Checkpoint for Wednesday 13 June 2012

6:56 PM.A rise in petrol tax and road user charges has some critics saying it is a needless move that many motorists can ill-afford. Audio

6:53 PM.Some Pacific countries are accusing the European commission of stalling over concluding an Economic Partnership Agreement for the region. Audio

6:50 PM.Government action is being called for as housing affordability worsens. Audio

6:47 PM.The Crown's going ahead with plans to allow companies to explore parts of Northland for metallic minerals, following feedback from iwi and members of the public; A member of the Hauraki iwi, Ngati… Read more Audio

6:42 PM.A Far North Maori health group says it tried to change a popular doctor's mind about quitting but he went ahead. Audio

6:37 PM.The Health Minister faced questions today about whether district health boards can continue to deliver more services with tighter budgets. Audio

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

6:27 PM.Researchers are working to uncover more about the threat of tsunamis and earthquakes in the Pacific after a scientific voyage to Fiji last month. Audio

6:23 PM.Twelve of the country's most influential business leaders and company directors have joined forces to get more women into boardrooms. Audio

6:15 PM.The European Union is boosting its development aid to the Pacific to nearly 1-point-four billion (NZ) dollars over six years (2008-13) to combat climate change and poverty. Audio

6:11 PM.Listening to that, the Green's co-leader, Metiria Turei - who asked the Auditor General to investigate. Audio

6:09 PM.Opposition parties are calling for the Government to put its convention centre deal with SkyCity on hold, while it's investigated by the Office of the Auditor General. Audio

5:56 PM.Suicide is still the leading cause of death amongst pregnant women and new mothers despite calls for urgent action. Audio

5:50 PM.A member of the Hauraki iwi, Ngati Tamatera, says the Department of Conservation is attempting to remove him and his whanau from Maori land; The Crown's going ahead with plans to allow companies to… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.Farmers at the 44th National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek are far from down in the dumps despite their rising worries about shrinking commodity prices. Audio

5:43 PM.The wife of murder accused Ewen Macdonald has given more evidence about the competitiveness between him and her older brother, Scott Guy, on the family farm. Audio

5:40 PM.The Treasury has warned that economic collapse in Greece and other European countries could lead to a Depression. Audio

5:37 PM.A woman kidnapped in a brutal assault by her ex-boyfriend has told a court of the trauma she suffers including panic attacks where she's hid in a wardrobe terrified the man is still after her. Audio

5:34 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:29 PM.A Ministry of Fisheries observer has told the Christchurch district court how she feared being physically abused while aboard the Oyang 75 fishing vessel. Audio

5:26 PM.It's been revealed in court that an American exchange student who crashed a van near Turangi, killing three of his fellow students last month, was driving for the first time in New Zealand. Audio

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

5:17 PM.We're joined by our political editor, Brent Edwards. Audio

5:12 PM.Relaxed and confident - that's Stephen Joyce's response to the announcement the Auditor General's office is investigating Sky City's controversial deal to build a convention centre in Auckland. Audio

5:08 PM.Labour is calling for the Minister for ACC to step down, as the tally of casualties at the corporation grows. Audio

5:00 PM.The ACC controversy claims another scalp. Auditor General investigates Sky City's deal for a convention centre in exchange for more pokies and a Fisheries observer tells of fear she'd be physically… Read more Audio