1The great US debt stand-off that could lead to an unprecedented default by the country. The government is trying to agree a deal that would clear the way for Congress to raise the 4.3-trillion dollar debt limit before the US runs out of money to pay its bills. One contentious subject is the closing of tax loopholes.

2Tribute to the late Maori language pioneer Dame Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira. With Dame Katerina, Cathy Dewes helped establish Kura Kaupapa Maori schools throughout NZ. Cathy was made an officer of the NZ Order of Merit in this year's Queen's Birthday honours.

3News from the Pacific, including: the rate of decline of native languages in the pacific, specifically Easter Island, and there is a move to ask for six-pacific languages to be recognised in New Zealand. Papua New Guinea expects to loose 600-languages as there are so few speakers left. Also the influence of chinese migration into the pacific and the possibility that this may lead to more race based unrest.

511:00 News

4The Week That Was with Jesse Mulligan and Elisabeth Easther including; Wendi Deng and slapping a man with her handbag when he tried to throw shaving foam in husband Rupert Murdoch's face; Orewa College's iPad; thumbydextrousness; small dogs; a car called a Tuarara and more.