Checkpoint

Asia correspondent Katie Silver spoke to Lisa Owen about Southeast Asia being pummelled by severe weather and flooding, as well as a Thai woman who was found alive in a coffin right before she was about to be cremated.

It has been a year of belt tightening for many people; rising unemployment, a sluggish economy and the lurking dragon that is inflation. So as we board the sled hurtling toward Xmas at breakneck speed what are people, who are lucky enough to have a job, expecting when it comes to end of year celebrations? Pead communications agency partner Jack Wheeler spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Jacob Brown spoke to Lisa Owen about Hezbollah who says it is looking at its options after an Israeli strike killed one of its top commanders, as well as reports of more deadly attacks in Gaza.

A special musical tribute from a New Zealand entertainer filled an auditorium in Palmerston North today as mourners gathered to farewell the three children killed in a fire at their home in the Manawatu town of Sanson. 7-year-old August, 5-year-old Hugo, and 1-year-old Goldie Field died in the blaze earlier this month. Their father, Dean Field, was also killed in what's being treated in a murder-suicide, but the children's funeral today was about remembering three bright young lives tragically cut short. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Shots have been fired following a high profile split in New Zealand sailing. Peter Burling says the control Team New Zealand wanted over him, forced him out of the America's Cup crew. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government is planning a shake up of local governmenting, including replacing regional councils with Combined Territories Board; made up of mayors. The government says it will strip out duplication and drive down complexity and compliance costs. Chair of Local Government New Zealand's Regional Sector, Dr Deon Swiggs spoke to Lisa Owen.

The bodies of two climbers who died near the summit of Aoraki Mt Cook have been recovered from the mountain. The mountain guide and a climber died after a fall shortly before midnight on Monday. The pair were in a group of four who were attempting a grand traverse of Aoraki Mt Cook. Samantha Gee has more.

Regional councils as you know them could be for the chop under a radical plan unveiled by the government. Under the proposal 11 regional councils would be axed, and replaced with new combined territories boards; made up of mayors from the regions cities and district councils. Mayors will work together to govern the regions. It's the biggest shake up in local government in more than three and half decades. Minister for Local Government Simon Watts spoke to Lisa Owen.

A well known scientist says she's out of options for funding her research as it gets even tougher to get grants or donations. PHD students are also facing an up hill battle. Award wininng microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles has been turned down for four grants for her research into the safety of resusable menstrual cups. She says when economic times are tough, money for research dries up and funding decisions tend to get more conservative. University of Auckland Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles spoke to Lisa Owen.