.The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry says a bacterial disease which has never before been seen in New Zealand, is killing lamprey eels in Southland and may go on to infect other species including… Read more Audio

6:35 PM.The Government is refusing to comment on the United States Secretary of State description of New Zealand as an emerging partner. Audio

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

6:25 PM.The Government has announced plans for a social worker to be stationed in every low decile primary school in the country. Audio

6:23 PM.Activity in the manufacturing sector is showing further signs of slowing. Audio

6:16 PM.A lawyer in Australia is warning those affected by the Rena disaster not to be too quick to accept any compensation deals. Audio

6:13 PM.Locals in the small coastal town on Maketu, near Tauranga, are mourning the loss of wild life and their pristine beach. Audio

6:11 PM.15 cubic metres of oil covered debris has so far been recovered from the Tauranga Harbour as the contents of containers wash up along with the oil that has leaked from the Rena. Audio

6:08 PM.The owners of the container ship spilling oil off Tauranga have issued a videotaped apology to New Zealanders, but are refusing to accept any liability for the environmental disaster. Audio

5:56 PM.The Northland tourist town of Paihia is stepping up community street patrols after two vicious attacks on young visitors. Audio

5:50 PM.Skipper Brett Keller has been taking people out fishing in the Bay of Plenty for eleven years. Audio

5:47 PM.The Police Commissioner has hit back at what he calls a 'racist slur' made by the Maori Party co-leader, Pita Sharples; Whanganui iwi's Treaty of Waitangi claim over Whangaunui River has moved up a… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.The opera singer and cricket executive, Christopher Doig, has died in Christchurch, aged 63. Audio

5:41 PM.Dirty black oil has been washing up on Papamoa beach all day, fouling the sand and distressing local people. Audio

5:36 PM.The owners of the container ship spilling oil off Tauranga have issued a videotaped apology to New Zealanders, but are refusing to accept any liability for the environmental disaster. Audio

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

5:27 PM.Clean up teams tackling the oil spill have abandoned the idea of using a chemical dispersant on the ocean surface saying trials today show it doesn't work. Audio

5:24 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:21 PM.Rebecca Crosby runs the Papamoa Beach Top 10 Holiday Resort, which is right on the beachfront. Audio

5:20 PM.Hundreds of birds have now died in the oil spill including two wandering albatross. Audio

5:15 PM.Our reporter Lorna Perry has been at Maritime New Zealand's latest news conference that ended a short time ago. Audio

5:11 PM.Here's the Transport Minister Stephen Joyce - I asked him for his reaction to the apology. Audio

5:07 PM.The Rena has been shifting about on the Astrolabe reef today, and is listing over further, though inspectors who got on board amid improved weather report it appears more stable. Audio

5:00 PM.The owner of the stricken container ship apologises for the oil spill. Salvage inspectors are winched on board the ship and hundreds more birds die on the Bay of Plenty beaches . Audio