Checkpoint

The big budget war movie American Sniper is raking in the money and has been nominated for six Academy Awards, but what's got most movie goers talking is its use of an obviously fake plastic baby. Audio

Risky rural roads are being blamed for New Zealand having a worse road toll rate than Australia's. Audio

An 80-year-old Manawatu farmer careering down a hill when his truck's brakes failed opted not to bail out even as he raced towards a hairpin bend. Audio

David Bain 's fight for compensation for the 13 years he spent behind bars is resuming, after two years of delays. Audio

The coroner has virtually given up on ever identifying the mystery object that smashed through the windscreen of Rutger Hale's car near Wanaka. Audio

Listening to that is Westpac New Zealand's chief economist, Dominick Stephens. Audio

More of the country's banks including two of the largest have joined the pack in cutting home loan rates as the mortgage war heats up. Audio

More banks join in cutting mortgage rates and more of the same is forecast. David Bain abandons his legal pursuit of Judith Collins and we hear from the farmer who stuck with his truck when the brakes… Read more Audio

The Minister for Maori Development says most iwi invest settlement payouts wisely and the latest case with Ngati Tuwharetoa appears to be an unfortunate exception. Nga Pae o Te Maramatanga has been… Read more Audio

It's been a tight second round contest for Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Audio

The bright flashes of radio waves caused by a cosmic radio burst have been witnessed live for the first time by Australian scientists. Audio

The mysterious death of an Argentine prosecutor just hours before he was due to appear before congress with evidence of a government plot to cover up a car bombing two decades ago, has sparked street… Read more Audio