The Far North District is a hot-spot for Kiwis looking to get away over the holidays.

However, due to the impacts of cyclones, storms and COVID - the area's businesses are still struggling.

Far North District Mayor Moko Tepania told Andrew Dickens that tourism this summer is key to boosting Northland's struggling businesses.

'We need you all to come up here and spend your money because our businesses bloody need it.'

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Wellington City Mission is expecting to welcome hundreds of people for Christmas lunches across the city tomorrow.

Five different locations will offer food and quality time for those living within City Mission housing, and those who use its services.

Missioner Murray Edridge told Andrew Dickens that it's been the hardest year many have experienced, but tomorrow's a time to come together.

He says Christmas can be difficult because it reminds those struggling of what they don't have.

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Santa Claus says he's fully wrapped up his Christmas preparations - ahead of tonight's global gift run.

New Zealand is one of his first stops on his longest night of the year.

Santa rolled out a dad joke - as he described what kids have been asking him for this year.

He says remote control vehicles are a big thing - but he's not sure how remote children want to be from the vehicle.

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Red meat may no longer be the star of the Christmas dinner table.

The price of sirloin and porterhouse steaks and lamb chops rose about 25-percent in the past year, and beef mince and sausages more than 10-percent.

But poultry and pork have stayed at or below the rate of inflation.

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Andrew Dickens that a summer salad's more affordable.

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US President Donald Trump may have spent more time travelling with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than previously reported.

The Department of Justice has released thousands of documents and images.

Emails from 2020 say Trump's listed as a passenger on Epstein's private jet to places including Palm Beach and Washington.

US correspondent Richard Arnold says they weren't to the infamous Epstein Island.

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Businesses are cautiously reopening along Sydney’s Bondi Beach, after its terror attack.

Fifteen people were killed and more than 40 others injured when two gunmen opened fire during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on the beach.

Many local businesses sheltered victims during the attack and have struggled in the days since.

Australian Correspondent Murray Olds told Andrew Dickens that the area's slowly coming to terms with a new reality.

He says cafes are open and people are back surfing.

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New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters says the new Free Trade Agreement with India is rushed.

It reduces or removes 95 percent of export tariffs, offers targeted temporary work visas - and gets preferential treatment for our apples and manuka honey.

I comes after nine months of negotiations.

Peters says it gives India too many concessions on immigration and investment, and does little for this country's dairy sector.

Winston Peters told Andrew Dickens not enough time was given for engagement, because of the time frame set by the Prime Minister.

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71,627, that's how many mobile phones have been diverted from landfill this year.

The Telecommunications Forum has been running their re-mobile scheme since 2014, diverted almost a million phones since then.

The nationwide shutdown of 3G is leaving a large number of mobile phones obsolete, so many people are looking to get rid of their phones.

TCF Chief Executive Paul Brislen told Andrew Dickens that, 'if they can be reused, we get them recycled.'

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