There are reports today that staff at Astoria, one of Wellington's most well-known cafes have been made redundant weeks out from Christmas. The chief executive of Hospitality New Zealand, Julie White, describes the problems many are facing.

Yesterday was World Disability Day and RNZ and Attitude Pictures released a series of first person videos to mark the occasion. The video blog series explores the day to life of living with disabilities.

Central Otago stone fruit growers are rubbishing claims they're turning down New Zealanders for local fruit picking work as they'd prefer cheap foreign labour.

Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and adviser, has been questioned under oath as part of a civil lawsuit alleging misuse of non profit funds for Donald Trump's inauguration four years ago. There's talk now that President Trump might continue his pardoning spree and pardon his own children ahead of his departure from office. Associate professor Tim Kuhner teaches law of democracy at the University of Auckland.

Mediawatch's weekly catch-up with Lately. This week Colin Peacock talks to Karyn Hay about a reality TV showing us real regional life.

NZ Director and Former Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman spoke to Karyn Hay about the climate emergency declaration, and what needs to happen. Meanwhile David Seymour has told Lately there are many more tangible things the government could've done to deal with climate change, like changing MP's travel policies.

On Wednesday New Zealand became the 33rd country in the world to declare a 'climate emergency' and commit to a carbon-neutral government by 2025.

The Royal Northern Albatrosses who nest on Otago Peninsula have laid the second-highest number of eggs ever recorded at the Colony. More than 120 of the seabirds have returned to Taiaroa Head for the breeding season, and 40 eggs have been recorded in nests.

Today the Government announced it will put legislation through Parliament by the end of 2020 to allow drug checking at music festivals this summer.

New Zealand and France have now joined Australia in denouncing an inflammatory tweet sent by a Chinese official about Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. The fake tweet showed an image of a grinning Australian soldier holding a bloodied knife to an Afghan child's throat. .