Checkpoint for Tuesday 2 April 2013

6:52 PM.The Chairperson of the Federation of Maori Authorities says her recent trip to Rapanui or Easter Island highlighted the need for Maori to play a bigger leadership role in the Pacific for social and… Read more Audio

6:48 PM.Heroin worth at least 100 million dollars has been intercepted by warships in the Indian Ocean in what's said to be one of the largest seizures of the drug in maritime history. Audio

6:43 PM.In the US, two landmark Supreme Court cases about same-sex marriage are proving a rallying point for gay-rights. Audio

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

6:27 PM.The North and South Islands may soon have two official names each - one in Maori and one in English. Audio

6:24 PM.Confidence in the jobs markets has risen for the fourth quarter in a row, tipping it into positive territory for the first time since September 2011. Audio

6:21 PM.People in some of Auckland's poorest communities face having to stump up almost a million dollars a year to use their local swimming pool. Audio

6:16 PM.The latest figures show six thousand people have settled with the Crown, but more than 270 haven't. Audio

6:12 PM.The Green Party says National needs to stop its asset sales plans to strengthen the Government's hand in the Tiwai talks with Rio Tinto. Audio

6:08 PM.The Prime Minister says the Government has no interest in offering a long-term subsidy to the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, and if it can't stand on its own two feet, then it shouldn't be there. Audio

5:57 PM.Back to South Korea's now where the president has reacted to North Korea's declaration of war by pledging a strong military response to any aggression. Audio

5:52 PM.Climate scientists are predicting the rain will back to normal for autumn and early winter but warn farmers will need more to really soak their parched paddocks. Audio

5:49 PM.The union for workers at Tiwai Point says the Government must show it will fight to save the smelter after months of inaction. Audio

5:46 PM.Official recognition of the Maori names for the North and South Islands are one step closer; The Chairperson of the Federation of Maori Authorities says her recent trip to Rapanui or Easter Island… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.The wreckage of the plane carrying the 2 Degrees chief executive and his wife may have been found using sonar, 56-metres below water off the coast of Raglan. Audio

5:39 PM.There has been a jump in the number of reported assaults and sexual crime in Northland but the police say most of that is because of two men who are now under arrest. Audio

5:35 PM.Two companies have been fined more than 200-thousand dollars for ripping off busloads of Asian tourists with fake souvenirs. Audio

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

5:27 PM.Red zoned home owners in Christchurch who are refusing the Government's offer to buy their land say they will stay put, despite not knowing whether they'll get insurance or have basic services like… Read more Audio

5:20 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:17 PM.A farmer has told police about the strange behaviour of a dark coloured jeep in the minutes leading up to fatal shooting of a roadworker two weeks ago. Audio

5:11 PM.The State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall declined to talk to Checkpoint. Audio

5:07 PM.The Prime Minister says there could be some advantages to New Zealand, if the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter closes. Audio

5:00 PM.Will the government let Tiwai Point close? Police investigate crucial new details about the shooting of a stop-go roadworker and Red zoned residents refuse Government's buyout offer. Audio