Checkpoint

Palmerston North will provide a showcase of kapahaka over the next few days with hundreds of primary and intermediate school children competing in the national kapa haka competition. Audio

After almost 40 years as a jockey tomorrow's Melbourne Cup race will be the last for New Zealander Jimmy Cassidy. Audio

Kim Dotcom's lawyer says the internet mogul's widely-reported reference to himself as "evil" was a deliberate mistranslation by US prosecutors. Audio

A court martial's been told a corporal kicked and grabbed her friend by the throat in a fight over pre-loading on vodka after a night out drinking. Audio

More than a third of Canterbury dairy farmers are breaking their resource consents, and the number of warning notices they got last dairying season nearly tripled. Audio

The New Zealand arm of Westpac Bank has reported a full year profit of 916 million dollars, up six percent on a year ago. Audio

Only a year after it was re-introduced, the Australian prime minister has dumped knights and dames from the Order of Australia. Audio

Asbestos-hit Kaipara College will keep its classrooms closed all week but seniors facing imminent exams will be tutored at other places. Audio

Dropkicking maestro Dan Carter's been voted rugby's international player of the year, and the All Blacks team of the year. Audio

Listening to that is our education correspondent, John Gerritsen. Audio

The government wants to have the power to intervene more quickly with struggling schools. Audio

Battle lines are drawn between more passengers and profit for Queenstown airport as it brings in night flights, versus serious safety fears from pilots on the other. Audio