Checkpoint for Friday 12 June 2015

6:56 PM.Vanuatu has dumped its prime minister yet again, at a crucial time for the country's recovery from Cyclone Pam. Audio

6:48 PM.A sovereignty group is calling for the Maori flag to hold equal status to the New Zealand flag; Papakainga, or multi-generational housing, are on the cards for state housing tenants in Tamaki, in… Read more Audio

6:35 PM.Not long after Labour elected Andrew Little as leader he announced the party would confront what he said was one of the biggest challenges facing New Zealand: the future of work. Audio

6:26 PM.Victims of paedophile priests have shrugged off the Pope's latest move to hold accountable bishops who've covered up abuse. Audio

6:23 PM.A hardy handful of protesters gathered around their local post box in New Plymouth today, with one saying he might chain himself to it. Audio

6:20 PM.New Zealand neuroscientists say they've reached an 'exciting' phase in the development of a new drug for spinal cord injuries. Audio

6:15 PM.Indonesian prosecutors in Bali say they're only seeking an 18 year jail sentence, not the death penalty, for New Zealander Antony Glen de Malmanche, accused of smuggling methamphetamine into… Read more Audio

6:05 PM.An update from the team at Radio NZ. Audio

5:55 PM.Researchers who've been trying to find letters written by Anne Frank's father to his Australian pen pals, have made a New Zealand connection. Audio

5:46 PM.A man who took part in an advertising scam described by the Crown as a parasitic crime, motivated by greed, is tonight beginning a 3-year jail sentence. Audio

5:45 PM.A sovereignty group is calling for the Maori flag to hold equal status to the New Zealand flag; Papakainga, or multi-generational housing, are on the cards for state housing tenants in Tamaki, in… Read more Audio

5:43 PM.The Crown says Cissy Chen was murdered by her long-time partner, who she was about to break up with and have him cut from her will. Audio

5:40 PM.Wellington's water company says it can't afford the multi-million dollar suggestions on how to stop flooding around the Basin Reserve. Audio

5:38 PM.More than a week after Dunedin suffered it's once in a 100 years downpour, the city council now says more than 1200 properties have been flooded. Audio

5:35 PM.Activity in the manufacturing sector is still growing, but not as fast as it has been. Audio

5:27 PM.In Melbourne, a 17 year old's failed get-rich-quick scheme that cost his elite private school classmates thousands, could yet result in criminal charges. Audio

5:21 PM.A currency analyst is predicting the falling New Zealand dollar could slump to its lowest mark against the US greenback since the global financial crisis. Audio

5:17 PM.The Australian Prime Minister has refused to deny his officials have paid people smugglers to go away saying they'll stop the boats by 'hook or by crook'. Audio

5:14 PM.A man who spent three days trying to protect a threatened Kauri tree in Auckland, by camping out high in its branches, has been formally convicted, but has escaped punishment. Audio

5:10 PM.A young club rugby player has been banned for an entire season for a vicious shoulder charge, described as a sledgehammer tackle, that caused horrific injuries to an opposing player. Audio

5:08 PM.A manhunt is underway for a man who sexually assaulted a woman at knifepoint on her lunchbreak in Lower Hutt. Audio

5:00 PM.Manhunt on for sex attacker who stomped woman on lunchbreak;Club player banned for 45 weeks for vicious shoulder charge;Kauri tree-climber convicted but escapes punishment - for now;PM Abbott refuses… Read more Audio