Checkpoint for Thursday 9 May 2013

6:56 PM.A group of Christchurch residents that have been putting pressure on local government to extinguish a fire, that has been burning at a recycling plant for about five weeks, are relieved the fire… Read more Audio

6:50 PM.People illegally burning treated timber to warm their homes are being blamed for unhealthy levels of arsenic polluting some parts of the country. Audio

6:46 PM.The Government is putting aside millions of dollars in next week's budget to create more than two thousand additional places in its Maori and Pasifika trades training schemes; The Electoral Commission… Read more Audio

6:36 PM.The Government's being accused of double standards in its move to rush through some bills. Audio

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

6:28 PM.He's known for some of the most famous tracks in American pop, but today hip hop artist and producer will.i.am took a special interest in an east Auckland school. Audio

6:26 PM.A freight transport company says New Zealand's productivity is being held back by weight restrictions on bridges in Southland. Audio

6:23 PM.This week the Warehouse Group announced a plan to lift the wages of certain staff by between 50 and 100 dollars extra a week at the same time as saving the company money. Audio

6:19 PM.More now on the man accused of holding three young women capitve in a squalid house in Cleveland, Ohio for a decade - today he's been formally charged with kidnap and rape. Audio

6:16 PM.KiwiRail's admitting it failed to identify damage at a crossing in Auckland where a woman got stuck in her wheelchair and hit by a train. Audio

6:12 PM.Unemployment has fallen sharply to a three year low. Audio

6:09 PM.The Auckland Council has a short time ago agreed on an average 2 point 9 percent rate rise for households. Audio

5:51 PM.An Australian researcher says New Zealand appears to be copying Australia in moving to give spy agencies more powers, and that's worrying. Audio

5:48 PM.The Government is putting aside millions of dollars in next week's budget to create more than two thousand additional places in its Maori and Pasifika trades training schemes; The Electoral Commission… Read more Audio

5:45 PM.A leading economist is warning of a two track labour market and economy with Christchurch and Auckland experiencing the greatest recovery but the rest of the country remaining flat. Audio

5:42 PM.Lawyers for the Crown have told the Court of Appeal the legal argument being used by 3 activists who attacked the Waihopai spy base could set a dangerous precedent. Audio

5:35 PM.The partial sale of Mighty River Power is done and dusted and details of the next asset float will be announced in next week's budget. Audio

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

5:26 PM.The largest sharemilking company in the country has today made an about-face and pleaded guilty to animal cruelty. Audio

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

5:19 PM.KiwiRail has admitted it failed to identify problems with a rail crossing in Auckland, where a disabled woman was dragged along by a freight train and critically injured. Audio

5:15 PM.A police officer who pursued a speeding car in Gisborne last year, reached speeds of 127 kilometres an hour in a 50 K zone and at times drove with one hand so he could operate his radio. Audio

5:11 PM.The National backbench MP, Aaron Gilmore is standing his ground saying he won't resign. Audio

5:08 PM.Unemployment has dropped sharply but there are fears it won't last. Audio

5:00 PM.A sharp drop in unemployment. Aaron Gilmore stands his ground and Kiwirail fails to identify problems at Morningside. Audio