Christmas day is nearly here - and with it likely a turkey or ham to be carved, or if you're lucky, a fresh fish to fillet and put on the BBQ. Gareth Hughes knows a thing or two about knives. He's the owner of Victory Knives, which was founded in 1926 in Auckland by Edward Goddard, and is still going strong today. Gareth's got some tips on how to pick the right knife for the job, and importantly, how to look after your knives at home.

Underinvestment in rural Tairawhiti towns is the spotlight with the council deciding how to redistribute $1.4 million of unused funding. A lot of cyclone hammered towns are in need of township upgrades. and Matthew has the latest on Sarge, a dog put down in error by Gisborne District Council.

Harry Broad reviews Life Done Differently by Lisa Jansen published by High Tide

Robin Scholes is a pioneer of the independent film and TV production sector in New Zealand, whose body of work over decades has now been recognised by the screen producers guild. SPADA last month announced Robin Scholes as the recipient of the Industry Champion Award. Robin is the co-founder of independent TV company Communicado, which later merged with Screentime. She has been a creative collaborator and producer for some of this country's most well-known filmmakers, producing acclaimed films such as Lee Tamahori's Once Were Warriors (1994) and Andrew Adamson's Mister Pip (2012). And following Once Were Warriors and 2016 action-western Mahana, she is continuing her involvement with Lee Tamahori three decades on. Robin is on the producing team for Australian-New Zealand co-production The Convert, which launches in cinema next year.

Cyclone Jasper has caused the worst flooding in and around Cairns in far north Queensland. Karen Middleton says the Bureau of Meteorology is facing strong criticism for failing to forecast the massive rain event which dumped a year's worth of rain. Many homes are without both power and water and are completely cut off by now-crocodile-infested flood waters. Meanwhile Sydney is suffering smoke inhalation from a fire burning 400km to the north-west of the city.

Since making her debut for the Black Ferns over a decade ago - Chelsea Semple has racked up 29 tests. But her experience off the field while pregnant with her first child has perhaps been one of the biggest tests of all - and one that will have a lasting legacy. At the time the Chiefs Manawa player discovered she and husband James were expecting, maternity provisions for contracted Black Ferns ended at four months of pregnancy. But Chelsea successfully lobbied NZ Rugby for changes, worked with the organisation on them - and now, following the birth nearly five months ago of baby Cameron - she's back training with her team.

There's a party in Tairua today as the town celebrates the reopening of State Highway 25A - the key road connecting it to the rest of the country. State Highway 25A between Kopu and Hikuai was closed after heavy rain and storms lashed the region in January - causing part of the road to be washed away into a gully. Waka Kotahi has constructed a new 124-metre viaduct bridge which spans the part of the road that was destroyed. It has been a tough year for Tairua residents - with people travelling two hours instead of half an hour to school in some instances - and visitor spending in the wider region has plummeted this year. Peter Hunt is co-chair of the Tairua Business Association and owns a furniture shop in the town.

Farmers in Northern Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti are concerned that some long awaited, permanent road repairs are failing within weeks of bitumen being applied. Hundreds of roads in the region were damaged in Cyclone Gabrielle and some permanent repairs have now been completed. James Brownlie owns a sheep and beef farm in the Ruakituri Valley inland from Wairoa. He says all the recently applied resealing on his local roads, both new seals and repair seals is failing, while the older seal is sound. Last week he travelled State Highway 2 between Wairoa-Gisborne and says the same is happening on the new seal there, over several kilometres. Mr Brownlie says others in his remote community are also concerned.

Visitors are slowly filling up the country's tourism centres for the busy season, but profitability across the hotel sector is a mixed bag. Hotel data for New Zealand says revenue per available room for hotels country-wide is up 14 percent on last November, and has just inched above 2019 levels. However only hotels in Christchurch, Taupo, Hawke's Bay and the Nelson/Marlborough regions are keeping up with inflation. Statistics New Zealand says international arrivals are rising, but are still down 15 percent on pre-Covid levels (2019). And according to the Department of Conservation, about 100 tourist sites are closed this summer due to damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. So what sort of summer season is the tourism sector expecting? Tourism Industry Aotearoa CEO Rebecca Ingram speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

RNZ sports reporter Joe Porter reminisces on some of the standout moments of 2023.