Checkpoint for Tuesday 6 December 2011

6:53 PM.Today marks the 5th anniversary of the 2006 military coup in Fiji. Audio

6:49 PM.A Maori educator is supporting the government's idea to trial so-called Charter schools; Annette Sykes has become the interim President of the Mana party - replacing the union man Matt McCarten, who… Read more Audio

6:44 PM.Health officials are urging parents to vaccinate babies as cases of whooping cough nationally continue to climb. Audio

6:40 PM.A combination of fungi and poplar trees is being hailed as a breakthrough method of cleaning up dioxins in contaminated land. Audio

6:37 PM.Real estate experts are skeptical about claims made by a leading international magazine saying New Zealand houses are over priced and the country's heading for a housing bubble burst. Audio

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

6:25 PM.Two buildings at Ashburton Hospital are being evacuated because they're at high or very high risk from an earthquake. Audio

6:23 PM.The international shipping line, Maersk, says the ongoing industrial unrest at the Ports of Auckland is the main reason behind its decision to pull one of its weekly services. Audio

6:16 PM.More now on the charter schools which the Government is planning to trial in South Auckland and in some parts of Christchurch, which were hit badly in the earthquake. Audio

6:13 PM.A Christchurch supermarket is facing stiff opposition to its application for a liquor licence - with one opponent saying the move would amount to legalised drug dealing. Audio

6:11 PM.An American engineer has told the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission he was shocked at the failure of builders to properly fix the floors of the PGC building to its walls. Audio

6:08 PM.Some Pike River families cried today when they heard about a combination of inexperience and fear at the mine in the lead up to the fatal blast. Audio

5:56 PM.The Ports of Auckland is blaming striking workers for its loss of a 20 million dollar contract with the shipping giant Maersk. Audio

5:52 PM.The future of the multi-million dollar Pacific oyster industry is in doubt as marine farmers count their losses from a new disease. Audio

5:49 PM.There are changes at the top of the Mana Party; A Maori educator is supporting the government's idea to trial so-called Charter schools; Local iwi in Whakatane have been the driving force behind a… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.A lot of ice cream and a lot of fun have played a big part in producing the sixteen-year-old shot put sensation Jacko Gill. Audio

5:39 PM.A first-of-its-kind court order has banned a convicted fraudster from the money lending industry with a judge saying his treatment of two families heavily in debt was outrageous. Audio

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

5:25 PM.Three soldiers have been honoured for their bravery in a deadly attack in Afghanistan last year. Audio

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

5:20 PM.Opposition to the government's plan to trial so-called charter schools is mounting. Audio

5:16 PM.The Government is defending its welfare reforms against claims that under its deal with Act they go further than National campaigned on. Audio

5:13 PM.Bernie Monk, a spokesperson for the Pike River families joins us. Audio

5:07 PM.Some Pike River families cried today when they heard a tunnelling contractor tell the Royal Commission that he quit the mine because the poor ventilation was poisoning him. Audio

5:00 PM.Tears from Pike River families as a contractor tells of his fear the mine would explode. Welfare reforms under scrutiny and how a war hero earned his medal. Audio