Checkpoint for Friday 7 November 2014

6:55 PM.Legislation banning under 18 year olds from using sunbeds has unanimously passed its first reading in Parliament. Audio

6:52 PM.The Minister for Maori Development says passing the Te Reo Maori Bill is a key priority, and he hopes it will become law before the end of next year; The deadline for submissions from claimants… Read more Audio

6:34 PM.After months of talking the Prime Minister finally announced this week the steps the Government intends taking to combat the threat posed by the jihadist group Islamic State. Audio

6:25 PM.Australian officials are finalising a deal to export potentially up to one million cattle a year to China to meet booming demand for red meat. Audio

6:16 PM.The New Zealand rower Robbie Manson says he looks forward to the time when top level athletes publicly revealing they're gay doesn't matter. Audio

6:12 PM.To the U.S, the White House is rejecting any suggestion there's military co-operation with Iran in the fight against Islamic State. Audio

6:06 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:46 PM.The Waitemata district health board says there was no sign that a man who was found dead in a west Auckland stream would run off from hospital staff. Audio

5:42 PM.Alloy Yachts says the high New Zealand dollar, and a worldwide drop in contracts, means they'll lose 60 people in the next few weeks. Audio

5:40 PM.A Porirua man who lured another man to go with him on a fishing trip and then shot him has been sent to prison for eight years. Audio

5:37 PM.A Bay of Plenty teenager lay unconscious for hours, after a scuffle broke out at a college leavers' party early this morning. Audio

5:36 PM.A portfolio manager at Harbour Asset Management, Craig Stent, says Mighty River Power's announcements were a highlight of the day. Audio

5:34 PM.The New Zealand dollar is slightly weaker ahead of some some key United States jobs data, expected later tonight. Audio

5:26 PM.The police have wrapped up their examination of the scene of yesterday's road accident near Wanaka, in which three Hong Kong tourists died. Audio

5:23 PM.In the US, controversy has been reignited over who pulled the trigger to kill Osama Bin Laden. Audio

5:18 PM.Legal experts say the Prime Minister's promise that Crown Law will consider footing the bill for a civil prosecution over the Pike River Mine disaster is giving the families of the dead men false… Read more Audio

5:13 PM.The 37-year-old was jailed today for six and-a-half years after admitting to causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Audio

5:07 PM.The charge against rock band AC/DC's drummer of attempting to procure murder has been dropped, a day after Phil Rudd's appearance in a Tauranga court sparked headlines worldwide. Audio

5:00 PM.Attempting to procure murder charge against ACDC drummer dropped, Cop basher jailed for six years, six months, Prime Minister offering Pike River families "false hope", Who fired the fatal shot that… Read more Audio