Humid summer days, te reo lessons, and Christmas mince and chocolate brownies.
1 Taxpayer funds paid for Christopher Luxon's te reo lessons
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's fallen foul of his own advice to the public service, after it was revealed taxpayers footed the bill for his te reo Māori lessons.
Earlier this month, Luxon confirmed his Government would axe payments to te reo-speaking public servants, criticising those who took the bonuses.
2 Expect sticky, humid days to continue into Christmas - MetService
A humid week ahead is on the cards for much of the country as warm, humid air is "dragged" across the country from warm waters to the north, MetService says.
This morning kicked off the warmer temperatures, with Napier, Mahia and Tolaga Bay recording temperatures above 20C at 7am.
3 Iconic boat owner told to build new jetty, gift it to iwi, lease it back
The owners of a paddle boat which provided tourists and locals with opportunities to cruise and dine on Lake Rotorua have been asked to build a new jetty, gift the new structure to iwi and then lease it back.
The couple have called it a "preposterous" situation where "none of it makes sense".
4 World's 'humblest' Xmas tree sells for thousands at auction
What has been described as the "humblest Christmas tree in the world" has sold for a whopping amount of money in a bidding war fuelled by nostalgia and a heartwarming backstory.
The small tree, not even a metre tall, went to auction in Oxfordshire, UK, with an estimate of £60-£80 (NZ$120-$160), but sold for an eye-watering £3411 (NZ$7000).
5 How to reduce injury risk over the holiday period
New Zealanders are being urged to take precautions to prevent injuries as the summer holidays draw closer.
Injury prevention experts have given their top tips on how to stay safe this festive season.
ONE MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
Sick of leftover Christmas mince going to waste?
Make the most of it with Dish magazine editor Sarah Tuck’s recipe for these moist Christmas mince and chocolate brownies. Get the recipe here.
ONE BIG MINI-BUDGET
While the rest of the country spends this week quietly panicking over last-minute Christmas preparations, Nicola Willis is concentrating on delivering a mini-budget.
The mini-budget is due for release this Wednesday – so what is it and what can we expect to see in it? To find out, click here.
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