Checkpoint

School principal Gordon Pepere is on the verge of tears while describing children arriving at school barefoot and with little food in their bags, which they use as raincoats to shelter from the rain.

Every time Manawatu Gorge is about to reopen, something else happens that means it has to stay closed. Now it's becoming a real possibility it may never open again. John Campbell reports. Audio

Watch Friday's full show here. Video

More than 300 new social housing units will be built in Lower Hutt, but critics say it's too little, too late and the city is still nearly 4000 homes short. Video, Audio

Anna Youngman has pleaded with Christchurch City Council to stop the Winstones Quarry which she says is coating locals in harmful dust. Video, Audio

A Supreme Court ruling that protected conservation land cannot be destroyed for the Ruataniwha Dam in Hawke's Bay probably spells the end of the controversial project, Maggie Barry says. Video, Audio

More than 100 former wards of the state gathered at Parliament today calling for a full Government inquiry into the abuse they suffered whilst in state care. Mihingarangi Forbes was there. Video, Audio

Rookie backs Nganu Laumape and Jordie Barrett will make their first test starts in just their second ever test when the All Blacks take on the British and Irish Lions in Auckland this weekend. Video, Audio

Elderly patients waiting for eye appointments at Dunedin Hospital were forced to sit on the floor, whilst one waited seven hours without being seen at all. Video, Audio

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

Men convicted for consensual homosexual activity under old laws have finally received a formal apology from Parliament. Political reporter Chris Bramwell was there when the historic apology was… Read more Video, Audio