NZ at Noon: Strange phenomena, royal toes, and swanky streets

Stories making headlines across New Zealand at noon included all sorts of strange things going on in the Northland skies, a man who stood on Queen Elizabeth II's toes and lived to talk about it and million dollar houses in Bay of Plenty.

The skies above Northland are producing all sorts of strange phenomena.
This guy trod on a royal toe when waltzing with the Queen. Meanwhile it is unlikely Prince Charles will catch up with his old Navy mate Dick Ryan on this trip to New Zealand.

Mount Maunganui's coastal strip boasts two of the swankiest streets in the country.

Meanwhile the annual cannabis growing season is set to kick off in Hawke's Bay.

Should Auckland beaches be smoke free?

After killing Bay of Plenty school principal Hawea Vercoe, Isaiah Johnson Richard Tai is now a free man following 24 months in prison.

Meanwhile a Mongrel Mob Notorious gang member who used $20,000 from the Government's Whanau Ora programme to buy cannabis intended for sale has been jailed for four years.

Toni Marie Keegan's childhood had been disrupted and abusive so Child Youth and Family intervened and placed her with her mother's half-sister who turned out to be a methamphetamine user.

Twilight fans in Hawke's Bay were apparently falling over themselves last night.

A huge Western Australian mining company has bought the rights to explore 6116 hectares in Northland's Puhipuhi hills.

Lisa Coyle and her three youngest children were in bed watching television when 12-year-old Britney suddenly smelled smoke.

Meanwhile Rotorua residents emerged from their homes and workplaces yesterday morning to look up.

They will be ice-skating in Tauranga this Christmas.

Watching "angels dressed in red" transform Botanical Road Kindergarten's outdoor area was apparently a breathtaking sight.

Apparently women's superior emotional intelligence, caring instincts and ability to work with a runny nose without boring colleagues senseless are just some qualities that deserve remunerating above men.

A serious lack of employment prospects is apparently the biggest challenge facing Hawke's Bay.

Napier moteliers are threatening a revolution.

A Gisborne early childhood centre is closed following an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting affecting 35 children.

Matahi (Greg) Brightwell died and then came back to life. Meanwhile Gisborne has a new gang.

Max Mackay has served 50-years on the Eltham Volunteer Fire Brigade.

A Wanganui pet shop is being investigated by the SPCA after a woman's claim she was sold a sick and underage kitten.

A young Masterton girl has been assaulted in the vicinity of Queen Elizabeth Park, making it the third attack in the area in less than three months.

A new generation of young urbanised Maori are being enticed back to farming.

Christchurch Police have slammed the behaviour of drunk drivers following Cup Day.

Phil Musson of Bishopdale denies he was behind a nationwide steroid dealing operation.

The Government is apparently more interested in Prince Charles' visit than in finding ways to combat the "major epidemic" of diabetes.

Former prime minister Helen Clark packed out a South Dunedin theatre last night with a talk on poverty, inequality and hope.

The Christmas tree in Wanaka's main street seems destined for the chop.

A film about the life of Jesus Christ might be resurrected.

Meanwhile on the West Coast, the ANZ bank is making a sudden move out of its 17-year-old premises on Tainui Street.

Top trending topics on Twitter in NZ at noon were: #MyOldTwitterName, #eclipse, #nzsecretsanta, #nzqt, New Zealand, Today Show, #ttrttpt, Wellington, Christmas and Breaking Dawn.