Checkpoint for Tuesday 21 August 2012

6:53 PM.The risk of another large earthquake hitting Christchurch has declined and is getting smaller. Audio

6:47 PM.Hone Harawira has accused the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Christopher Finlayson, of holding secret meetings with iwi over water rights claims; The Maori King has told tangata whenua… Read more Audio

6:44 PM.A New Zealand man has been stabbed to death in Pattaya, Thailand in a fight over a dog. Audio

6:40 PM.The Government is to lift its own contribution to Research and Development Spending to boost innovation and economic growth. Audio

6:37 PM.More now on the revelation that the debt-ridden Kaipara District Council paid its former manager nearly a quarter of a million dollars in a severance deal. Audio

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

6:28 PM.A second kiwifruit orchard in Waikato is likely to test positive for PSA. Audio

6:26 PM.News from the business sector. Audio

6:22 PM.An inquest has heard a long list of mistakes contributed to the deaths of two divers who got stuck and drowned 50 metres deep in Lake Pupuke on Auckland's North Shore. Audio

6:16 PM.The Green Party is calling on the Government to bring the troops home from Afghanistan in October when the next rotation will take place following the deaths this week of three New Zealand soldiers. Audio

6:08 PM.An inquiry's found multiple failings by government agencies allowed a convicted child sex offender to work in schools for years, and is recommending photo IDs for teachers. Audio

5:55 PM.Using the most explicit terms yet, President Obama has threatened military action against any attempt by Syria's regime to use chemical or biological weapons. Audio

5:52 PM.Wanganui District Council's fight to stop a notorious sex offender from being released in the city is being taken to the High Court in Wellington early next week. Audio

5:49 PM.The Maori King has told tangata whenua to protect their rights over waterways; An extensive report into how a sex offender was hired in schools says whanaungatanga - or family connections - suited the… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.A former senior KiwiRail engineer has spoken out against his former employer, calling the purchase of 40 out-dated Chinese locomotives a bad mistake which must not be repeated. Audio

5:41 PM.An inquest has heard a long list of mistakes contributed to the deaths of two divers who got stuck and drowned 50 metres deep in Lake Pupuke on Auckland's North Shore. Audio

5:34 PM.The Finance Minister says Solid Energy is not in good enough shape for a share float any time soon. Audio

5:31 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:27 PM.The New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, has lashed out at the Speaker of the House, Lockwood Smith, after Dr Smith threw him out of Parliament this afternoon. Audio

5:25 PM.It's been revealed today that the debt-ridden Kaipara District Council paid its former manager nearly a quarter of a million dollars in a severance deal. Audio

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

5:18 PM.Parliament today stopped to convey its deep sympathy to the family, friends and military colleagues of the three soldiers killed in Afghanistan at the weekend. Audio

5:17 PM.A six year old boy has been hit and killed by a school bus on the West Coast. Audio

5:12 PM.The report asks for urgent changes to the way teachers prove their identity and recommends photo ID. Audio

5:07 PM.Serious failings by multiple government agencies including the Teachers Council, Police and Corrections allowed a convicted child sex offender to teach in six schools for years without being caught. Audio

5:00 PM.How the police, corrections and teachers' council failed to stop a sex offender in the classroom. A six year old boy is hit and killed by a school bus on the West Coast and Winston Peters, on the… Read more Audio