Checkpoint for Wednesday 2 March 2022

5:07 PM.Homemade pitchforks, shields, explosions, fire balls and a big black cloud of smoke.

That was the chaotic scene at Parliament on Wednesday, as police worked to clear the area of protesters.

RNZ… Read more Video, Audio

5:19 PM.US President Joe Biden has banned Russian aircraft United States airspace - joining Canada and the EU.

At his first State of the Union address this afternoon, Joe Biden called out Russian President… Read more Video, Audio

5:25 PM.Manu Vatuvei, one of the greatest players in Warriors history, has been jailed for three and a half years, for importing methamphetamine, hidden in skipping rope handles.

His lawyer described the… Read more Audio

5:31 PM.Police have had pitchforks, sticks and pipes used against them in the operation to clear the protest at Parliament today, Assistant Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says.

"We've made magnificent… Read more Video, Audio

5:37 PM.The Prime Minister has spoken about the chaos outside Parliament, where there is still conflict.

RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch has the details, and reporter Jake McKee is outside with… Read more Video, Audio

5:44 PM.Extreme and horrific images of child sexual exploitation on a scale never seen before.

The result of a worldwide investigation, led by New Zealand, which has netted hundreds of people involved in the… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.'We will restore these grounds'. A defiant Prime Minister has addressed media to thank the police for their efforts amid fiery and violent scenes from angry protesters at Parliament this afternoon.

… Read more Video, Audio

5:50 PM.RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher is outside Parliament, where protesters have started pulling up pavers to throw at police.

  Read more Video, Audio

5:53 PM.You know the saying 'every picture tells a story,' but sometimes it's only the first few chapters and you're left desperate to know how it ended.

That's exactly the deal for Canadian Keith McLaren… Read more Video, Audio

6:03 PM.Protesters are throwing bricks at police, as the protest at Parliament turns more ugly by the minute.

In the last few hours, fires have been lit on the lawn outside Parliament.

Protesters have made… Read more Video, Audio

6:10 PM.The Queensland government estimates the damage bill from the devstating floods will be around a $1 billion.

In that state alone, 30,000 homes are still without power. Brisbane City is calling for… Read more Video, Audio

6:16 PM.At Parliament police have fired sponge rounds at protestors who have been forced out of Parliament grounds.

RNZ reporters at the scene saw police fire a sponge round gun at people throwing rocks at… Read more Video, Audio

6:21 PM.Covid has put another spanner in another sports competition. This time it's the turn of Super Rugby Aupiki - the women's competition.

The opening round of the new comp this weekend has been delayed… Read more Video, Audio

6:24 PM.Roasted, boiled or covered in cheese - no matter how you like it, cauliflower could be off the menu this week - as a supply shortages pushes up prices.

Some cauliflower hunters have seen it for sale… Read more Audio