Checkpoint for Tuesday 28 August 2012

6:52 PM.Scientists are warning that Arctic has lost more sea ice this year than at any other time since satellite records began more than thirty years ago. Audio

6:48 PM.The Environmental Protection Authority has been told nine new salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds would bring in close to one billion dollars. Audio

6:45 PM.A court's heard a Maori welfare provider lost a Government contract after a poor assessment by a Crown agent with no experience in social services; The Crown's promising to deliver better services to… Read more Audio

6:42 PM.The Whanganui District Council has just wrapped up its last-ditch meeting to counter the release of the sex offender, Stewart Murray Wilson. Audio

6:40 PM.As you just heard there, the gay marriage Bill has triggered strong lobbying from its opponents. Audio

6:36 PM.The bill legalising same sex marriage looks set to pass its first reading with a comfortable majority when it comes to Parliament tomorrow evening. Audio

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

6:27 PM.The Post Primary Teachers' Association is calling for an independent inquiry into the problems dogging the Correspondence School's new computer system. Audio

6:24 PM.Mighty River Power has posted a rise in full-year earnings due to higher electricity prices and volumes. Audio

6:16 PM.The Government's expert advisory group on child poverty is calling for all houses to undergo a warrant of fitness before they can be rented out. Audio

6:12 PM.The Government's being accused of beneficiary bashing after confirming its new drug testing regime. Audio

6:08 PM.The Whanganui District Council's been told it could ban the sex offender Stewart Murray Wilson from all council property - but a law professor says that would be abusing its powers. Audio

5:51 PM.The police say four of the 10 people arrested today in a multi-million dollar drugs bust were on bail after a high profile raid last year - two of the four they describe as the syndicate bosses. Audio

5:48 PM.The Crown's promising to deliver better services to the people of Tuhoe; A Maori school board trustee is urging the Ministry of Education to listen to parents' concerns before shutting down their… Read more Audio

5:45 PM.To Australia now, where the Government has just announced a radical change to its carbon tax scheme. Audio

5:40 PM.The Government is planning tougher penalties for people using the internet to look at, create or distribute child porn. Audio

5:37 PM.The state owned electricity generator Mighty River Power has reported a big fall in profits just as the finishing touches are being made to preparations for its partial sale. Audio

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

5:26 PM.A coroner's inquest into the death of, Antonie Dixon, has heard other prisoners were scared of the convicted murderer, and staff were apprehensive about dealing with him. Audio

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

5:16 PM.The police in Lower Hutt are hunting for three men who broke into an elderly couple's house wielding baseball bats and left with a safe full of money. Audio

5:13 PM.The expert group set up this year to find solutions to child poverty has delivered its first set of recommendations, but already John Key is ruling out one of its key proposals, for a universal child… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.A heated, last ditch meeting in Whanganui has been told the council's allowed to keep the serial rapist Stewart Murray Wilson off its properties. Audio

5:00 PM.Lawyers tell the Wanganui Council it CAN keep Stewart Murry Wilson off its properties. The government wastes no time in ruling out a key proposal to fight child poverty and Inquest hears staff and… Read more Audio