NZ@noon: Mysterious park deaths have dog owners on alert

Minogue Park's new destination playground opened on Monday. Two dogs that had been exercised in the park in recent days have since died and a third became extremely ill. Photo / file.

Stories making the headlines around the regions today include Hamilton dog owners on alert after the sudden death of two dogs and a petrol thief siphons off a fortune in fuel.

Hamilton council is investigating the sudden deaths of two dogs after they were taken for a walk in Monogue Park.

A Wairarapa man has been convicted of stealing more than 2000 litres of petrol by pumping it straight from the underground tanks at three petrol stations.

A 60-second ram raid on a Northland garage saw gloved thieves make off with a cabinet filled with thousands of dollars worth of tobacco and cigarettes.

Police are hunting two thugs who held up a Hastings service station at knifepoint on Sunday - the second petrol station robbery in as many weeks.

Police have seized thousands of dollars worth of kauri gum from a massage parlour in Whangarei.

Fare dodging on Auckland public transport could become a thing of the past with the announcement of new measures to help catch those who don't pay their fares.

The world's most popular reggae artists, UB40 - including original band members Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue - are returning to Rotorua.

Wanganui singer Charlotte Melser has been offered a second crack at Homai Te Pakipaki after being recalled as a judges' wildcard for the semifinals.

Finally, the glow of hot-air balloons will light up the sky over Tauranga Racecourse for the first time on Friday night.