Checkpoint for Wednesday 14 December 2011

6:57 PM.The final remaining US troops in Iraq are returning home, bringing to a close eight and a half years of conflict. Audio

6:49 PM.The Ngapuhi leader Sonny Tau says the runanga has decided to suspend Ngati Hine iwi from attending Board meetings, until it complies with the requirements of Te Runanga a iwi o Ngapuhi's constitution… Read more Audio

6:41 PM.A structural engineer who ordered a building green stickered though he'd failed to do another thorough check on it has defended his inspections at the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission. Audio

6:37 PM.The SPCA has won a case which it says be a strong warning to negligent pet-owners. Audio

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

6:28 PM.We've always claimed the Rocky Horror Show's Richard O'Brien as our own, and now it's official. Audio

6:21 PM.The fast food operator Restaurant Brands will spend millions of dollars opening an American brand of burger outlets around the country from next year. Audio

6:18 PM.A group representing biotechnology firms says a shortage of money for new investment is becoming increasingly acute. Audio

6:15 PM.A Bay of Plenty farm and its manager have been fined more than 50-thousand dollars for discharging effluent near a stream. Audio

6:11 PM.Emergency services in the Nelson and Tasman districts will be on alert thoughout the night as heavy rain threatens more flooding. Audio

6:09 PM.Two men have been charged with the murder of the Radio New Zealand journalist, Phillip Cottrell. Audio

5:52 PM.A coroner says a mental health assessment on a suicidal farmer who later killed herself was flawed and almost certainly wrong. Audio

5:49 PM.The Ngapuhi leader Sonny Tau says the runanga has decided to suspend Ngati Hine iwi from attending Board meetings, until it complies with the requirements of Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi's constitution… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.Our political Editor Brent Edwards says that timeframe of a year for a sell-off fits with what National said before the election. Audio

5:42 PM.The Prime Minister, John Key, says one of the first matters the new Government will consider is the partial sale of State assets. Audio

5:39 PM.To Papua New Guinea now where governor general has attempted to resolve his country's political deadlock by swearing in Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister along with his cabinet. Audio

5:36 PM.An inquest into the death of prison officer Jason Palmer has been confronted with conflicting evidence about threats to the victim. Audio

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

5:26 PM.The binge-drinking All Black Zac Guildford is being given one last chance by his Crusader's coach. Audio

5:22 PM.An Australian woman almost killed when her leg got sucked into the propeller of dolphin watching boat in the Marlborough Sounds has been awarded 80 thousand dollars in compensation. Audio

5:20 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:13 PM.The father of the Kahui twins is seeking a judicial review of the Coroner's findings on the babies' deaths. Audio

5:10 PM.Heavy rain is pounding the top of the South Island, bursting riverbanks, flooding roads and leaving people stranded. Audio

5:09 PM.Our Court reporter Ann Marie May is with us. Audio

5:07 PM.Two men have appeared in the Wellington District Court this afternoon charged with the murder of the Radio New Zealand journalist, Phillip Cottrell. Audio

5:00 PM.Two men are charged with murdering Radio NZ journalist Phillip Cottrell. Heavy rain pounds the top of the South Island, bursting riverbanks and flooding roads and one last chance for the… Read more Audio