Checkpoint FOR FRIDAY 4 MARCH 2011
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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The Prime Minister was challenged about the earthquake response in Christchurch's hard-hit eastern suburbs during a walkabout today. John Key came to inspect progress restoring power - but the complaints were about toilets. Craig Ashworth reports. PKG
More now from Tracey Bolton. Her family live in one of the hard hit areas of Bexley. Only half a dozen houses on her street still have people living in them, and there's no power, water or sewerage. Today she told the Prime Minister they desperately need some chemical toilets and portaloos. PRE REC
The police have escorted media through central Christchurch for the first time since the operation there turned from rescue to recovery. Our reporter Gay Cavill was there. Q&A
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH Ben Brown
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Its the last day of campaigning before the Botany by-election in Auckland. Voters will elect a new MP, to replace the former National member, Pansy Wong, who resigned over the misuse of her travel subsidy. The Labour Party candidate Michael Wood accuses National's Jami-Lee Ross of trying to coast into Parliament on the back of John Key's popularity, and not running a campaign based on policy. TP
National's Jami-Lee Ross says he does understand the problems facing Botany voters. He says success will rest on his own campaign, but also acknowledges John Key's popularity will play some part. TP Our reporter Jane Patterson is in Auckland. Q&A
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17.30 HEADLINES
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The American search and rescue team working full time on the 17 storey Forsyth Barr building in the central city have cleared about half-a-floor worth of collapsed concrete stairs, leaving nearly five floors to go. 30 members of the 74 strong team are flying back to the United States on Sunday and will be replaced by local search and rescue workers. The team's Battalion Commander, John Lenihan, describes what they're up against. PRE REC
We cross now to the Big Top at Canterbury University where the Student Volunteer Army is having a break from ten days of shovelling mountains of silt from houses, schools and retirement homes. Thousands of people have helped. Louis Brown is one of the organisers. He's with us now. LIVER
Opposition parties are calling on the Government to deliver on its promised economic stimulus package for the West Coast to help it recover from the Pike River mine disaster. But the Government says the criticism is insensitive in the middle of the Christchurch earthquake response. Ian Telfer reports. PKG
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17.45 WAATEA
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The Foreign Affairs Minister has ordered a report on the Thai police investigation of the death of a New Zealander in Chiang Mai. Sarah Carter, who was 23, became ill after eating at a street market in February.
The police in Thailand are also investigating the deaths of three other people who all stayed at the same hotel. Sarah's father Richard Carter joins us now. LIVER
There have been more air strikes in Libya on areas controlled by anti-Gaddafi forces, as the international community ratchets up the pressure on Libya's leader. At a White House news conference, President Obama said it was time for Gaddafi to go. TP In Paris, the British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, discussed the humanitarian situation with his French counterpart, as well as the possibility of a no-fly zone over Libya. TP In the Hague, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has confirmed he would be investigating Colonel Gaddafi and his inner circle for possible crimes against humanity. Thousands of people are thought to have died after Libyan security forces targeted protesters during the unrest. There are also unconfirmed reports that Colonel Gaddafi has accepted a plan by his ally -- the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez -- to seek a negotiated settlement. The BBC's Peter Biles reports: PKG
Allegations of vote rigging have surfaced on the last day of campaigning in the Samoan election. When asked if he had cautioned his candidates, the leader of the ruling HRPP, Tuilaepa Sailele, had this to say. TP And Tuilaepa says any allegations of vote-buying need to be proved in court. The opposition Tautua Samoa party says if the ruling Human Rights Protection Party is re-elected, the damage it will do to the country is irreversible. The party's president, Va'aelua Ete Alesana, says people are sick of the HRPP treating them as though they are stupid. TP Radio New Zealand International's Megan Whelan is in Apia, and joins us now. Q&A