Checkpoint

Ten Canterbury mayors are pushing for government intervention into the local regional council, on the eve of a vote that may topple its chairperson. Audio

New Zealand's moved out of recession earlier than had been expected - thanks in part to an increase in exports to China. Audio

An armed standoff at a Napier bus terminal that lasted for more than four hours has ended with the arrest of a man who police say has mental health problems . Audio

Where the country's media is dominated by newspapers and television channels owned or controlled by the Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his family. Audio

The Labour Party says TVNZ has been forced to relinquish its rights to next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi because of the government's demand for an increased dividend. Audio

Old political foes John Key and Helen Clark have met in New York today over a couple of loaves of Vogel bread. Audio

News from the Waatea team. Audio

Health authorities in Australia are a step closer to prosecuting the disgraced docter Roman Hasil who fled New Zealand in 2006 after a series of botched sterilisations at Wanganui Hospital. Audio

The police say the extent of injuries to a woman shot and killed in Matamata this morning is making the job of formally identifying her difficult. Audio

The deputy chair of the Maori Affairs select committee Hone Harawira has his sights set on the country's tobacco company bosses saying that he'd like to quote"lynch the bastards"unquote. Audio

An update from the RNZ sports team. Audio

Sydney has been blanketed by a choking dust storm which weather forecasters say is the worst to hit the state in nearly 70 years. Audio