NZ@Noon: Shedding light on Freemasons

Julian Baier is the new Master of the Waihenga St John's Masonic Lodge. The Masons' international symbol can be seen above the sign. Photo/Lynda Feringa

Some stories making headlines across the regions today include: Wairarapa learns about the mysteries of one of the oldest fraternal organisations in the world, a man in Dannevirke walked around with a ticket worth $1 million in his pocket, and Rotorua has lost their person of the year.

Wairarapa is shedding light on the mysterious Freemasons.

A $1 million winning Lotto ticket sold in Dargaville has finally been claimed after a man walked around with the ticket in his pocket for a month.

Sadly, Rotorua's person of the year has passed away.

Tauranga bosses and community leaders are going to be dropped off the side of a six-storey building.

In a way, Napier author Peter Wells' new book Journey to a Hanging could be seen as something of an intriguing taster.

And, Initial estimates to strengthen and extend the Sarjeant Gallery have jumped by more than $4 million, with the figure now sitting at $32.45 million.