Checkpoint

Steve Hansen has signed on as All Blacks coach till 2017, after talking to senior players about it. Audio

The Government denies it's underfunding the health sector, as doctors and nurses sound alarms over the possibility of further budget pressure. Audio

A former New Zealand police negotator says the deaths of two of the hostages in the Sydney siege will have a terrible impact on everyone, including the New South Wales hostage negotiation team. Audio

One Christchurch local has told regional councillors that the smell for a nearby gelatin factory makes her want to vomit and stops her from going outside. Audio

A manhunt is underway in Pennsylvania following shootings in three separate locations that have left six people dead. Audio

The Prime Minister is being accused of political opportunism by linking the Sydney siege and New Zealand's recently toughened anti-terrorism laws. Audio

Australia is on high alert after heavily armed police stormed a Sydney cafe early today, freeing most of the 17 hostages held there, though two were killed. Audio

An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

Local Government New Zealand is backing demands made by Northland Regional Councillor and former MP Dover Samuels that Māori landowners pay their rates. Audio

The convicted murderer and paedophile Phillip John Smith will stand trial in Auckland for charges relating to his trip to Brazil. Audio

The Labour Party says the Foreign Affairs Minister, is ducking for cover by refusing to release the report into the Malaysian diplomat botch up, until next year. Audio

The Government is being accused of cynically manipulating the books, so it can acheive its promised goal of reaching surplus this year. Audio