Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Sheep and beef farm profit margins are expected to fall a further 30 percent, according to Beef + Lamb NZ's Season Outlook.

This lower profitability comes at a time where farmers are already struggling to rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and prepare for dry conditions ahead of El Niño, painting a grim picture in experts' eyes.

The Country's Jamie Mackay says there's further downsides to this negative forecast if China doesn't bounce back quickly enough.

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Signs food price inflation may be turning a corner and cooling down.

Stats NZ data shows food prices are 8 percent higher for the year to September- but it's also the lowest since July 2022.

NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says this inflation cooldown is to be expected after months of increased food prices.

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Pressure is mounting as Fletcher Building tries to work their way through an ongoing trading halt.

The building company is trying to work out a possible solution in relation to plumbing failures occurring in Western Australia.

Australian firm BGC says these issues with Fletcher subsidiary Iplex will cost the company over $1.8 billion to fix.

BusinessDesk's Victoria Young says Fletcher has maintained that these issues come from improper installation.

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Hipkins has claimed a National-led Government will set key Maori initiatives back extensively.

The Prime Minister has hit out at the opposition, declaring National's Chris Luxon will reverse all 'By Maori for Maori' progress Labour has made.

Hipkins also compared Luxon's approach to Don Brash's 'divisive' 2005 campaign.

ZB political editor Jason Walls says Hipkins' allegations don't match National's stance on race relations and labelled the move 'short-sighted'.

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TOP leader Raf Manji says Labour and National have 'pulled back' from the Christchurch seat of Ilam, paving the way for him to get into Parliament.

Labour's Ilam candidate Sarah Pallett has dismissed Manji's claims as 'rubbish', and claims Labour is still in it to win it.

"We've been campaigning so hard, and it's a tiny bit insulting to my volunteers, who've really put in the hard yards and continue to do so- they've been out all day today. I'm just bemused."

National's Hamish Campbell says this is a 'desperate' claim from Raf Manji, as National has been working to bring in votes.

"If you drive through Illam, you'll see that it's absolutely covered in blue signs. We're working right up til we can no longer campaign, which is midnight on Friday. We're going strong."

Raf Manji is still defending his earlier statements, saying he's not seeing a lot of action on the ground from both major parties.

"We're out every day, and we've been out every day for the last month. Yes, we see billboards, but we're not seeing a lot on the ground. I'm sure there's staff doorknocking, but we're out and about."

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German sandal company Birkenstock experienced a disappointing debut after landing on the New York Stock exchange.

The brand experienced a meteoric rise in popularity over the past decade, selling over 30 million pairs in 2022 alone.

Birkenstock priced its initial public offering at $46 a share- but the share prices quickly fell 12.6 percent and closed at $40.20.

Stake Chief Marketing Officer Bryan Wilmot says many IPOs have attempted to enter the market within the last two years- and the economy turned quickly.

"The market was booming, we saw people taking advantage of that. Then interest rates started to rise, uncertainty and volatility turned the market- the IPO market has completely dried up."

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No emotion from a Christchurch man after he was convicted of murdering his childhood friend.

David Benbow has been found guilty of murdering Michael McGrath in 2017.

The murder charge was proven with no body, no murder weapon and no forensic evidence.

The jury delivered its verdict, after deliberating for 18 hours over three days.

The Herald's Sam Sherwood was in court and says McGrath's supporters cheered when the guilty verdict was reached.

"Benbow himself was just emotionless when the verdict was read out. His mother, who sat on my side of the courtroom, let out a loud gasp."

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Negotiations are underway for a humanitarian corridor in Gaza, ahead of Israel's ground offensive.

The death toll on both Palestinian and Israeli sides is nearing 2500, with 338,000 in Gaza displaced.

The UN is working with the US, Egypt and Israel on establishing a humanitarian corridor on Gaza's border with Egypt.

Newshub Europe Correspondent Lisette Reymer says all sides are being forced to make compromises.

"At the moment, it seems like perhaps Israel is leaning towards letting the food come in- but nobody is able to leave or have any American citizens be able to leave."

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Eddie Jones is reportedly ditching the Wallabies to return to Japan.

According to a Japanese sports newspaper, the former England coach and two-time Wallabies coach is heading back to the Brave Blossoms- eight years after leaving the same job.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says these claims are mostly speculation- and Eddie Jones hasn't confirmed anything.

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The New Zealand Breakers have voiced their support for Israel on social media.

In a post on the team's Instagram account, the Breakers claimed they were 'deeply saddened' by the attacks in Israel by Hamas and that they stood with the people of Israel.

This post has inspired discussion and sparked backlash- and Sportstalk's D'Arcy Waldegrave weighed in on the public reaction.

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