NZ@noon: Kindy escape

LONE TRAVELLER: Alfie, 3, left his kindergarten and walked home - crossing this very busy road. PHOTO/APN

Stories making the headlines around the regions today include an adventurous 3-year-old escaping kindergarten and Eastern Bay services kept busy with a deadly house fire and a scrub fire.

A gate Pa mother is demanding answers after her 3-year-old son managed to escape from his kindergarten unnoticed by staff and walk across a busy road alone.

Two fires overnight kept Eastern Bay emergency services busy. A woman died in a house fire in Taneatua this morning. Last night a lightning storm may have been the cause of scrub fires in Kawerau.

Several thousand people packed Kerikeri's main street. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF

A judge has praised an officer who "placed his life on the line" by standing in front of a man wielding a high-powered rifle.

Controversial broadcaster Paul Henry has joined the push for a new Marineland.

A major change is coming to one of Wanganui's main inner city routes, aimed at taking heavy traffic away from the area.

Several thousand people packed Kerikeri's main street. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF

Finally a record crowd packed Kerikeri's main road on Saturday for an evening of dancing, music, fine food and wine in the Bay of Islands town's annual street party. Check out the photos here.