Checkpoint for Friday 27 February 2015

6:52 PM.It's 20 years since the noho of Whanganui's Pakaitore, or Moutoa Gardens - a protest that lasted for 79 days; The New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters is confident ahead of the Northland… Read more Audio

6:35 PM.This week the Government has officially told New Zealanders it will deploy a training force of 143 troops to Iraq, as its contribution to the US-led coalition against Islamic State. Audio

6:25 PM.Russian scientists have discovered several giant craters in Siberia and they fear there could be dozens more. Audio

6:20 PM.Toronto police are asking the public to help them find out more about the mysterious tunnel discovered near a Pan Am Games venue. Audio

6:18 PM.New Plymouth is to fork out eighty thousand dollars to head to the polls over whether Maori should have an automatic right to a council seat. Audio

6:15 PM.Winston Peters is urging Northland voters to elect him as their next MP so they can have a stronger voice in Parliament. Audio

6:10 PM.Tony Abbott has arrived in Auckland for a flying visit this afternoon with Iraq high on the agenda and dogged by new speculation that his leadership's in trouble. Audio

6:06 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:52 PM.The Prime Minister says the pay rates of MPs and Ministers are now about right - despite yesterday saying they didn't deserve any increase. Audio

5:50 PM.It's 20 years since the noho of Whanganui's Pakaitore, or Moutoa Gardens - a protest that lasted for 79 days. Audio

5:47 PM.The speculation around Tony Abbott's leadership is dogging his heels, even as the Australian Prime Minister toured today in first Queensland then Auckland. Audio

5:40 PM.The man at the head of a party pill enterprise that the Crown says was worth 50 million dollars has been jailed for 10 years. Audio

5:37 PM.A court's over-ruled a father who's been refusing to give his nine year old boy drugs to treat HIV. Audio

5:35 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:28 PM.Lydia Ko has teed off for the first time on home soil as the women's world Number One this afternoon. Audio

5:25 PM.40 thousand cricket fans are set to pack out Eden Park tomorrow for New Zealand and Australia's first one-day match in three years. Audio

5:22 PM.The masked "Jihadi John" killer who fronted Islamic State beheading videos has been identified as a British computer programming graduate from a well-to-do London family. Audio

5:17 PM.Explosions that startled shoppers at a west Auckland mall today are being put down to the air bags or tyres of a burning van popping. Audio

5:14 PM.Our political editor Brent Edwards is with us now. Audio

5:10 PM.The New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters is returning to his roots and standing for the vacated seat of Northland. Audio

5:05 PM.John Key is making clear to the visiting Australian Prime Minister that New Zealand's soldiers in Iraq will not go out on operations even if the Australians do. Audio

5:00 PM.PM makes clear to Aussies NZ troops will stay behind wire;Winston Peters stands in Northland;Analysis with Brent Edwards;Van fire at Auckland shopping mall sparks major police and fire response;Jihadi… Read more Audio