A christmas miracle for animal rights activists and vegans, who want to eat turkey during the festive season.

Scientists are predicting they'll be able to grow turkey in massive drums within the next 15 years, in order to stop factory farming.

It's done by taking the muscle fibre from a turkey breast, and multiplying it in drums full of liquid.

Food futurist Dr Morgaine Gaye told Rachel Smalley at the moment they can grow it, but they still need to make it taste like the real thing.

"They need to get the fat back into it - so that's what makes [...] it taste so good - the fat, that's what we love. So they're struggling really still to make it taste great, and also to make it affordable."

Dr Gaye said it will perfect for vegans and vegetarians who still want turkey during the festive season.

She said it's like tofu or quorn in that it will be for a select few, but it does address a lot of animal welfare issues, issues around global warming, and land and space.

LISTEN ABOVE: Dr Morgaine Gaye spoke with Rachel Smalley

Up to 20,000 people are fleeing the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Regime troops have pushed into the eastern suburbs overnight, killing many civilians.

Food stocks are non-existent and there are no functioning hospitals.

ReliefAid founder Mike Seawright told Rachel Smalley the main emotion being held by his staff and the community is fear.

"And this is a fear of being killed or injured, especially with no medical care. A fear of reprisal, many for simply living in opposition-controlled territory."

Seawright said people are also afraid of detention and torture in the event that government forces take them or their families.

LISTEN ABOVE: ReliefAid founder Mike Seawright spoke with Rachel Smalley

Ray Columbus is being remembered for his contribution to New Zealand music.

The 74-year-old died at his home north of Auckland yesterday. He had been ill for a long time.

He shot to fame in 1964 with his hit She's a Mod and the dance move that went with it.

Entertainer Frankie Stevens told Rachel Smalley Ray Columbus' band the Invaders only lasted for a couple of years.

"But he, as a person who supported New Zealand music and New Zealand musicians and performers, was really quite unparalleled."

Stevens said music was changing in New Zealand in the 1960s and 70s and there was a big generational shift.

Ray Columbus was in the middle of it all.

"He was doing things that were all new, I mean musically. The guys that were in the Invaders were all pop musicians."

LISTEN ABOVE: Frankie Stevens spoke with Rachel Smalley about Ray Columbus

The government is helping businesses that should be gearing up for the Christmas period, but have had to close instead.

It's extending its relief package to those businesses that are inside cordons, or can't trade due to building demolition in Wellington.

Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Milford told Rachel Smalley it covers Wellington City and Lower Hutt - where Queensgate Mall is.

"The eight week period was done on advice for how long it will take to either remedy the buildings concerned or demolish those buildings."

Milford said the package will be more than welcomed, describing it as a "major step forward" for Wellington businesses.

"Particularly for retail, obviously the Christmas trading period is one of the biggest periods they have in the year."

LISTEN ABOVE: Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Milford spoke with Rachel Smalley

Hillary Clinton's campaign is backing efforts to push for vote recounts in several key states.

Green Party candidate Jill Stein has already raised millions of dollars to have another look at votes in Wisconsin.

Donald Trump has sent a string of tweets this morning citing Mrs Clinton's earlier comments about respecting democracy. The President-elect says the results should be respected , instead of being challenged and abused.

Hillary Clinton conceded the election when she called me just prior to the victory speech and after the results were in. Nothing will change

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2016

Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post's White House bureau chief, told Rachel Smalley Mr Trump won by 107,000 across Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

"It is highly unlikely that there would have been sufficient tampering to alter the outcome in all three of the states, which is what would be needed."

But former Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders said there's nothing wrong with counting votes again.

"That's a legal right, they do it. I don't think that Hillary Clinton, who got two million more votes than Mr Trump in the popular election, thinks that it's going to transform the election. But do people have the legal right to do it? Yeah, we do."

The President of the Kaipara Fishing Club says it's up to the skipper to tell those on board to wear their lifejackets.

It's thought those on board the charter boat 'Francie', which rolled in the Kaipara Harbour on Saturday afternoon, weren't wearing life jackets.

Seven lives are already confirmed lost, one man is still missing, while three have survived.

Steve McGregor is also a friend of Bill McNatty, the boat's skipper who lost his life on Saturday, and told Rachel Smalley it's not a question of lifejackets not fitting.

"Well they have different sizes to fit most people. I mean if you're taking a party out, you'd have to have different sizes," he said.

McGregor said if conditions are bad it's a no brainer, you don't cross the Kaipara bar. He said you've really got to assess it with your head on straight.

"If you get out there and you see things aren't looking that well out there, or the swell's quite huge, then don't even attempt to go out there."

LISTEN ABOVE: President of the Kaipara Fishing Club Steve McGregor spoke with Rachel Smalley

UPDATED 8.04AM Social providers are concerned a cultural issue may have led to a women leaving her newborn baby in a reserve.

A member of the public found the dead baby's body about 8.30 yesterday morning at a reserve in Mangere Bridge.

Anglican Trust for Women and Children CEO Judy Matai'a told Rachel Smalley they can't be certain, but the area's demographics suggest that might be the case.

She said if cultural restrictions and taboos have anything to do with causing shame or fear, they need to be talked about.

She said that's important because the situation has resulted in the worst possible scenario - loss of a life.

Ms Matai'a is encouraging South Auckland families to ask each other questions.

"It's a tricky discussion to have, but people need to start talking" she said.

"It's so raw for the community, it's going to be really raw and devastating for the family of the girl, who like you say probably didn't know that she even was pregnant ."

Ms Matai'a said there are so many resources out there for mothers of all kinds - and it's a tragedy that the woman felt so detached from her community and life that she could leave her baby in a park.

Post Antenatal and Distress Support Group Executive Director Antoinette Ben said we need to review accessibility to social services.

She told Mike Hosking she presumes the mother was terrified to have the baby.

She said it's also obvious the women wasn't prepared and she may not have known that she was pregnant for a long time.

But Ms Ben says people are actually very good at hiding things, especially if they know they're not going to be accepted - if that was the case.

A Kiwi company whose software is used in 26 countries has won the top award at the New Zealand International Business Awards.

The 50th year of the awards took place last night.

WhereScape took away the Judge’s Supreme Award for International Business, as well as Best Medium Business.

General manager David Morris told Rachel Smalley the company's software, which deals with large amounts of data, is used by the likes of Nike, GE, Chanel and UK supermarket Tesco.

"They don't buy our product because we come from New Zealand, they buy our product because of the value it provides them and we compete with international brands to win those deals.'

He said getting familiar with new technology is difficult.

"Our software allows you to do that really quickly because we alternate all the difficult things underneath that take your internal teams some serious amounts of time to learn and pick up."

Newstalk ZB's rugby editor Nigel Yalden is in Paris and spoke to Rachel Smalley about the upcoming All Blacks v France test.

UPDATED 11.32am Some dissent among Goose Bay residents evacuated from their homes near Kaikoura.

LISTEN ABOVE: Civil Defence controller Murray Sinclair spoke to Rachel Smalley with the latest on the dam situation

They're clashing with Civil Defence officials who moved 17 of them out yesterday after being told a dam is on the brink of giving way.

It could be up to 10 days until they can return.

Paul Keung runs Goose Bay's Moana Farm and doubts the seriousness of the situation after walking around the dam and flying over twice in his helicopter.

"I ended up seeing two or three helicopters heading back up there within a couple of hours. I'm sure they'll be sorely embarrassed. Last night they should have made a call that they've made a mistake. You need to actually get some people with local knowledge and work together."

He said the rest of the village doesn't believe it either, and are furious.

"Some of them arrived back from overseas, got home to clean up all of their mess... literally walked in their door and Civil Defence said, 'you're out.'"

Civil Defence said if the five-metre dam caused by a landslip just south of Kaikoura bursts, 35 houses and baches will be washed away.

Mr Keung said he's told the Civil Defence controller he's made a massive mistake, but local knowledge is being dismissed.

"He's assumed this big slip has gone in the creek, which it hasn't. Who knows what's going to happen but it doesn't back up all the way like he thinks it does. It's a small slip."

MORE: Urgent evacuation south of Kaikoura after earthquake

The area's Civil Defence controller Murray Sinclair told Rachel Smalley scientists are monitoring the naturally-created dam.

He said they're hoping the water gradually builds up, goes over the top and then slowly cuts its way through - but they can't be certain it won't burst so public safety is paramount.

Civil Defence's Charlotte O'Sullivan said evacuees will stay with friends and family, or will be given accommodation.

"We have heard that everyone was understanding of it. Bad weather is coming and it could breach so and it's in their best interests to evacuate. They all understood it. They've been really receptive of the news.

"The geotechnical engineers will keeping an eye on the size of the dam and the forecast, and then just basing it on the risk factor."

Ms O'Sullivan said Civil Defence welfare teams will be staying in touch with evacuees, as more information comes to light.