Checkpoint for Wednesday 14 May 2014

6:52 PM.The people of Nga Paerangi of the Whanganui River, and the Maori performing arts community are mourning the death of the composer and historian, Morvin Te Anatipa Simon; A senior lecturer specialising… Read more Audio

6:48 PM.Anglican Church leaders have decided to recognise same-sex couples and move towards letting priests bless them. Audio

6:41 PM.In Australia there's more pressure for the drinking age to go up from 18 to 21. Audio

6:36 PM.Chinese police have laid charges accusing a multinational drug firm's executives of paying billions of yuan in bribes to doctors and hospitals. Audio

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

6:26 PM.An All Black test match will make it to national television in the United States when the team takes on the USA Eagles later this year, at a Chicago stadium more used to seeing gridiron. Audio

6:23 PM.The extradition hearing for internet mogul Kim Dotcom could be adjourned for the third time. Audio

6:19 PM.Seven Ukrainian soldiers have been killed by pro-Russia separatists in the east of the conflict torn nation. Audio

6:16 PM.Hundreds of people marched today in Wellington and Christchurch demanding the release in Nigeria of the schoolgirls abducted by extremist rebels. Audio

6:13 PM.A jury in Auckland's found it was a woman's ex-partner who stabbed her repeatedly and cut her throat. Audio

6:09 PM.Auckland Hospital will go ahead with a drug trial on unconscious patients despite warnings it may be illegal. Audio

5:56 PM.More than two point five million dollars of cash has been sniffed out by detector dogs at the border over the last ten months. Audio

5:48 PM.The people of Nga Paerangi of the Whanganui River, and the Maori performing arts community are mourning the death of the composer and historian, Morvin Te Anatipa Simon; The leader of a Far North iwi… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.A ballooning expert from the United Kingdom says if the wind direction had not changed at the last minute, a balloon which crashed in Carterton could have landed safely. Audio

5:39 PM.The chair of the health ethics committee that's close to approving the testing of a new antibiotic on unconscious patients in Auckland Hospital says the trial is not an attack on informed consent. Audio

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

5:28 PM.For the first time a farm worker has been convicted and fined for repeatedly carrying a child on a quad bike without a helmet. Audio

5:25 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:21 PM.Over 200 miners are now confirmed dead in an explosion and fire at a coalmine in western Turkey. Audio

5:17 PM.Home buyers, hit by low deposit loan restrictions, can expect to find it easier to borrow money in the future. Audio

5:11 PM.Auckland Hospital aims to go ahead with testing a new drug on unconscious patients in intensive care despite warnings it may be illegal because they can't give their consent. Audio

5:08 PM.The Government has not yet banked any budget surpluses but the Prime Minister is already raising the possibility of further tax cuts. Audio

5:00 PM.A day out from the budget John Key is not ruling out tax cuts. Testing drugs on unconscience patients unable to give their consent and the scramble to save trapped miners in Turkey. Audio