Checkpoint

The Prime Minister has held out an olive branch to the union movement, saying it and the National-led Government have a lot in common. Audio

News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

Dozens of mines set up years ago under outdated rules could be as dangerous as the toxic site at Mapua near Nelson and the mercury-contaminated Tui mine site in Waikato. Audio

The Greens were the only party to object to the new law allowing the police to seize and crush cars, partly on the grounds it's not in keeping with the spirit of recycling. Audio

The Public Service Association meanwhile is describing the 500 job losses as an outrage. Audio

The Health Minister, Tony Ryall, has announced the details of a major shake up saying the money saved from a more efficient system will be put back into health services such as heart bypass… Read more Audio

The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told a gathering of the world's biggest carbon emitters that pledges on emissions reductions by 2020 are inadequate. Audio

The United States is offering Sudan incentives to end violence in Darfur and the semi-autonomous South ahead of elections next year. Audio

The assistant police commissioner Grant Nicholls says while much of the public dissatisfaction raised in the survey was mostly about perception, he acknowledges the results shouldn't be ignored. Audio

29 per cent of those surveyed in the force's annual satisfaction survey specifically mentioned feeling threatened by youths hanging around in groups, especially at night. Audio

News from the Waatea team. Audio

A European Union investigation has found Sri Lanka in breach of international human rights laws, jeopardising more US$100 million of concessions for its top exports to Europe. Audio