Checkpoint for Monday 14 November 2011

6:57 PM.More now on today's figures on retail spending which show the largest quarterly increase in almost five years. Audio

6:53 PM.To Latin America where our correspondent Daniel Schweimler begins with details of a police operation to wrest back control of Rio de Janeiro's largest slum from drug lords. Audio

6:49 PM.A major business hui has been told Maori export enterprises need to work together if they want to make more money; The Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says her caucus is committed to growing… Read more Audio

6:42 PM.The architect of Whanau Ora says the scheme's expansion during the next three years will be crucial for the Maori Party in any post-election negotiations. Audio

6:38 PM.Final preparations to take the containers off the grounded ship, Rena, are being made, with the barge being moored into position and testing the cranes. Audio

6:35 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:29 PM.A man has been charged with the murder of the Christchurch school girl, Jade Bayliss, and will appear in court tomorrow. Audio

6:25 PM.Retail spending grew at its fastest rate in almost five years in the September quarter, boosted by the Rugby World Cup. Audio

6:22 PM.The Green Party wants to overhaul transport funding, by dumping National's plan to fund roads of national significance. Audio

6:18 PM.Talks on a free trade deal covering nine Pacific-rim countries, including New Zealand, have received another boost with two more countries interested in joining. Audio

6:15 PM.The Christchurch City Council has been questioned over whether it was playing russian roulette with its citizens with its rules on earthquake prone buildings. Audio

6:13 PM.A former justice minister who was a director of the failed finance company Lombard, says he would have immediately resigned if any problems had been raised with him about the state of the company. Audio

6:08 PM.The families of Pike River victims shook their heads in amazement as they heard evidence today from a Labour Department mines inspector at the Royal Commission of inquiry. Audio

5:53 PM.The All Black, Zac Guilford looks likely to escape charges in the Cook Islands and instead will make a private apology over allegedly assaulting two people at a Rarotonga bar. Audio

5:46 PM.A Bay of Plenty tribe has led a hikoi against plans for the Port of Tauranga to deepen and widen the harbour channel; Meanwhile, the iwi says the removal of containers from the crippled ship, Rena… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.The All Black, Zac Guildford looks likely to escape charges in the Cook Islands and instead will make an apology after allegedly assaulting two people at a Rarotonga bar. Audio

5:39 PM.The National Party's campaign billboard with the slogan "building a brighter future" has been given a makeover. Audio

5:35 PM.The Rugby World Cup is getting the credit for the biggest jump in retail spending in almost five years. Audio

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

5:25 PM.The Maori Party says expanding Whanau Ora will be a key part of its post-election negotiations. Audio

5:23 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:19 PM.Three former directors of the failed finance company Bridgecorp have been forced to listen to the stories of loss suffered by investors. Audio

5:16 PM.The families of Pike River victims shook their heads in amazement as they heard evidence today from a Labour Department mines inspector at the Royal Commission of inquiry. Audio

5:11 PM.The cameraman at the centre of the controversy, who does not want to be named, spoke to Checkpoint a short time ago. Audio

5:08 PM.The National Party leader John Key says he's taking a stand against what he calls tabloid style, covert media tactics, and has laid a formal complaint with the police. Audio

5:00 PM.John Key lays a formal complaint with the police about the cup of tea recording. A government mines inspector is grilled at the Pike River Royal Commission and the Maori Party says expanding Whanau… Read more Audio