Checkpoint for Wednesday 23 November 2011

6:56 PM.A United States company is denying a claim it has hijacked computer software developed by a New Zealand library and is using its Maori name as a trademark. Audio

6:53 PM.The Green Party is challenging John Key to "show us the papers" and reveal what Treasury advice the National Party got on its proposed asset sales programme. Audio

6:50 PM.Plans to convert the Rimutaka rail trail into a working historic railway are under attack from Wellington Cylce groups. Audio

6:47 PM.A lawyer specialising in the trademarking of Maori words says a tangata whenua body charged with reviewing requests for Maori trademarks can only decline an application if its offensive to Maori; The… Read more Audio

6:42 PM.To Australia, where a slanging match is escalating around the passage of the Government's controversial mining tax. Audio

6:38 PM.The Mana Party is targeting traditional Labour Party supporters in an effort to lift its party vote on Saturday. Audio

6:34 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:24 PM.The Nelson City Council is facing a public backlash over its decision to create a special Maori ward. Audio

6:22 PM.Fisher and Paykel Healthcare has lifted its half year profit, as demand for its products rose. Audio

6:16 PM.The way's been opened for the body of a man snatched by his Maori family to be exhumed and reburied. Audio

6:14 PM.School students have been left in tears after being forced to miss their end-of-year exams due to a fire alarm prankster. Audio

6:10 PM.The ACT party will push John Key to change his mind on raising the pension age if it ends up helping National form the next Government. Audio

6:07 PM.The High Court is refusing to rule on whether a recorded discussion between the National Party leader John Key and the ACT Party's Epsom candidate, was a private conversation or not. Audio

5:53 PM.A former employee at Pike River - who was there until a month before the blasts - says he warned that the mine could explode at any time. Audio

5:47 PM.Students associations are bracing for a big drop in income next year when their membership becomes voluntary. Audio

5:47 PM.The chair of a panel which advises on the trademarking of Maori words says its powers may be limited but it does give tangata whenua some say in the process; The police and Child Youth and Family have… Read more Audio

5:40 PM.Highly skilled workers are leaving for Australia in greater numbers than those with lower-skills. Audio

5:37 PM.The Court of Appeal has ruled against a Maori family that snatched the body of a relative off his wife to bury back at his ancestral home. Audio

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

5:28 PM.A South Otago yarn maker is blaming Government policies for driving his business to the wall. Audio

5:24 PM.The Green party says information about the planned sale of state assets is being suppressed just days out from the election. Audio

5:21 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:18 PM.Witnesses at the scene of a dramatic helicopter crash on Auckland's waterfront are questioning if it was safe to be flying so low in such a built up and busy public space. Audio

5:17 PM.The Labour Party leader, Phil Goff, is not commenting in detail on the decision. Audio

5:15 PM.We spoke to John Banks shortly after the court decision. Audio

5:12 PM.Ron Mansfield, a lawyer for the cameraman who recorded the 'tea tape', responds to the High Court judge's decision.
  Audio

5:08 PM.A High Court judge has refused to rule on whether or not the tea tape conversation between John Key and John Banks was private. Audio

5:00 PM.The "Tea party tapes" are to stay secret for now. A pilot walks away from a helicopter crash on Auckland's crowded waterfront and a court rules against iwi body snatchers. Audio