NZ@Noon: Nixon's new ears + attack on a one-eyed man

Since receiving a cochlear implant in each ear, Nixon Knight, 2, has learned to hear and speak. The Taupo community raised the money needed for Nixon's second implant. Photo / Laurilee McMichael

A little boy who can hear for the first time thanks to community support and a bottle attack on a one-eyed man are just two of the stories making headlines around the regions today.

A Taupo community has rallied to help a little boy hear for the first time.

Hawke's Bay club and school cricketers have held tributes to Australian batsman Phillip Hughes.

A 'high risk' Western Bay service station has closed its doors for the last time.

A Masterton man who hurled a bottle at a man with one eye has been sentenced to prison.

On-going checks of child car restraints in Wanganui continue to show up an alarming failure rate.

And finally one of Northland's highly endangered seabirds is getting national recognition.