Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Chris Luxon is promising to double the value of New Zealand's exports in 10 years, if elected.

National's also vowing to pursue Free Trade Agreements, pump up our trade missions and prioritise increasing trade with India.

National trade and export spokesperson Todd McClay says the UAE is interested in doing an exclusive trade deal with New Zealand.

"For the first time in a long time, they want the high-quality protein, the food that we produce."

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A cautious approach is urged to addressing contentious student flat initiations.

There's been reports hazings have included animal cruelty- and the Otago Daily Times says some female students were forced to strip to underwear, body-shamed and called 'piggies'.

Otago University Student Association president Quintin Jane says this kind of behaviour is unacceptable.

He says people harming others or potentially committing criminal acts need to face consequences.

"But also, I think it's worth being conscious that the university aren't our parents and they should stay out of our flats. These are adults involved, and we just need to make sure that there are appropriate processes followed."

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An Auckland man has had an 'up-and-down' day trying to break the world record for most bungee jumps in 24 hours.

Mike Heard's been leaping off Auckland's Harbour Bridge all day, raising money for the Mental Health Foundation.

He's trying to finish 800 before 7am tomorrow- but he's slightly behind schedule.

AJ Hackett Sales Manager Leo Medina is helping out, and he says the fundraising is going well- they're at over $5000 so far and aiming for $10,000.

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The lab workers union, Apex, says Te Whatu Ora needs to have a thorough look at the country's labs.

The health agency's assessing risk in labs nationwide after two workers at different caught typhoid from samples - and staff at Auckland's Community Anatomic Pathology were exposed to toxic fumes.

President Bryan Raill says it's important to drill down into the risks are.

"But also, they should look at the other health and safety aspect of the workload and the work environment that staff are working under."

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On Monday evening, pro-Palestine protesters marched to Sydney's Opera House, which was lit up in solidarity with Israel.

The protesters started their rally at the Sydney Town Hall, but the event quickly got out of hand as anti-Semitic sentiments were chanted.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the protesters also lit up flares- but only one person was arrested by the end.

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The Israel Institute of New Zealand wants our country to deem Hamas in its entirety- a terrorist organisation.

Currently, we only designate the Palestinian organisation's military wing that way.

Hamas' surprise attack on Israel has killed at least 900, and almost 700 have died in Israel's retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

Institute co-chair Dr David Cumin says changing New Zealand's stance would serve a two-fold purpose.

"It stops New Zealanders being able to materially support terror like what we've seen conducted by Hamas over the last few days. And secondly, it is something that politicians can do to back up their words."

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After a 128-year wait, cricket is set to return to the Olympics.

The ICC confirmed organisers of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will recommend cricket for inclusion at the Games. 

The proposal is due to get ratified by the IOC governing body session next week in Mumbai.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further.

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Concerned schools have asked the Privacy Commissioner about their options for installing CCTV in their bathrooms.

In a bid to deter negative behaviour such as vaping and bullying in the toilets, schools are turning to cameras to monitor student activity.

Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster is urging schools to assess the risks and potential privacy breaches ahead of future installations.

"We absolutely understand the student safety argument, but we also want them to think really hard about student privacy arguments and values as well."

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I reckon Hamas’ attack on Israel has probably set the Palestinian cause back by years, if not decades.

For the last how long- Palestine has been regarded as the bullied and Israel as the bully. When was the last time anyone felt sorry for Israel?

But now, so many people will, because we’re seeing images of Israeli kids being held in chicken cages, young women just walking on the street being forced into cars and abducted and civilian grandmothers being murdered.

And suddenly, the cruelty and war crimes don’t just go one way- it’s become complex. And it’s not the straight-forward, simple Palestine good - Israel bad argument that many saw it as beforehand.

Just look at what’s happened politically here in New Zealand. Palestine was this close to getting an ambassador to New Zealand, Labour had announced it as election policy about a week ago. 

Today, Chris Hipkins put a stop to that. The cause has been set back.

And that’s not even to mention the real life impact this is having right now on Palestinians in the Gaza strip.

Food is cut off, water’s cut off, electricity is cut off, medicine's cut off and the attack is on.

This will surely - at least in the short term - shore up support for Benjamin Netanyahu who is no  friend of the Palestinians and their cause, and has only made their lives more difficult.

This makes him more powerful, at least for now.

Hamas has just made life for Palestine so much harder, in reality and in politics.

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A British-Israeli citizen and his wife have told of their 12 hour ordeal locked in a bomb-proof safe room as their home was attacked.

Ben, who did not wish to give his surname, described a terrifying experience as Hamas militants stormed their home and set fire to it.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says there are many people who have joint British-Israeli citizenship who were likely impacted by the attack.

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