Checkpoint

About fifty Auckland hospital food workers walked off the job today in an angry protest at hotly debated changes to hospital food services. Audio

The Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, has met his National Security Committee about the hostage crisis in Sydney. Audio

In the lead-up to Christmas, people are spending 6-percent more on books and video games than the same time last year. Audio

Some principals say their schools have been wrongly included in the Government's new flagship education plan. Audio

Security expert Tony Loughran from Zero Risk International is also at Martin Place. Audio

We now cross to Sydney's Martin place for the latest on this hostage crisis with the ABC's Jamelle Wells. Audio

Three men have fled from the cafe where a gunman is holding hostages in a standoff in central Sydney with heavily armed police and snipers. Audio

An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

Fifty-nine thousand people who have no idea they're entitled to shares in Maori land, are owed five million dollars, which is being managed by the Maori Trustee, Te Tumu Paeroa. Audio

Returning to Sydney and reports of three people fleeing from the building housing the Lindt cafe. Audio

The Tauranga City Council says ITS building is most likely a leaky one after finding toxic mould in several parts of the workplace, prompting the evacuation of two hundred staff. Audio

The Kapiti mayor has called in the police and tightened security after death threats to council staff over a dangerous dog that's about to be put down. Audio