Checkpoint for Monday 10 March 2014

6:55 PM.Authorities are warning about the growing danger of a new drug which almost claimed two lives in Christchurch in less than a week. Audio

6:47 PM.A bank says Maori businesses are returning to a golden era; The Bay of Plenty iwi, Ngati Whakahemo, is taking High Court action against the sale of farmlands it says it has mana whenua rights to; The… Read more Audio

6:43 PM.150 weather records have been broken in Australia as the country endured another summer of searing temperatures. Audio

6:41 PM.The first Christchurch property valuations in five years show homes rising a collective 16-point-2 percent in worth. Audio

6:38 PM.In Sydney, Cardinal George Pell has told the Royal Commission via a statement that he believes the Church should be able to be sued in cases of child sexual abuse. Audio

6:37 PM.A Bluebridge ferry captain who twice sailed across Cook Strait with a 3 and a half metre gash in the ship, is accused of endangering his passengers and crew. Audio

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

6:25 PM.More now on the missing Malaysian Airlines plane and the questions being raised about security, and in particular passport fraud. Audio

6:23 PM.Wellington Drive Technologies plans to raise a further five million dollars in capital from shareholders and breakeven, even though it's failed to meet many similar previous promises. Audio

6:19 PM.The family of a Kawhia man who pleaded guilty to assaulting the town's lone-police officer is planning to complain to the Independent Police Conduct Authority over police handling of the altercation. Audio

6:15 PM.The BBC's Jennifer Pak has just attended a press conference. Audio

6:08 PM.The Prime Minister has named the date for this year's general election, Saturday, September the 20th. Audio

5:56 PM.A 100-million-dollar luxury hotel for Dunedin's waterfront has won a new lease of life nine months after being skittled, though what shape it takes is wide open to change. Audio

5:52 PM.A bank says Maori businesses are returning to a golden era; The Bay of Plenty iwi, Ngati Whakahemo, is taking High Court action against the sale of farmlands it says it has mana whenua rights to; The… Read more Audio

5:46 PM.The Australian Government led secret efforts to frustrate a New Zealand-led push for nuclear disarmament, according to newly released documents. Audio

5:40 PM.A jury in Christchurch has been told not to let any distaste over a gang prospect's lifestyle sway their verdict in a murder trial. Audio

5:37 PM.Countdown supermarkets are defending themselves against claims they are dumping tonnes of whole fresh fish. Audio

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

5:29 PM.A Northland primary school has brought in an independent reviewer to get to the bottom of who's been tampering with its students' national standards results. Audio

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

5:15 PM.An Australian expert on radical Islamist groups in South East Asia says the most likely explanation for the plane's sudden disappearance is that it was blown up. Audio

5:12 PM.Search and rescue teams are back scouring the seas near Vietnam to find any trace of the Malaysia Airlines plane, which has vanished with 239 people on board, including 2 New Zealanders. Audio

5:07 PM.The Prime Minister has just announced voters will go to the polls on Saturday the 20th of September for this year's general election. Audio

5:00 PM.This year's general election will be held on Saturday the 20th of September. The latest on the search for Malaysia Airline's missing plane and the Manning jury begins it deliberations. Audio