Midday Report

Fighting has intensified in Gaza as the Israeli army continues to push into the city of Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of displaced people have been sheltering.

In one of his strongest moves yet, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter to push the Security Council to call for a humanitarian ceasefire - stressing the war is causing a catastrophe that Gaza may never recover from.

Save the Children's Country Director Jason Lee spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The Foreign Minister Winston Peters is set to ask Parliament to call on all those involved in the Gaza conflict to "take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire".

Peters will also move that MPs unequivocally condemn the Hamas terrorist attacks of October the 7th - and call for the release of all hostages.

The Green Party has been calling for action for weeks.

Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman spoke to Charlotte Cook.

As Christmas shopping really starts to ramp up - it seems more and more New Zealanders are looking to fill their stockings with secondhand gifts. Trade Me's annual survey of nearly 5,000 people on their festive shopping behaviour shows the cost of living is having an impact on gift-giving. Trade Me spokesperson Millie Silvester spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Kingi Tuheitia has called a national hui for next month, to bring together the many voices of Maori. The announcement comes just a day after hundreds of people turned out at protests right around the motu, with demonstrators voicing concern over some of the new Government's plans and rhetoric on the Treaty of Waitangi. Political commentator and presenter of RNZ's Mata programme, Mihingarangi Forbes, spoke to Charlotte Cook.

News from the rural farming sector.

The Football Ferns have been beaten one nil by Colombia in their football international in Bogota.

Midday Business News for 6 December 2021

The union representing public service workers is vowing to fight any move to remove allowances recognising competency in te reo Maori across the public sector. The Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says she'll be asking for advice on how to stop the extra pay being negotiated into future collective agreements. Acting Te Kaihautu Maori for the Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi Marcia Puru says the Minister is misguided. Puru spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro has given the traditional Speech from the Throne to mark the official state opening of the new parliament. Her speech - written by the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon - laid out the government's intentions for the next three years. It comes against a backdrop of protests around the country - organised by Te Pati Maori against what it describes as anti-Maori policies - and controversy in parliament over the oath-taking by Te Pati Maori MPs. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Business in the small alpine village of Arthurs Pass is expected to take a big hit over the next two weeks with the daily closure of State Highway 73. The highway linking Canterbury

Business in the small alpine village of Arthurs Pass is expected to take a big hit over the next two weeks with the daily closure of State Highway 73.

The highway linking Canterbury and the West Coast will be shut every weekday from 10 in the morning until six at night for resurfacing work between Arthur's Pass Village and Otira until December 15th.

Tuesday is the first day of the planned closure.

Arthurs Pass shop and cafe owner Sean Moran spoke to Charlotte Cook.

and the West Coast will be shut every weekday from 10 in the morning until six at night for resurfacing work between Arthur's Pass Village and Otira until December 15th. Tuesday is the first day of the planned closure. Arthurs Pass shop and cafe owner Sean Moran spoke to Charlotte Cook.