Checkpoint for Friday 31 January 2014

6:54 PM.A Tairawhiti iwi is supporting a Maori trust's plan to build a dam in the region, citing environmental and recreational benefit; The Maori Party has thrown its support behind Teina Pora and is… Read more Audio

6:37 PM.This week was the time for David Cunliffe to put his mark on the Labour Party just months after taking over the leadership from David Shearer. Audio

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

6:22 PM.Auckland International Airport has chalked up a number of milestones including a record week, month and year, for international passengers passing through. Audio

6:20 PM.Canterbury University has run successful tests of an alternative treatment for ADHD when the more mainstream drugs such as Ritalin fail to work. Audio

6:15 PM.Resource consent has been turned down for a massive tip north of Wellington that would have seen 45 trucks a day carting rubble along a dangerous stretch of state highway. Audio

6:11 PM.The first evaluation of New Zealand's 22 cycleways is upbeat about cyclists enjoying them, although just a quarter of businesses surveyed felt they have benefited. Audio

6:08 PM.The brother of Susan Burdett, whose killer has been given the go-ahead to take his case to the Privy Council in London, is suggesting the police should review their investigation of it. Audio

5:54 PM.The Maori Party has thrown its support behind Teina Pora and is relieved that the convicted murderer's appeal can be heard again in court; A Ngati Tuwharetoa woman - who's been a longtime stalwart of… Read more Audio

5:49 PM.An off-duty detective has been sentenced to six months home detention for attacking a male model at a party after a fashion show in Auckland. Audio

5:47 PM.The United States is accusing Syria of removing just a small fraction of the chemical weapons it declared. Audio

5:43 PM.Australia's Great Barrier Reef watchdog has approved the dumping of millions of cubic metres of dredged mud near the fragile reef. Audio

5:40 PM.The independent MP, Brendan Horan, says he would welcome any police investigation into allegations he stole money from his late mother's estate. Audio

5:36 PM.A primary school north of Auckland has dumped its scheme of issuing families tags saying "donation paid" just two days after it started because of an outcry. Audio

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

5:27 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:20 PM.The Reserve Bank is ringing a warning about households, already heavy with rising debts, facing the benchmark interest rate almost doubling within two years. Audio

5:15 PM.Green co-leader Metiria Turei responds to the report about the 'designer jacket spat'. Audio

5:12 PM.A designer jacket has triggered a war of words between three of Parliament's most senior women MPs amid accusations of hypocrisy and racism. Audio

5:08 PM.A man who has spent half his life in jail for a murder he says he didn't commit could see freedom. Audio

5:00 PM.Pora's lawyers likely to apply for bail; Political war of words over designer jackets; Metiria Turei reponds; Reserve Bank warns interest rates could double in two years; School dumps 'donation paid'… Read more Audio