Checkpoint for Friday 13 February 2015

6:57 PM.Supporters of a push to get more young Pasifika people into skilled trades in Auckland say parents and employers will need to change their attitudes if it's to succeed. Audio

6:54 PM.The Black Caps success at the Cricket World Cup won't come down to the talents of Brendon McCullum or Kane Williamson but the roles of 'bit players' says former NZ coach Warren Lees. Audio

6:50 PM.The Wanganui District Council has today closed its public consultation process for people to have their say on the spelling of the district's name; The board representing Maori in Auckland is… Read more Audio

6:28 PM.The Iraqi Government has formally asked New Zealand for help in the fight against Islamic State. New Zealand's Prime Minister, John Key, announced last year that his Government was considering what… Read more Audio

6:24 PM.The head of Athletics New Zealand says it's unlikely that any amount of police vetting or reference checks would have revealed that a top sports official was a paedophile. Audio

6:20 PM.The retiring Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean fears that coroners will lose their powers in a review of the Coroners Act this year. Audio

6:14 PM.The Labour leader Andrew Little also met with Ibrahim al-Ja'afari today. Audio

6:11 PM.Iraq's issued a formal request for help from New Zealand in fighting Islamic state, though this country is stressing it needs to be clear about how military trainers would be protected. Audio

6:07 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:53 PM.The board representing Maori in Auckland is questioning the legality of the sale by the council of a prime piece of downtown land; A radio station has used its parliamentary submission on the future… Read more Audio

5:48 PM.Scientists at a US science conference in California have asked for public consent to actively try to contact intelligent life on other worlds. Audio

5:44 PM.In Australia - criminal lawyers are accusing the Prime Minister Tony Abbott of trying to poison a future jury against two men accused of planning a terrorist attack. Audio

5:41 PM.Nearly all of about 150 stranded whales in Golden Bay have been re-floated, but are yet to swim out to deeper water after getting stuck on sand. Audio

5:38 PM.An Olympics athletics judge Peter Wrigley has been jailed for sexually abusing two young girls and possessing more than 100 thousand child porn images including of babies. Audio

5:36 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:26 PM.Tomorrow the Cricket World Cup opener at Hagley Oval tomorrow and busy hours ahead for the TAB. Audio

5:23 PM.The brother of murder accused Mark Lundy, has told a jury that his brother told him about using a prostitute the night before his wife Christine and daughter, Amber were killed at their Palmerston… Read more Audio

5:19 PM.The retiring chief coroner is warning that coroners risk losing their powers when the Coroners Act is reviewed this year. Audio

5:16 PM.A high-profile businessmen jailed for 15 years for shackling a woman and sexually abusing her in a room referred to as his dungeon can now be named for the first time. Audio

5:13 PM.Our parliamentary chief reporter Jane Patterson was at the news conference, following the Foreign Ministers' meeting. Audio

5:07 PM.Iraq today made its much anticipated request to New Zealand to help fight the jihadist Islamic State, and the Foreign Minister's suggesting this country's role might even expand. Audio

5:00 PM.Iraq asks NZ for help to fight jihadists, Protection for NZ troops in Iraq crucial, High profile businessman jailed for 15 years is named, Retiring chief coroner fears coroners are losing their… Read more Audio