NZ@Noon: Farmer sees lightning kill stock

Photo / AP, Thinkstock

Stories making headlines around the regions today includes an armed midnight raid for drugs and a bolt of lightning claims two helpless victims.

A Featherston farmer says he felt "helpless" as a bolt of lightning instantly killed two heifer calves as the storm front came through Wairarapa on Monday.

Residents of a sleepy Featherston cul-de-sac were shocked after masked men fired a rifle during a midnight raid for drugs at a home in the street.

Up to $250,000 has been taken from elderly Ngongotaha residents in a series of what have been described as scams, but now the community is fighting back.

Hawke's Bay bars face prosecution over failing to promote food with alcohol.

One of the men charged over one of the biggest hauls of methamphetamine ever seized in Northland wants a change of court venue as he says he would not get a fair trial in Whangarei.

Wyrd is the word for an event set to take place near Hunterville for the second time next year.

And finally, three friends involved with the same Tauranga cheerleading team are supporting each other after being diagnosed with breast cancer.