Checkpoint for Tuesday 11 November 2014

6:55 PM.Armistice Day commemorations have been held around the country today - the 96th anniversary of the signing of the treaty that ended hostilities in the First World War. Audio

6:49 PM.The Department of Corrections says pounamu or greenstone necklaces represent freedom and so do not belong in prisons; People who play a hand in the Waikato region's billion dollar Maori economy have… Read more Audio

6:47 PM.The captain of the South Korean ferry that capsized killing more than 300 people has been sent to prison for 36 years. Audio

6:36 PM.Air New Zealand will cut services from three towns - Whakatane, Kaitaia and Westport - and it will shut down subsidiary Eagle Airways as part of a revamp of its regional services. Audio

6:30 PM.A former teacher will find out in a month whether or not he will stand trial for doing an indecent act in a classroom at one of Auckland's well-known schools. Audio

6:27 PM.The Labour leadership roadshow is almost over with the final public appearance for the four of them in South Auckland tonight. Audio

6:19 PM.The New Zealand Trotting Cup's just wrapped at Addington Raceway where champion pacer Terror to Love was aiming to make it four wins in a row. Audio

6:16 PM.A joke cracked by the Prime Minister John Key about the paedophile and murderer Phillip John Smith has been described as appalling by the Labour Party and has disgusted the victim's family. Audio

6:12 PM.Prisons have suspended all temporary releases for the next fortnight in the wake of the convicted murderer and child molester Philip John Smith's flight to Brazil. Audio

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

5:56 PM.Unprecedented…gut-wrenching…unimaginable - some of the description from from fruit growers to describe the hail storm that's devastated forty orchards in the Tasman district. Audio

5:52 PM.People involved in the Waikato region's billion dollar Maori economy have been exploring how to develop more wealth and ways to get tangata whenua into employment. Audio

5:49 PM.A Māori activist and former inmate, Tame Iti, says prisoners are more likely to have their underpants stolen than their greenstone necklaces, and taking away their right to wear taonga is punishing… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.Back to the story on fugitive Phillip Smith who escaped the country after renewing his passport under his birth name of Phillip Traynor. Audio

5:42 PM.A Waipukurau man accused of sexually assaulting four women in his St John ambulance has conceded it's extraordinary images were created on his phone at the exact time a girl alleged he abused her and… Read more Audio

5:37 PM.All services will end to Whakatane, Kaitaia and Westport in April, and flights to Taupo, Palmerston North, Nelson, Hamilton and Whangarei will be pared back. Audio

5:35 PM.The New Zealand dollar is little changed from this morning's open, with a holdiay in the United States keeping many traders away. Audio

5:26 PM.A Central Otago constable who filmed a girl in a shower using his police issue iPhone has pleaded guilty. Audio

5:21 PM.Hundreds of New Plymouth polytech students have been told their diploma in teaching Maori performing arts is worthless. Audio

5:16 PM.Air New Zealand is axeing all its flights to Whakatane, Kaitaia and Westport. Audio

5:11 PM.Tony Ellis has been Smith's lawyer since 2002. He says Smith contacted him by email yesterday. Audio

5:08 PM.As the international man hunt continues, it's emerged the fugitive killer and child molester Phillip John Smith has today told his lawyer in New Zealand his victims have nothing to fear. Audio

5:00 PM.Fugitive killer Phillip Smith tells his lawyer his victim's family has nothing to fear. Air New Zealand axes three regional routes and hundreds of polytech students are told their qualifications are… Read more Audio