Checkpoint

News from the Waatea team. Audio

The Human Rights Commission says allowing people older than 65 to permanently opt out of jury service could be age discrimination. Audio

Council rates in Christchurch city will continue to be calculated using the 2007 house valuations for up to two more years, allowing time for the earthquake's impact on property prices to be assessed.

A senior official in China's notoriously secret People Liberation's Army has now confirmed that the country's first aircraft carrier is under construction. Audio

An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

Federated Farmers is planning a major cull of Canada Geese at the end of the year when the birds are in moulting and can't fly, but they want taxpayer dollars to ensure the numbers stay in check. Audio

News from the business sector. Audio

Parliament's Speaker Lockwood Smith has described the conduct of Labour MPs as petty and pathetic during an exchange about Government money for parenting courses. Audio

70 jobs are to go from KiwiRail including 40 from the its Hillside Workshop in south Dunedin. Audio

The Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard says the New Zealand dollar is overvalued against the greenback, but he won't be drawn on how much or whether the Bank will intervene. Audio

An Auckland hapu says it hopes the warning given to Auckland Council about a taniwha in the city's centre will lead to more consultation with Maori. Audio

News from the Waatea team. Audio