Checkpoint for Friday 30 January 2015

6:54 PM.A Maori lawyer says the philanthropist, Gareth Morgan, has sparked a debate on Maori sovereignty that's been swept under the carpet by other leaders; A Maori doctor is backing a demand for more… Read more Audio

6:36 PM.This week both the Prime Minister, John Key, and the Labour Party leader, Andrew Little, delivered their state-of-the-nation speeches in Auckland, with Mr Key outlining more details of the… Read more Audio

6:23 PM.Mexican authorities have officially closed the investigation into the 43 students who went missing in Iguala in September. Audio

6:18 PM.Metiria Turei, the co-leader, joins us now. Audio

6:15 PM.As for Russel Norman, his surprise announcement leaves the Greens needing a new male co leader. Audio

6:12 PM.National's Northland MP Mike Sabin quit today under pressure on the same day as the Greens co-leader Russell Norman made the surprise call to step down. Audio

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

5:57 PM.The Hawkes Bay retiree who raced on his farmbike to the beach to rescue a mother and child from being swept out to sea says he would have dived in to save them if he had to. Audio

5:49 PM.The economist Gareth Morgan has told a Northland hui on Maori sovereignty that if the Treaty of Waitangi were truly honoured there'd be no need for Maori seats in Parliament; A Maori doctor is backing… Read more Audio

5:44 PM.At least eight young Pacific Island boys have been hospitalised in Auckland in recent weeks with after botched circumcisions. Audio

5:42 PM.As New Zealand balloons towards becoming the fattest nation on earth, it looks unlikely that the Gvernment is going to nswer a call to fund much more weight loss surgery. Audio

5:40 PM.It's been revealed in court that a teenager who attacked an elderly Waikanae couple in their home targeted them twice on the same night. Audio

5:35 PM.Home buyers will find it more difficult, and more expensive, or have to scrape together a much bigger deposit to get a mortgage if the Reserve Bank introduces new measures designed to take the heat… Read more Audio

5:33 PM.New Zealand shares fell today, with the benchmark Top 50 Index easing 16 points to 5744 from yesterday's record. Audio

5:27 PM.The NRL Auckland Nines rugby league tournament kicks off tomorrow with organisers expecting it to generate more money than last year, the first time it was held. Audio

5:23 PM.The Otago Regional Council is pleading for the Government to declare a drought as taps are turned off at irrigation dams. Audio

5:21 PM.The number of consents for new houses and apartments has hit its highest level since 2007. Audio

5:16 PM.Our parliamentary chief reporter Jane Patterson. Audio

5:12 PM.Green Party co-leader Russel Norman is quitting the top job and is not ruling out leaving parliament altogether. Audio

5:08 PM.It's been a big day in politics with National's Northland MP Mike Sabin quitting under a cloud and the Greens co-leader Russell Norman stepping down. Audio

5:00 PM.It's been a big day in politics with National's Northland MP Mike Sabin quitting under a cloud and the Greens co-leader Russell Norman stepping down. Green Party co-leader Russel Norman is quitting… Read more Audio