Checkpoint for Friday 5 July 2013

6:57 PM.The Canterbury Regional Council wants to free up land for at least 40-thousand new sections across Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn, over the next 15-years. Audio

6:52 PM.A Ngati Porou kaumatua based in Western Australia says the state government has given its permission for the Maori community in Mandurah to set up a kohanga reo, or a Maori language pre-school; The… Read more Audio

6:38 PM.At next year's election the Maori Party will have a completely new leadership team in place, following the announcement this week by one of its founding co-leaders, Pita Sharples, that he will stand… Read more Audio

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

6:18 PM.A dolphin expert is calling for a ban on gill nets in Akaroa Harbour after a study found dolphins are more threatened by the nets than previously thought. Audio

6:08 PM.Pike River Coal's main shareholder is all but ruling out paying reparation to the victims' families despite a judge suggesting it should. Audio

5:54 PM.Wellington financial adviser David Ross, accused of running a $400-million Ponzi scheme, has made a second appearance in the Wellington District Court without entering a plea. Audio

5:50 PM.There's been more heavy criticism today of the Government's planned law change to allow the GCSB to spy on New Zealanders. Audio

5:46 PM.A Ngati Porou kaumatua based in Western Australia says the state government has given its permission for the Maori community in Mandurah to set up a kohanga reo, or a Maori language pre-school; Three… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.Heavy glass encased in copper is too much for a helicopter trying to remove an historic lighthouse dome teetering on the edge of a Christchurch cliff. Audio

5:41 PM.The Government has abandoned a review of home-based learning and a leading early childhood group says that leaves thousands of children with sub-standard education and care. Audio

5:37 PM.Northland leaders are challenging new civil aviation rules that are disrupting Air New Zealand flights to Whangarei. Audio

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

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

5:17 PM.Political Editor Brent Edwards discusses two of the Government's leading departments which are struggling to do their jobs in the face of ongoing financial constraint. Audio

5:14 PM.The lawyer for some of the Pike River families Nicholas Davidson is calling on the Government to step in and give them money in the way compensation was paid to those caught up in the Cave Creek… Read more Audio

5:10 PM.The Chief Executive Andrew Knight wouldn't give a direct 'no' saying he needs to study the judge's comment further to see if she realises the company has already made a significant contribution to the… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.Pike River Coal's main shareholder has all but ruled out paying reparation to the victims' families just hours after a judge suggested it should. Audio