Checkpoint

The actor who played one of Star Wars' most memorable characters has died. Peter Mayhew who played the 200-year old Wookiee Chewbacca, died at his home in Texas. Eve Johnson reports. Video, Audio

A meditation centre locked in a bitter dispute with a shooting club has no confidence Auckland Council will enforce a Court of Appeal decision banning the club from operating. Video, Audio

Queenstown locals will be able to vote on whether they back a proposed five percent bed tax during a referendum in a fortnight. Video, Audio

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern appears to have reined in two of her ministers for getting personal about Paula Bennett's Māori heritage. Mrs Bennett described comments about her whakapapa as a "racist… Read more Audio

News from the business sector, including a market report. Video, Audio

As Pike River families gathered at the mine's entrance today, the recovery agency's boss revealed years-old tubing was likely responsible for the delay in re-entry. Logan Church reports from… Read more Video, Audio

People too traumatised by the Christchurch mosque attacks to work want to know why Victim Support is holding onto millions donated to Christchurch's Muslim community. Video, Audio

Former Business NZ chief executive Phil O'Reilly was one of 11 members in Welfare Expert Advisory Group. He told Lisa Owen the recommendations in the report are transformational - and should be… Read more Video, Audio

An expert advisory group has made 42 recommendations for welfare reform, including scrapping most sanctions, increasing benefits by up to 47 percent and increasing the amount of money beneficiaries… Read more Video, Audio

Watch Friday's full programme here. Video

Auckland Council has agreed to pay its share of a billion dollar budget blow out on the City Rail Link project - but it won't sell off its car parks to help do that. Reporter Auckland Rowan Quinn… Read more Video, Audio