Checkpoint for Thursday 14 November 2013

6:56 PM.The Labour Party says its Member's bill would do away with political coat-tailing and tea party-style stitch-ups. Audio

6:51 PM.A Wellington lawyer who told a jury in a rape case that the woman could have closed her legs if she didn't want sex says his comments have been sensationalised and taken out of context. Audio

6:48 PM.The iwi radio network says the Maori broadcaster, Willie Jackson, will stay as the organisation's chair because he's in a governance role - not a presenter position; A Northland hapu has finally been… Read more Audio

6:42 PM.Returning to our lead story about the approved foster carer Daniel Taylor sentenced to almost six years in prison today for sexually abusing five boys, one of them put in his care by Child, Youth and… Read more Audio

6:41 PM.The Government says no decision has been made about it when it might sell off shares in Air New Zealand, amid market speculation it will happen soon. Audio

6:37 PM.Environmental groups are urging Parliament to dump regulations governing deep sea exploration, which they say will put whales and other marine mammals at risk. Audio

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

6:28 PM.One bank is suggesting potential home buyers look further afield to get more bang for their buck. Audio

6:24 PM.To the Philippines, where the US aircraft carrier The George Washington is due to arrive later this evening - carrying five thousand sailors and around 80 aircraft. Audio

6:22 PM.The proposal to go ahead with a new Cook Strait ferry terminal in Clifford Bay - 30 kilometres south of Blenhiem - has been scraped. Audio

6:15 PM.Immunisation rates for Maori children have improved so much they're now equal or better than non-Maori rates in much of the country. Audio

6:15 PM.State housing tenants in Lower Hutt moved out to make way for 30 million dollars of new homes fear they won't have a shot at renting or buying them. Audio

6:09 PM.A Kaitaia business leader, church elder and state-approved foster parent is tonight beginning a jail term for sex crimes against five boys. Audio

5:51 PM.A national Maori health service provider says it's surprised by remarks made by the Ministry of Health's departing director-general that he was shocked to find rheumatic fever existed in New Zealand… Read more Audio

5:48 PM.A teenager who recorded an extremely drunk 17-year-old being raped initially thought it was funny, the New Plymouth District Court has heard. Audio

5:45 PM.Sixty New Zealanders have lost a total of one-point-eight-million dollars in a scratch and win scam which has been running since April. Audio

5:42 PM.Efforts to complete a Pacific-wide trade deal by the end of the year appear slim after leaks exposed deep rifts between America and other countries about the need for tougher copyright, patent and… Read more Audio

5:41 PM.Burnside High's principal Warwick Maguire sent us a statement in the last few minutes. Audio

5:37 PM.The police say a man who gave drugs to girls to expose themselves just outside their school gate in Christchurch might still be carrying on if they hadn't got an anonymous tip off. Audio

5:34 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:29 PM.Football fans say the sport is in dire straits and the New Zealand coach should be sacked, after a 5-1 loss to Mexico all but knocked them out of the running for the World Cup finals. Audio

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

5:21 PM.The Government has ended years of debate over cook strait Ferries going to Picton or Clifford Bay 30 kilometres south of Blenheim. Audio

5:11 PM.The Minister of Social Development, Paula Bennett, says what happened to the boys Taylor abused was horrific. Audio

5:07 PM.He was a church youth worker, and approved foster parent and he sexually abused the child in his care for almost a year, as well as another four boys he was giving religious instruction to. Audio

5:00 PM.A church youth worker, and approved foster father is jailed for sex crimes against boys. The Government says no to Clifford Bay and fans want All Whites coach sacked after 5-1 loss in World Cup… Read more Audio