Checkpoint for Tuesday 18 August 2015

6:55 PM.An American charity is mourning the loss of their Batman, a hero devoted to cheering up thousands of sick children. Audio

6:50 PM.Prime Minister John Key and Opposition leader Andrew Little duel over whose statistics are the dodgier while Finance Minister, Bill English, and his Labour shadow, Grant Robertson, engage in another… Read more Audio

6:48 PM.The Ngapuhi leader Sonny Tau has pleaded not guilty to killing five protected kereru, but says he is guilty of possessing them; A Ngai Tahu academic has challenged Maoridom's educational and tribal… Read more Audio

6:39 PM.Three more people have appeared in court in Fiji charged with sedition. Audio

6:25 PM.An interpreter who worked for the Defence Force in Afghanistan is pleading for the Government to allow his parents and siblings to join him in New Zealand. Audio

6:21 PM.New Zealand First is accusing the Prime Minister of breaking an election promise to use the proceeds from partial state assets sales for hospitals, schools and roading. Audio

6:17 PM.A judge has called a soldier stupid beyond belief for his part in covering up how live ammunition exploded during a training exercise. Audio

6:12 PM.The Auditor-General has launched an investigation into the Government spending more than $11 million setting up a sheep farm in the desert to placate a Saudi businessman. Audio

6:08 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:53 PM.An Auckland woman whose husband died of advanced bowel cancer is furious that he was diagnosed too late to be saved - and that other New Zealanders are being put in the same position. Audio

5:50 PM.A Ngāi Tahu academic has challenged Māoridom's educational and tribal leaders to make way for a new generation of rangatira. Audio

5:49 PM.The New Zealand men's basketball team need to create a major upset tonight against Australia to qualify for next year's Olympic games. Audio

5:43 PM.Four Northland rugby teams are refusing to play a team with Head Hunters gang members in it, claiming it's too intimidating. Audio

5:41 PM.A Waikato school bus driver has been stood down for driving a group of children to class while she was drunk. Audio

5:38 PM.A 37 year old man who stole keys to a pantry died after eating 24 muesli bars, three loaves of bread, and eight hamburger buns. Audio

5:36 PM.The Finance Minister has raised the prospect of the State-Owned Enterprise Landcorp having to sell off more land to reduce its debt, saying the Government won't be stepping into to help with a cash… Read more Audio

5:33 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:26 PM.An interpreter who worked for the New Zealand Defence Force in Afghanistan and who suffers from post traumatic stress because of what he witnessed, is pleading with the government to allow his parents… Read more Audio

5:25 PM.The Ngapuhi leader Sonny Tau has pleaded guilty to trying to board a plane with five dead kereru but not to shooting them. Audio

5:20 PM.The Ministry of Maori Development has spent four million dollars on contractors since October last year. Audio

5:12 PM.Thailand's Defence Minister says it is becoming much clearer who the bombers are who killed 22 people including eight tourists in a blast in the heart of Bangkok. Audio

5:08 PM.The Government's controversial Saudi sheep deal is to come under the scrutiny of the Auditor-General. Audio