Checkpoint for Friday 4 May 2012

6:58 PM.A stash of medals and collectors coins have been found amongst other stolen goods, when Counties Manukau police searched a house yesterday. Audio

6:55 PM.The Maori Party's Education spokesperson, Te Ururoa Flavell, says the Government should reconsider making changes to student loans and allowances; The Minister for Treaty Negotiations, Christopher… Read more Audio

6:36 PM.John Key became Prime Minister in 2008 promising to hold his ministers to a higher standard of conduct than expected of ministers in the previous Labour-led Government. This week he repeated he was… Read more Audio

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

6:19 PM.News from the business sector. Audio

6:14 PM.The first military exercise between the United States and New Zealand on home soil in more than a quarter of a century is underway. Audio

6:08 PM.To Australia, where the defence minister is defending his decision to slash 4 billion dollars from military spending. Audio

5:56 PM.A nutrition expert says obesity is on the rise and could cripple the health system if more isn't done to prevent it. Audio

5:48 PM.The Minister for Treaty Negotiations, Christopher Finlayson, says Ngai Tuhoe is going to be playing a much bigger role in future discussions over Te Urewera National Park; The Maori Party's Education… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.Thousands of anti state asset sales protesters have taken their cause to Parliament. Audio

5:43 PM.The Prime Minister, John Key, says Labour's U-turn on its policy to restart Superfund contributions shows it has no plan to manage the economy. Audio

5:38 PM.John Ballingall is the Deputy Chief Executive of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. Audio

5:35 PM.A third of the Transport Ministry's policy advice is written so poorly that in some cases the Minister could not understand it. Audio

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

5:27 PM.A Waikato council is back tracking on a toilet tax after an outcry from businesspeople and community groups. Audio

5:24 PM.A German tourist, Andreas Hahn, has been sentenced to four months' jail for taking four endangered jewelled geckos from Banks Peninsula. Audio

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

5:19 PM.The eight people behind one of the largest methamphetamine distribution syndicates ever seen in New Zealand have this afternoon been sent to jail. Audio

5:16 PM.A major bank has dumped part of its holdings of New Zealand dollars and is advising its clients to do the same because it thinks the currency has further to fall. Audio

5:12 PM.We have had no response to our requests to Talley's for an interview. Rowan Ogg, the Group General Manager of Affco joins us. Audio

5:08 PM.A Ngapuhi leader says Maori farmers and landowners around the North Island will boycott the AFFCO meatworks - if the owners, Talleys, persist in what he's calling blatant anti-union tactics. Audio

5:00 PM.Maori farmers threaten to boycott AFFCO meatworks to force an end to the lockout. Westpac dumps New Zealand dollars and advises clients to do the same and a Waikato council back tracks on a toilet… Read more Audio