Checkpoint

A Chemistry teacher who gets his students to build solar balloons, water rockets and parachute launching systems has won a $150,000 prize for being New Zealand's best science teacher. Audio

Problems with the new school payroll system took a farcical turn in Parliament this afternoon, when the Minister charged with overseeing its roll-out was forced to answer questions about himself, on… Read more Audio

The mayor of Christchurch says Lyttelton Port needs to do some soul searching over giving its chief executive, Peter Davie, a $600,000 bonus. Audio

An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

Half of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing opened this morning, and walkers are already on the tracks. Audio

The New Zealand sharemarket is being rated one of the top performers since the global financial crisis. Audio

News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

The head of the senior doctors union has blasted district health boards over the time it's taking some of them to electronically share patient information and has questioned their ethics and morality.

The Labour Party has criticised the chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, John Allen, for accepting a pay increase in the wake of what is called a botched restructuring of the ministry. Audio

Authorities are split over what to do about arsenic-contaminated land in Thames following a report which has found the risk to human health is low. Audio

Officials at odds over arsenic contaminated land in Thames; Labour criticises MFAT chief for taking pay increase; DHBs accused of thwarting efforts to improve sharing info; NZ tops world sharemarkets… Read more Audio

And back to Wellington's Embassy Theatre where the Hobbit Premiere is about to begin. Audio