Checkpoint for Wednesday 1 August 2012

6:53 PM.Some members of the Otaki RSA are describing as laughable the 500 dollar fine a judge has imposed on its former president for stealing war veterans' funds to pay to mount medals. Audio

6:49 PM.Labour's spokesperson for Maori Affairs, Parekura Horomia, says Sir Tumu te Heuheu is stepping down from key executive roles with Ngati Tuwharetoa - but will still be the tribe's paramount chief; A… Read more Audio

6:43 PM.Provincial rugby unions say the future of the game is secure even though the economic pinch is starting to tell. Audio

6:40 PM.India's power supply has been restored after a two day blackout, which left half the population in the dark. Audio

6:37 PM.MPs have been told that government ministries trying to combat child abuse aren't working as effectively as they should be. Audio

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

6:27 PM.New Zealand is going to spend five million dollars paying school fees for thousands of Samoan high-school students. Audio

6:24 PM.A captivated audience of more than five-hundred people gathered to celebrate the life of Margaret Mahy this afternoon. Audio

6:22 PM.Auckland real estate agent Barfoot and Thomspon says the number of homes selling in the city for more than a million dollars has bounced back to its 2007 peak. Audio

6:18 PM.The man whose company designed the CTV building has been grilled today about the role he played in overseeing the project. Audio

6:15 PM.The Chinese teenage swimmer at the centre of doping allegations has bagged another gold medal at the Olympics. Audio

6:07 PM.The Pacific Fibre undersea cable is dead in the water after entrepreneurs including Trademe founder Sam Morgan abandoned the half a billion dollar project today. Audio

5:57 PM.The country is in store for a warmer spring than usual, but a developing El Nino pattern could put a dampner on the fine weather. Audio

5:54 PM.The Samoan Law Reform Commission has released a report recommending widespread changes to the regulation of media organisations. Audio

5:49 PM.The US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is battling doubts about whether he can handle himself on the world stage, after upsetting Londoners, Palestinians and journalists on his ill-fated overseas… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.Labour's spokesperson for Maori Affairs, Parakura Horomia, says Sir Tumu te Heuheu is stepping down from key executive roles with Ngati Tuwharetoa - but will still be the tribe's paramount chief; A… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.Labour's spokesperson for Maori Affairs, Parakura Horomia, says Sir Tumu te Heuheu is stepping down from key executive roles with Ngati Tuwharetoa - but will still be the tribe's paramount chief; A… Read more Audio

5:38 PM.A judge has fined the medal fraudster from the Otaki RSA $500 for stealing $63 of war veterans' funds. Audio

5:35 PM.The Government says it will fix up local body election law, at the same time rejecting a Labour Party bill which it says could do the job. Audio

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

5:24 PM.The University of Canterbury has put one-hundred-and-fifty jobs on the line as it tries to recover from the Christchurch earthquakes. Audio

5:22 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:14 PM.MPs have been warned more young people will end up in the cells if proposed new bail laws come into force. Audio

5:10 PM.Three of New Zealand's top entrepreneurs have abandoned plans for a nearly half a billion dollar undersea cable to the United States. Audio

5:07 PM.The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister has been forced to concede he's received official advice on the Christchurch City Council selling some of its assets to help pay for rebuilding the city. Audio

5:00 PM.Asset sales to help pay for the Christchurch rebuild! $500m Pacific Fibre undersea cable abandoned and 150 jobs set to go at Canterbury University. Audio