Checkpoint for Wednesday 2 October 2013

6:50 PM.Teachers say they are going to keep fighting the government's charter schools and national standards in reading, writing and maths. Audio

6:46 PM.A Maori business leader in Australia says New Zealand migrants need to start lobbying federal ministers if they want to change the laws that restrict New Zealanders from certain jobs and benefits; The… Read more Audio

6:43 PM.It's taken 35 years of lobbying and law changes but Stewart Island finally has a visitor levy. Audio

6:40 PM.The Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce will meet Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker in the next few days to discuss another potential Americas Cup challenge. Audio

6:36 PM.A New York stock broker says the markets think the Republicans will be shamed into supporting the budget and raising the United State's debt ceiling so the nation can honour its debts. Audio

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

6:26 PM.Opposition parties say the Government's social housing legislation will lead to vulnerable tenants being thrown out of their state homes. Audio

6:22 PM.The venom used by a centipede to paralyse prey has been discovered to be fifty-percent more effective at blocking pain than morphine. Audio

6:16 PM.The mayor of Washington DC has managed to save jobs by calling all government employees in the territory "essential". Audio

6:11 PM.Tertiary Education Minister, Steven Joyce, launched a draft Tertiary Education Strategy that calls for tertiary institutions to work more closely with industry, attract more international students… Read more Audio

6:08 PM.A family who travelled overseas without being vaccinated against hepatitis A appears be costing taxpayers almost 60 thousand dollars. Audio

5:56 PM.An orchestra that has never travelled outside the South Island is heading off to represent Australasia in Japan. Audio

5:54 PM.America's national parks have been caught up in the US government shut down - the Grand Canyon alone attracts 18 thousand people a day in October contributing millions to the local economy. Audio

5:51 PM.The Corrections Association says an officer working alone at Auckland's private prison had his teeth knocked out by a prisoner. Audio

5:46 PM.The Tertiary Education Minister, Steven Joyce, expects wananga will welcome plans to change the make-up of their governing councils; A Maori business leader in Australia says New Zealand migrants need… Read more Audio

5:35 PM.Students at Auckland University say a plan to remove staff and students from university councils is the latest assault on academic democracy. Audio

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

5:28 PM.Israel's Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the world not to trust Iran's new charm offensive. Audio

5:26 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:23 PM.Radio New Zealand's former managing editor of news has told the Employment Court the company's CEO, Sharon Crosbie bullied her and set her up for dismissal. Audio

5:18 PM.President Obama is vowing not to allow Republicans to undermine his signature healthcare legislation as a condition to restart the US government. Audio

5:12 PM.Health authorities have launched a mass vaccination programme against Hepatitis A in parts of Canterbury as they warn New Zealanders about the danger of travelling to the Pacific Islands where the… Read more Audio

5:07 PM.The Government has, for the first time, used its powers of compulsory acquisition to take over land in the centre of Christchurch. Ernest Duval is a spokesperson for the City Owners Rebuild Entity… Read more Audio

5:00 PM.Govt uses Chch compulsory acquisition powers, Mass hepatitis A vaccination campaign costs thousands, US shutdown enters its second day, Former RNZ news head says she was set up for dismissal, Israeli… Read more Audio