Checkpoint

It has been a year of belt tightening for many people; rising unemployment, a sluggish economy and the lurking dragon that is inflation. So as we board the sled hurtling toward Xmas at breakneck speed… Read more Audio

Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen about Hezbollah who says it is looking at its options after an Israeli strike killed one of its top commanders, as well as reports of more… Read more Audio

A special musical tribute from a New Zealand entertainer filled an auditorium in Palmerston North today as mourners gathered to farewell the three children killed in a fire at their home in the… Read more Audio

News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

Shots have been fired following a high profile split in New Zealand sailing. Peter Burling says the control Team New Zealand wanted over him, forced him out of the America's Cup crew. Sports reporter… Read more Audio

The government is planning a shake up of local governmenting, including replacing regional councils with Combined Territories Board; made up of mayors. The government says it will strip out… Read more Audio

The bodies of two climbers who died near the summit of Aoraki Mt Cook have been recovered from the mountain. The mountain guide and a climber died after a fall shortly before midnight on Monday. The… Read more Audio

Regional councils as you know them could be for the chop under a radical plan unveiled by the government. Under the proposal 11 regional councils would be axed, and replaced with new combined… Read more Audio

A well known scientist says she's out of options for funding her research as it gets even tougher to get grants or donations. PHD students are also facing an up hill battle. Award wininng… Read more Audio

More west Auckland homeowners have been blind-sided by news that their front and back yards don't meet resource consents requirements and have been hit with bills stretching into the thousands. Some… Read more Audio

The names of five people seeking compensation for sexual abuse in state care were published online in a privacy breach by the Ministry of Social Development. The ministry has removed the link to… Read more Audio

A player has been red carded in the English Premier League for slapping his own team-mate. Everton enjoyed their first Premier League win at Manchester United's home turf in 12 years - that's despite… Read more Audio