Checkpoint for Friday 31 August 2012

6:57 PM.An Auckland programme to protect hundreds of people at risk of being killed or abused by their ex-partners, has been extended to other parts of the country. Audio

6:55 PM.The guardians of the area around Mount Tongariro have officiated at the partial re-opening of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing; Ngati Toa says its Deed of Settlement may set a precedents for other iwi to… Read more Audio

6:38 PM.The National-led Government is on the defensive over whether it's doing enough to deal with poverty. Audio

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

6:25 PM.The only overnight medical centre between Wellington and Kapiti may soon be closed after hours. Audio

6:22 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:15 PM.Police officers are causing less damage to their own and to other people's vehicles, but the annual repair bill is still close to two million dollars. Audio

6:11 PM.The state-owned coal miner, Solid Energy, says it was wrong to ever get into making renewable fuels. Audio

6:07 PM.Regional leaders have stayed firm in the their determination to keep Fiji out of the Pacific Islands Forum for now, and say it's important they present a united front. Audio

5:54 PM.A mahogany statue of Christ almost the size of a person stolen from a cross at a Wellington chapel more than a decade ago has been found. Audio

5:49 PM.The guardians of the area around Mount Tongariro have officiated at the partial re-opening of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing; Ngati Toa says its Deed of Settlement may set a precedents for other iwi to… Read more Audio

5:40 PM.The Chief Executive of Solid Energy Don Elder joins us. Audio

5:35 PM.Solid Energy is being warned it could find it prohibitively expensive to ramp up mining again if it mothballs underground mines because of low coal prices. Audio

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

5:27 PM.The Tongariro Alpine Crossing was partly re-opened today for the first time since a volcanic eruption at the mountain earlier this month. Audio

5:25 PM.The grandaughter of a dying South African over-stayer says New Zealand's immigration authorities are causing unnecessary stress for their family. Audio

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

5:18 PM.Mitt Rommey has officially accepted the Republican Party presidential nomination to challenge Barack Obama in November's election. Audio

5:14 PM.The Independent Police Conduct Authority has criticised the police for taking unjustified risks in their fatal pursuit of a young Far North man. Audio

5:12 PM.Our reporter Olivia Wix was in court for today's sentencing. Audio

5:07 PM.Three businessmen found guilty of one of the country's worst finance company frauds have been sent to prison for between five and seven and a half years with the judge calling them greedy and lacking… Read more Audio

5:00 PM.Long jail terms for greedy businessmen, Reaction to Capital and Merchant sentencing, IPCA finds fault with fatal police pursuit, Mitt Romey accepts the Republican Presidential nomination, Immigration… Read more Audio