Checkpoint for Thursday 26 February 2015

6:55 PM.Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy faces questions from Labour's Damien O'Connor. NZ on Air bosses front up before Commerce Committee. Audio

6:51 PM.The Minister for Maori development, Te Ururoa Flavell ,says he's surprised planned changes to laws covering Maori land and the language have not been the focus of his nationwide hui; Also speaking at… Read more Audio

6:46 PM.A truck driver who caused the death of a young Christchurch cyclist could not see clearly out of the passenger's window, a coroner has found. 22-year-old Sharla Phyllis Haerewa was killed in April… Read more Audio

6:44 PM.The actions of the disgraced former lawyer Davina Murray have changed the way lawyers are treated by prison staff. Ms Murray was struck off today by the Lawyers and Conveyances Disciplinary Tribunal… Read more Audio

6:39 PM.Bay of Island pensioner with a terminal illness is furious he found out by letter that a landslide is forcing him and his wife out of their home. The Far North District Council has written to the… Read more Audio

6:36 PM.The crown says 7-year old Amber Lundy was trying to flee her parents' bedroom when she was hit by a tomahawk-like instrument, and killed. Her father, Mark Lundy is on trial in the High Court in… Read more Audio

6:28 PM.Some shoppers say they're being ripped off by Australian chain stores whIch aren't keeping up with the strong Kiwi dollar. The New Zealand dollar has been sitting at around 96 Australian cents for the… Read more Audio

6:24 PM.An Assyrian human rights activist has spoken of his horror and fear for the hundreds of Christian hostages taken by Islamic State in Syria. Audio

6:17 PM.Peter Burling, the new co helmsman of Team New Zealand for the America's Cup, is the star turn of a club that is to yachting what Canterbury is to rugby. The Tauranga yacht club has six of its young… Read more Audio

6:12 PM.Dean Barker's been supplanted after 15 years as Team New Zealand skipper for the next America's Cup, and has yet to take up a new job offer. He's helmed every race for New Zealand since the final… Read more Audio

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

5:57 PM.The Southern district health board is making a bid for $25 million for urgent work to repair Dunedin hospital. The existing Clinical Services Building is no longer fit for purpose and the DHB's been… Read more Audio

5:54 PM.The Minister for Maori development, Te Ururoa Flavell, says he's surprised planned changes to laws covering Maori land and the language have not been the focus of his nationwide hui. Audio

5:50 PM.The attempt of some Christchurch City Councillors to stop more of the city's assets being sold has failed. The city is now suggesting it sell $750 million of assets, to fund a o$1.2 billion budget… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.A 12 person panel including a former All Black and an Olympian, has been set up to consult with the public about possibly changing the country's flag. Audio

5:45 PM.Two more Queensland fruit flies have been found in Auckland, taking the total to seven. But DNA tests that show up the flies' similarities give weight to the theory this is still an isolated… Read more Audio

5:40 PM.The pay of MPs is going up by five-point-five percent after the Remuneration Authority ignored the Prime Minister's request for a zero rise. Audio

5:30 PM.The disgraced lawyer Davina Murray is appealing a decision to strike her off the lawyers register for smuggling contraband to a convicted murderer and rapist. Audio

5:25 PM.The Crown says it's time for Kim Dotcom to downsize his lavish lifestyle - starting with his mansion - after the internet businessman asked a court to release more of his money to pay the rent and buy… Read more Audio

5:22 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:20 PM.A Bay of Island pensioner with a terminal illness is furious he found out by letter that a landslide is forcing him and his wife out of their home. The Far North District Council has written to the… Read more Audio

5:12 PM.Dean Barker has lost his job steering Team New Zealand's yacht in the America's Cup, replaced by Peter Burling and an Australian yachtie. Multiple world champion Glenn Ashby is the surprise… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.The Prime Minister is disappointed the Remuneration Authority ignored his request not to increase the pay of MPs and ministers. The authority has announced MPs' pay will go up by 5.5%. Audio

5:00 PM.MPs get a huge pay rise; Team NZ confirms Dean Barker no longer skipper; Slip forces evacuation of three homes in Far North; Kim Dotcom wants money for rent and groceries; and Law Society says Davina… Read more Audio