Checkpoint

Pope Francis has supported the right of parents to choose the size of their families, saying good Roman Catholics don't have to - ' be like rabbits'. Audio

Plant and Food Research is focussing on recruiting Maori students to fulfil a growing need for specialist skills in horticulture and food science. Audio

The Prime Minister says the Government will make a decision in the next month or so about whether to send forces to Iraq to train troops there in the fight against Islamic insurgents. Audio

There are conflicting accounts of how a stand off between guards and asylum seekers on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island came to an end. Audio

Businesses are hiring more staff as they continue to feel upbeat about 2015. Audio

A police chase turned into a police escort for a speeding midwife taking a woman in heavy labour, to a Far North hospital yesterday morning. Audio

The New Zealand dollar has fallen against the currencies of our trading partners today, including losing four-fifths of a US cent. Audio

An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

Four children are lucky to be alive after trying to cross Nelson harbour in a blow-up boat, triggering a major rescue Audio

Frontline police officers are worried that they're not receiving enough training with their guns - with their live fire training being replaced with video simulator exercises. Audio

A Whanganui man who admits helping murderer and paedophile Phillip Smith get the passport he used to flee to Brazil, ended up having a meltdown and threatened to kill a police officer. Audio

Parched farmers are agitating for Government action over freeing up water from Lake Tekapo, saying if they had alpine water they wouldn't be in such dire straits. Audio