Checkpoint for Tuesday 22 July 2014

6:55 PM.A 30-thousand dollar bronze eel stolen from Auckland's Botanic Gardens has had its tail and fin cut off. Audio

6:51 PM.Malaysia Airlines is under intense pressure as it tries to manage the fallout over flight MH17. Audio

6:47 PM.A former Maori Affairs Minister believes the Kim Dotcom-backed political party - Internet-Mana - could encourage first-time rangatahi Maori voters to sign up for this year's general election; A… Read more Audio

6:42 PM.In Parliament today party leaders put politics aside to send a strong message to the Russian backed rebels in Ukraine and the Russian leader over the investigation into the Flight MH17. Audio

6:39 PM.Wellington's Deputy Mayor says the shock rejection of plans to build a 90 million dollar n flyover in the Capital are proof that sometimes the little man can be king. Audio

6:36 PM.The New Zealand dollar is little changed against the currencies of the country's major trading partners. Audio

6:27 PM.Auckland's CBD is so squeezed a new analysis shows an area less than the size of a soccer field is available to lease as prime office space. Colliers International which did the analysis is predicting… Read more Audio

6:20 PM.In Gaza, the Palestinian death toll has risen to more than 550 including nearly 100 children as Israel continues its bombardment for the 14 th day. Audio

6:16 PM.The Australian prime minister Tony Abbott has just told reporters there's been "evidence tampering on an industrial scale" at the crash site and that "after the crime, comes the cover up". Audio

6:07 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:54 PM.Newcastle United's newly signed striker, Emmanuel Rivière, is expected to take centre stage tonight when the club faces off against Sydney FC in Dunedin. Audio

5:51 PM.The Labour party says it will focus on increasing the number of Te Reo speaking teachers, as part of its language policy. Te Reo is a big political matter for some candidates - with some saying the… Read more Audio

5:45 PM.The Labour leader has told his caucus that he regrets taking a holiday with the party languishing in the polls. Audio

5:41 PM.The chief executive of the Whangarei District Council has admitted that his treatment of two staff during last year's council elections, has left an impression of bias and double-standards. Audio

5:37 PM.The Government is calling on people to speak up about loopy rules so a new taskforce it plans to set up can look at whether to get rid of them. Audio

5:34 PM.The New Zealand dollar is little changed against the currencies of the country's major trading partners. Audio

5:28 PM.The National list MP, Claudette Hauiti, will stand down at the general election, and not contest the Kelston Seat as planned. Audio

5:23 PM.Controversial plans to build a flyover in Wellington at the Basin Reserve cricket ground have been rejected, in a decision that has stunned but delighted opponents. Audio

5:16 PM.Diplomatic efforts to broker a truce in Gaza are being stepped up, with the US Secretary of State meeting the UN chief Ban Ki-moon in Cairo. Audio

5:10 PM.In Ukraine, there are reports now that Dutch investigators trawling through the wreckage of the Malaysian airliner have uncovered evidence it was shot down by a Russian-made missile. Audio

5:07 PM.The Prime Minister has been accused of breaking his word by refusing to apologise to the woman at the centre of the Malayasian diplomat case. Audio

5:00 PM.John Key is accused of breaking his word by refusing to apologise to the victim of a Malaysian diplomat. Wellington's controversial flyover is over-ruled and a National MP is quitting parliament. Audio