NZ at Noon: Astronomy delight, GC alert, angry teachers

The GC stars such as Jade Louise (pictured) have been let loose on New Zealand.

Stories making headlines across New Zealand include ripples of excitement in astronomical observatories across New Zealand, the GC stars have been let loose in New Zealand and it has been a tough few days in the education sector.

It's Transit of Venus day with the big event upon us, and a "ripple of excitement" went through the small crowd at Dunedin's observatory as Venus was first observed crossing the sun this morning.

Over at Tolaga Bay they were well-prepared for a deluge of astronomers, poets, dignitaries and busloads of other people. The Wanganui Astronomical Society has cranked up the Ward Observatory.

But it looks like a fizzer for Northland stargazers and Bay of Plenty cosmic couch potatoes and it's not much better at Stonehenge Aotearoa.

But fear not star gazers stuck beneath clouds. You can view the Transit of Venus live here but be warned, after all the the hype, it's a bit like watching paint dry.

At least two people will be at the Lava Bar in Rotorua tonight watching the television 'phenomenon' The GC.

Despite the Government saying no technology centres will close down, the new Mid Canterbury Technology Centre says it is facing that prospect. It has been a tough few days in the education sector.

Whoever did over Kaitaia Primary School and stole lots of electronics may not have noticed the security cameras recording their every move.

A website which aims to be a national register of stolen goods is proving very popular.

From the reviews the KFC pie is getting in Rotorua it sounds like The Colonel should stick to fried chicken.

A month after being close to death after a vehicle hit her, 6-year-old Hineraukura Fraser-King is out of hospital.

Over at Papamoa Beach, the Progressive Association chairman Steve Morris, who had for days been eagerly anticipating the Tsunami Siren going off, never heard a thing.

Meanwhile, a Hawke's Bay woman interrupted taking her three kids to morning sports blew twice the legal breath-alcohol limit.

In Wanganui, a teenage girl and her friend thought it was a huge joke waving a toy replica handgun around outside Harvey Norman.

Sick of paying "killer" fees for Trade Me auctions, Masterton couple Daniel and Victoria Hooper have set up a free site in opposition.

Bernard Hillier has been reflecting on when he ran the Olympic flame through part of Somerset in 1948.

When Alex Knight walked out of the door on Saturday night it was the last time his parents would see him alive. Vicky Brown and Janine Currie tried their hardest to save him.

Meanwhile the Transit of Venus is probably the least thing on the minds of people down south, with a polar blast heading through. Mid Canterbury businesses and farmers are preparing for the worst. Although the South is the best place to view the Transit of Venus.

It seems the Miss Universe New Zealand third runner-up isn't a New Zealand citizen either and just assumed citizenship was "automatic".

Oamaru was the place to be last Friday night.

And if you are looking for a home with a difference, the former Convent of Mercy in Hokitika is up for sale.

Top trending topics on Twitter in NZ at Noon were #WeAllGotThatOneFriend, #RandomFactAboutMe, #BeauBrooks, Scotland, Wallabies, Tolaga Bay, Christchurch, South Island, Wellington and Lady Gaga.