Checkpoint for Thursday 31 May 2012

6:54 PM.Safety rules on the Tongariro Crossing are being tightened a month after a tourist operator dropped off a load of ill-equipped people in bad weather and they had to be rescued. Audio

6:51 PM.South Taranaki iwi representatives opposed to a water privatisation bill appeared before a Select Committee in Wellington this morning; The Chairman of Ngati Porou says the Gisborne Council has failed… Read more Audio

6:43 PM.It's an historic day for three northern iwi - with the launch of the first Maori-owned broadband network in New Zealand. Audio

6:37 PM.The Earthquake Recovery Minister's released what he says is a how-to strategy for the rebuild following the Canterbury earthquakes. Gerry Brownlee says the strategy for improving investment… Read more Audio

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

6:29 PM.Banks are rejecting criticism they're letting people 'go for broke' and borrow as much as they possibly can right now, while home loan rates are low. Audio

6:26 PM.A Family Court Councillor says children will pay the price for the Government's decision to charge people court fees to settle their relationship disputes. Audio

6:21 PM.Rising premuims have forced many to opt out of their private health insurance. But the not-for-profit health insurer, Southern Cross, is trying to reverse that trend. Audio

6:19 PM.The Government is putting up nearly $5 million to extend war pension coverage for an extra 11-hundred veterans. The Minister of Veteran Affairs, Nathan Guy, says the money will be spent over the next… Read more Audio

6:12 PM.Fonterra's rivals are sceptical of findings that the dairy co-operative isn't over-paying farmers for milk. A review by the Commerce Commission released today says Fonterra is complying with the rules… Read more Audio

6:08 PM.The Government's class sizes policy has spurred a third day of confrontation, both in the street and in Parliament, followed by the call for a mass boycott. Audio

5:55 PM.Papers have been filed to dismiss what's described as the flawed case against Kim Dotcom. The Megaupload founder faces extradition to the US on charges of internet piracy and money laundering in… Read more Audio

5:52 PM.Two Christchurch painters had a lucky find today, stumbling across about 60-thousand dollars in coins lying in bags on the side of the road. The police say it appears a pallet of coins fell off a… Read more Audio

5:48 PM.The Chairman of Ngati Porou says the Gisborne Council has failed to honour its Treaty of Waitangi obligation, over plans for a flood protection scheme on the East Coast; South Taranaki iwi… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.The Foreign Affairs Minister says the soldiers being sent to Papua New Guinea are there to help people vote in next month's election not to get embroiled in any political violence. Three Iriquois… Read more Audio

5:41 PM.The once widely touted approaching P epidemic is fizzling out with new figures suggesting the number of people using the drug has halved. Audio

5:37 PM.An opponent of Fonterra's controversial ownership scheme says his fears of huge rifts and divisions among farmers have been confirmed, by documents sent out about the plans. Audio

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

5:28 PM.Tthe family of the creche-owner, who has been detained after the fatal mall fire that killed 19 people, has questioned the response time of rescue teams - and says the owner tried to save the children… Read more Audio

5:24 PM.A nationwide manhunt is underway in Canada for 29-year-old, Luka Rocco Magnotta, who is suspected of sending packages containing severed human limbs to political parties. Audio

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

5:14 PM.After more than 280 days closed by massive landslides, the Manawatu Gorge road has been reopened, though only one lane. One-way traffic from Woodville to Ashhurst began rolling through the gorge at… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.Intermediate Schools have fired a warning shot over class sizes with the call going out for a boycott of the Ministry of Education. And pressure's ratcheted up further on the Minister Hekia Parata… Read more Audio

5:00 PM.NZAIMS calls for boycott of Ministry of Education; Manawatu Gorge reopens for first time in nine months; Third day of grilling over class sizes for Education Minister; Milk price review met with… Read more Audio